Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-06-21

Philadelphia, Pa, June 20. = One OF
the big passenger elevators at the Hotel
Walton fell from the seventh floor TO
the basement n few minutes before IL
o'clock last night There were seven
passengers, not including the elevator
boy. The latter escaped serious injury.
The injured are:
DR.. Z. b. Camden OF Texas.
Marcellus West Of Washington, D. o.
DIR. Hiram r. Burton Of Delaware.
l3renton r. Hall of Relding, Mich.
Walter Hunter Of Delaware.
j. q. Pringey of Oklahoma.
vi the above passengers were badly
injured about the lower limbs. Some
ono waiting on the ground floor for the
car to take him upstairs heard the
chair break and threw open the door.
When the elevator struck the first floor
| nearly all the passengers were thrown
out in the passageway, four OF them,
being caught around their legs. above
the knees. and wedged 10 between the
upper part Of the elevator and the floor.
The crash of the falling car was
deafening throughout tho lobby, which
was crowded to overlooking with n
mixed political crowd of delegates and
sightseers waiting for the New York
delegation to adjourn. The car was
heard falling when it was at the fifth
/ floor, and rush was at once made to
the Locust street end, where the eleva-
tors are located. The injured passeD-
gers were extricated and carried in the
dining room. Physicians we've on hand
in the crowd, and the injured were at
tended to Immediately. A call was sent
in for ambulances and police patrols,
| A crowd almost beyond the control OF
the police congreeated near the scene
| of the accident
DR.. Camden, one of the least injured,
| who received badly confused and
sprained arms and legs, described the
accident as follows: 81 got 10 at the
tenth floor with three other gentlemen.
As far rs i can remember, there were
already three in the car. felt sud-
den jolt Just as / stepped 10, but
thought nothing In particular OF it,.
When we reached the seventh the
elevator boy attempted to stop for
more passengers.
Suddenly we felt the car give jerk,
and instantly we were flying past the
openings at an awful speed. All we're
terrified, but we could not help our.
selves. We heard what we thought were
heavy pieces Of iron falling on top Of
the elevator.
Almost before we knew what hap.
pened the car stopped with shocking
suddeness l cannot describe. II was
horrible. / was thrown out OF the dool
and several passengers fell on top Ct
me. For minute my legs were pinned
but got them loose. One Of the drums
think it was from the side of the ele
vator, fell through the top Just as the
car stopped and struck me on the heat
and side. - i ~ t N Il
All day yesterday the Insurance. men
it ie, said, had man at the elevate
gates guarding tho number Of passeu
gers each car was to carry. No NOR,
than eight we're allowed to enter from
the first floor at one time. Throughout
the morning aud afternoon, excep
when the convention was In session, th
passageway In front Of the elevator
was crowded with delegates and others
anxious to get to their rooms an,
headquarters on the different floors.
At the time of the accident com
mittae meeting Of much Importance 4
the delegates was going on on the tent
floor, and many we're making use q
the elevators. Early in the eveninI
orders were given to the elevator bo
not to stop at any one Of the floors be
tween the first aud tenth on the vi
trip. Delegates and others hsvin
: business on the floors other than th
tenth were compelled to take the eleva
tors nearer the Office desk. The oa
that fell was the one nearest the Locus
street entrance TO the hotel.
DIR. Burton resides at Lewes, and ]
: a Union Republican delegate to tn
National Convention. He had seyera
, ribs fractured.
Walter Hunter resides at Harbeson
and was Representative 10 Delaware
last General Assembly. He had a lie
fractured.