New-York tribune., 1902-06-19
MANY SHOPPERS HURT.
ELEFATOR CAR FALLS FIVE
STORIES AT lMACT'S.
WOMEN PILED AT BOTTOM OF SHAFT
WITH BROKEN BONES, IMPRIS-
ONED IN IRON CAGE

ONED IN IRON CAGE.
An elevator accident. causing serious injuries
10 at least fifteen persons. occurred at the de-
part1nent store Of R. H. Macy & Co. Thirteenth
and Fourteenth SITS. and Sixth-ave. yesterday
at 2:15 ?.
The elevator. WhichIs known as No s.
the Thirteenth-st. side of the building. It was
N charge Of a colo-ed man John Harrigan.
When the break occurred the elevator crowded
with women shoppers. was at the restaurant or
fifth floor without warning It fell five stories
10 the basement. amid the shrieks of the terri
fed passengers. As the car shot by the differ
ent doors and the screams Of the women could
be heard by the shoppers, those on the various
floors rushed TO the doors of the elevator and
tried TO peer down into the elevator well many
Of them screaming with fright.
The more seriously injured
JerTls \. Y: compound fracture OF right leg.
BRAUN Ms Mar VI q No: one7 7agndEed sndeighty.
soatasioas o BODY.
ST a H5 o6gad gsa5S ste 2a 2 S o5 sht a Ess' @
GRARDE Ms Josephine NJ afty years old Of 1873 Co
EoRNAN Thomas P. Of No 44s West Thirty-eghth
SaeR SsssG'1stit and seock-
HAIoRAN NJ ~ May forty years old OF No $50 West
ELL Ms Mary Point-of-the- Woods, Long Island;
slightly injured and sent home after being attended
KAgEEAS Mss Emilia :gsPy-swo years OF No s4 -
broken contusious body.
Fc W aas4 S sa s ysr s Ga e taoISeed "a NH s'6
s5oTe LoaS Island: Both Iess fractured.
TEsTo Ss5. @ tP s rs sss ysss Goss,ss Ge q oFs'On
EADECk Mrs.. Enms, twenty-five years old. OF Bay
shore Long Island; broken ankle
PLEADED FOR DEATH
The scene at the foot of the elevator shaft
was most exciting. The impact S the heavy
machine. loaded with It's human freight. struck
the cellar floor shook the building and made
resouuding crash. There was hush for a mo-
nnent, and then could be heard the screams and
groans Of the women. all OF whom had sustained
some injury. Some begged TO be rescued. others
fought with fury TO get out, If their struggles
would aid them 10 escape from the iron bars
that imprisoned them. Still others pleaded for
death in the excitement OF the moment and the
fear that had entered their hearts in the terri
bic fall Of five stories having exaggerated to
them what were serious though fatal in
turies.
As soon as possible the work OF rescuing
begun. Aubulauces were sent for from ST Vim
cents and New-York hospitals With COM
nnendabIe promptitude those from st. Nincents
arrived, three Of them, in charge OF Drs. Gates.
Donovan and Garigan- One ambulance came
from New York Hospital. All were needed, and
did noble service. Policemen Underwood and
Conboy, Of the Mercer-st station, had been ap-
prised OF the accident and after sending word
to the station for the reserves they helped out
the imprisoned passengers. By main force the
doors Of the elevator were forced open and the
wounded taken out tenderly possible
Others were removed from the top. the upper
portion Of the machine being but few inches
from the first floor. The passengers were piled
on top Of the other. Many had broken legs,
many cuts and bruises, others sprained ankles,
and all were injured in some way
CROWDS BLOCK STREET.
As the injured were removed they were taken
two by two TO the ambulances and conveyed to
the hospitals St Eincent's ambuIances being
the first TO arrive took away the majority,
though some were also taken away in Macy's
delivery wagons When the ambulances had
completed one trip they would return for others
While the work OF rescue was going on, news
Of the accident had spread and the streets in
the neighbOrhood Of the store, the store itself
and particularly the basement, were jamnled
with people, many in frenzy Of excitement
over fear that some friend or relative had been
injured The police reserves, under Captain
Chapman, strove TO keep order, and after time
managed to clear The streets.
The cause Of the accident IS unknown. So
far as could be learned. and the employees Of the
store are naturally reticent, it was not to the
machinery Of the car itself but TO the hosting
machinery NJ the bottom Of the shaft The po-
lice say that the engineer has stated that he
did not know what caused the accident He
said that the elevator was inspected Tues
Cay night, and that everything appeared then
10 5e in perfect working order. The officials Of
Macy & Co say that the elevator Otis
elevator, and that il is regularly inspected by
representatives Of that company. BY reason Of
the accident the next machine. No. =, also
FuI OUT Of commission. At the Otis Elevator
Company's offices il said they had no news
q the accident, and did not know whether il
was one Of their elevators not.
CAR OPERATORS STORY
Harrigan was seen in St Vincents Hospital
whore he was taken.
i had got to the restaurant floor" he said
IN telling Of the accident, and had taken on
three women passengers there. The elevator
was full then. As l shut The door and started
70 20 down 70 the next foc- 7 felt the machine
crop with terrible suddenness. I felt that an
accident had happened, and threw all my weight
on the wire cable. and then realized that moth