The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-11-18
sion once

Captain Robinson started to climb
down from the ladder. and at the same
time. the men commenced to lower the
fly ladder. or extension. which fits inside
of the main trussed ladder. He had just
reached the top of the trussed ladder, IS
feet from the ground. when there was
a sharp snap of breaking iron, the steel
cables flew out loose. and with a wlir
the tall fly ladder commenced to fall.
Robinson was knocked loose as the lad
der commenced tosslide downward. But
before the crowd below realized his dan
ger. he had regained footing. and was
struggling and pIunging wildly from
side to side. The ladders swift descent
had changed to a heavy ehug-chug-
chug, and the crowd gasped with horror
was caught between The heavy ladders.
with each round of the fly ladder pound
ing him cruelty as it descended. Robin
son was writhings with pain and with
his frantic efforts to disentangle him
self from the relentless fly ladder. and
every instant it seemed as though he
would throw himself free from the lad
ders and fall to the pavement. more
than so feet below. None could SEE from
the ground just how he was caught. but
when at last the full length of the fly
ladder had pounded past, and the lower
end had been caught by the firemen ne
low it was seen that Robinson'S left
arm was still between the ladders. 4
half dozen men held the ladder, while
Joe Weidlch fireman from station No
4, ran up to the assistance of Robinson.
By means of q crowbar. the fly ladder
was lifted a little, and Robinson pulled
his arm out Just as Weidlich got his
arm under the captains shoulders. The
two men descended the ladder together
Captain Robinson was taken up to
his bed in headquarters, and DIR. Hard
ing called to dress the arm. L was
found that the large bone in the lett
forearm was broken. and the whole arm
was pounded and bruised to q mass Of
blue and swollen flesh. Shortly after his
arm was dressed Robinson was able to
be taken to his home at 81 Jackson
street in a buggy.
The accident was due to a defective
link in a chain about one foot long,
which fastened the end of the steel
cable which raises the fly ladder From
the nature of the break it is apparent
that the link was improperly forged. 1t
| is a steel chain. and would have had
sufficient strength for the use required
1 but for the defect in the one link.
While his injury was being dressed,
Captain Robinson said to a reporter for
the State Journal:
the trussed ladder, on the bar which
holds the fly in place, with my hands on
/ the fly, I felt something catch, as
| though the cogs in the wheels below had
failed to mesh. Then there was a snap,
and the fly ladder to which I was hold
| ing, commenced to fall. 1 would have
fallen to the ground. but I stuck my
left arm clear through the ladder. This
/ brought the full force of the falling fly
/ ladder on that arm. l am not hurt
anywhere else and I don't think any
| body was to blame
Chief Wilmarth said of the accident:
It is very unfortunate. but it is better
/ that the accident should happen now
than when might be working the
truck al a fire. Then it would be
serious thing indeed 1t is a mercy that
/ the result of the accident was no worse
! than it was. Such accidents Will con-
tinue to happen just 50 loag as man is
/ liable to make mistakes. No one can be
! held culpable for the defect in the chain
It seemed to be good, stout chain. The
| company which made the truck is doing
the square thing. and will see to it that
everything is made right Just because
of this one break it does not show tina.
the aerial truck is not all right
! Hardy Mitchell who is mere represent
ing the Fire Extineuisher Manufactur-
4 ing company, OF Chicago. the makers of
the truck said This is tie first time
/ in all my experience of fifteen years that
] anything has ever broken about a truck
| of our manufacture while undergoing a
! test. OF course / feel terribly bad about
/ it, and although was expecting to star.
4 back to Chicago today, / will now stay
4 here all tire rest of the week, and see to
it that Ibis truck is put in first-class
condition. Nothing will be overlooked.
The company will take good care of Mr..
Robinson. and pay all the expenses of
his injury. The defect in the chain was
something wh.c,. could not be detected.
and if tie accident had to happen, it was
/ fortunate that it happened when it did
instead of a few minutes before when
we had two men up there at the top of
the fly ladder. Is feet from the ground.
playing a stream of water on the top of
the building. 1t is wonder that it did
not break then When the chain did
break. It flew around and tangled up
/ wit he pr