The Washington times., 1901-11-06
A FATAL ELEVATOR ACCIDENT
Carl Schmidt, Deaf Mute, Crushed
10 Deuth.

A freight elevator, descending from the
second floor, on which was Carl Schmidt,
a German, deaf and dumb. aad employed
as a helper at the bakery of Charles
Schneider. 4l3 l Street northwest, caused
the death of the former last night, short
ly after 7 o'clock Schmidt was caught
between the top OF the elevator and the
flooring at the second story Of the bakery
annex, in the rear of the main building.
and his life was crushed out in an instant.
The neck of the unfortunate man was
broken. and he was otherwise mangled.
There seems to have been no eye
witness of the accident. The Hfeiess body
of Schmidt was discovered within q few
minutes following the occurrence. Those
employed about the bakery, including
Foreman Eckert. and man named Hick-
erson, who works in the engine room, say
that Schmidt had been up stairs for some
little time preceding the accident, and was
descending with pan of fine flour on the
elevator.
Just before o'clock every night. ac-
cording TO the engineer at the bakery,
II has been customary to slow down the
engine running the elevators. of which
there are two, used principally for the
purpose Of hauling freight to the upper
floors of the building. OF this custom
Schmidt was aware, but IT is thought IL
did not occur to him last night
Apparently, as the elevator on which
Schmidt was left the second floor the
machinery gradually slowed down, and
the German. IL is believed. to hasten his
descent, attempted to raise himself again
to the landing. supposedly in order TO ad-
just ropes and pullies having bearing
on the elevator. Before he grabbed the
landing and tried TO raise himself from
forgot to pull the guard rope to
stop the elevator in it's descent,
for the car continued downward,
and the deaf mute was wedged between
the top of the car and the landing at
the second floor. Thus. lis arms, head
and neck alone protrude-. from the aper-
ture made by the elevator, which seems
to have finally stopped at this juucture,
below.
Hanging thus the body Of Schmidt. still
cred by Foreman Eckert five minutes
later as the latter stood in the engine
room on the first floor. Eckert ran out
Of the building to summon assistance, ana
q number Of employees Of the bakery and
others went TO the rescue of Schmidt.
The elevator was slowly lowered, and as II
descended, the body of Schmidt, released
from the wedge formed by the top of
the car and flooring above. fell to the
floor of the engine room, rolling from the
bottom OF the car
The ambulance from the Emergency
Hospital. which had been summoned on
the first discovery of the accident, ar
rived In few minutes. and the body OF
the mute was started for the hospital.
Even then II IS believed the German was
dead. for efforts of the surgeon to revive
him were futide. At the hospital II was
said death was probably instantaneous.
The remains were placed IN the morgue
room, and Coroner hewitt was notified.
He visited the bakery, and viewed the
body of Schmidt, but did not complete
his enquiry into the facts last night.
Schmidt had been employed about the
bakery about four years, He lived with
his mother and sister The latter is Mrs.
Robert Sheunerd. who is now visiting
friends In Baltimore. Mrs Schmidt went
to the hospital on learning of the death
Of her son. She will probably take charge
Of the remains today.