Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1908-04-03
Life Crushed Ont.

Helen Marie Lawrence, the thirteen-year.
old daughter of Mrs. Garcia Ford Tongle,
of Maple avenue, Takoma Park, this coun,
ty, died last Friday night at 10 o'clock from
the effects of injuries received in an eleva
tor at the Washington Sanitarium, on the
outskirts OF Takoma Park.
The accident occurred about lao O'Clock
Friday afternoon, while the little girl was
on visit to a relative at the sanitarium
Her body was removed 10 the home of her
grandmother, Mrs. s. Y. Ford, corner Of
Maple and Tulip avenues, Takoma Park.
The members of the family we're completely
Frustrated with grief.
The facts in the case were presented to
Homer Query, justice of the peace for Ia
koma Park, and he decided that an inquest
would not be necessary.
According to statements secured, an acct
dent occurred to the hydraulic elevator in
the sanitarium. The matron of the insti.
tuition, who was operating the elevator at
the time, had started the car for the second
floor. While between the first and second
floors the car started to descend slowly. The
operator informed the passengers in the car,
who were patient in rolling chair, her
son and little Helen Lawrence, the latter
two of whom were In the rear Of the chair,
that there was no danger, and that the car
would go down slowly to the basement and
stop.
The car reached the basement safely and
the matron left the car, going to the engine
room to ascertain the cause of the trouble.
In her absence the car started to ascend.
While the car was on its upward journey
its occupants attempted to jump out upon
the basement floor. The mother and son
succeeded in alighting in safety, but as Hell
en- Lawrence attempted to leave the car she
was caught between the elevator and the
casing and crushed. The lady who was in
the rolling chair stated positively that dur-
ing the absence of the matron neither OF
children touched the mechanism which OPP.
crates the car.
The victim was residing with her grand
mother, Mrs. s. Y. Ford. Her mother was
absent from home at the time oil the acct
dent, but was at her side when she died.
The officials OF the sanitarium at once gave
medical aid in the hope of saving the child's
lite, but without avail.
The officials OF the sanitarium issued a
statement concerning the accident, which is
as follows:
"About las Z. NJ, as the hydraulic ele-
vator was making trip, the water, it seems,
was for few minutes shut off, the elevator
stopping between the floors. The operator
reversed the crank and allowed 1t to de-
scend to the basement.
"The crank was lett In position which
would make it impossible Tor the elevator to
ascend. Three people were in the elevator
at the time it was left in the basement-a
lady and two children, the latter aged elev
Ell and thirteen, respectively.
"For some unaccounlable reason the Gle
vator began to ascend. Two, mother and
son, stepped off, while the third, young
girl OF thirteen, remained until 1t got up
quite high and then attempted TO jump from
the car, but was caught.
"Fhe only solution is that one oil the chill
dren turned the crank sufficiently TO cause
the elevator to ascend. Th6s is the only ex
PLANTATION that can thus far be given OF the &C
cident and its cause, since the one 10 charge
of the elevator left the crank in a position
which would make it impossible Tor the
elevator to ascend with the speed it did with
out being meddled with. When found the
crank was turned down instead OF up. The
child died about seven hours alter the acct
dent"