The Washington herald., 1907-05-06

In q fateful second the life of Beatrice
McNally, of $50 p street northwest, was
crushed out yesterday afternoon by one
of the huge elevators in the Rich
mond Hotel Shortly after L o'clock,
Miss McNany and three other women
employed at the hotel went TO the elevator
with the intention Of descending 10 the
ground floor The ear is divided into
two compartments, one for freight and
one for passengers, and it was into the
lower compartment that the other three
women entered. expecting the unfortunate
one 10 follow.
She started 10 do 50. but presumably
before the doors of the elevator had
closed the operator started the machinery,
and the lift shot downward. a scream
from the victim and quick stoppage of
the machine by the body Of the woman
gave the first warning that the accident
had occurred. The woman was wedged
between the sixth floor of the building
and the elevator. her body bearing the
entire weight Of the machine.
The operator, Ernest Boyden, eolored,
nineteen years of age, became panic
stricken. and, leaving she elevator, its
victim. and the three hysterical women,
lie rushed for assistance.
Dies on Way 10 Hospital.
Hearing his shouts, the head bellman,
Samuel Keats. hastened to the scene, and,
pulling the lever released the dying
woman. Taking the crushed body in his
arms he cared for it until the doctors
from the Emergency Hospital arrived.
Miss McNaIiy died without regaining con-
sciousness before the hospital was
reached.
Tho otner women, Lillian Walker, 1886 G
street; Kate McGrath 1923 North Capitol
street. and Hattie Murdock. 14i0 L street.
tainted. and had TO be placed under a
doctors care.
Coroner hewitt was notified and made
a hurried trip 10 the hotel. lie could OBJ
tain no coherent story of the accident
from the women who saw it. and had 10
be content with statement from the
head bellman.
The coroner made a thorough investi-
CATION OF the condition Of the elevator.
however, and VIII report his findings at
an Inquest 10 be held at the mOrgue at
II o'clock this morning. The elevator
operator was taken into custody by Po-
uoeman Martin Riley and held as a
witness. B0yden vas in d hysteTical con-
ditiou and Was scarcely able TO go 10 the
station He said that he thought one of
the girls had said 'all right, and he
started the elevator, although it is one
of the rules of the hotel that until the
doors are closed no machine should be
moved.
Elevator in Good order.
That the elevator itself was in good
condition was demonstrated by the
license. which showed that il had been
inspected by the government officials and
the insurance company within the past
month
Miss McNally was thirty-nlne years old
and was born in this city Her father
has been dead some time, but her mother.
who bore up bravely under the shock,
and one sister survive her The dead
woman was q member Of the Immaculate
Conception parish, and was noted for her
piety and faithfulness 10 her duties. She
was a member of several church societies
and had been an attendant at one of the
early masses yesterday. Her mother was
notified of the accident Immediately after
it happened and went az once to the
hotel, accompanied by the surviving
daughter. When she arrived. however,
the ambulance with its burden had gone.
and a message had come from the hos
pital saying that the girl was dead. With
pain on every feature, the mother heard
the news then gathering the dead
wOman's effects. she hurried 10 the
morgue to take charge Of the body.
The funeral services have not been ar
ranged, but viii probably be held Tues
DAY morning in the Church of the I'M
maCulaIe Conception.