The Washington times., 1908-03-28
Thirteen Year-Old Child
Attempts to Leave AS
cending Car When
Too Late.
Apparently Unhurt She
Lives Just Long Enough
for Mother to
Reach Her.

Caught between the floor OF an eIeVa-
tor and the top OF the shaft doorway
through which she had attempted 10
leap when the unattended car started
10 ascend, HCtle Helen Lawrence, a
1hirteen-year-old Baltimore girl. was
crushed 70 death yesterday afternoon
at the Washington Sanitarium in North
TakOma Park, where she was a patient
The elevator had been brought 10 the
basement by the operator. who ieft it
for moment with its controller In
the stop" position. Ia the elevator
was the ustIe girl and Mrs. Warren
Whitehead, Of Wilmington, Del and
her eleFeu-year-Old son. Either -he boy
or the girl, the sanitarium officials say,
must have tampered with the starting
wheel, for the elevator suddenly began
TO ascend.
Tries to Follow Woman.
Mrs. Whitehead screamed. and jump
Nd through the door. dragging her son
with her Little Helen Lawrence, left
alone. hesitated and then dived toward
the fast narrowing opening between the
car floor and the top OF the shaft door
way. She attempted TO crawl through
EaEd was caught in a crushing grip.
The childs single scream and the
cries of Mrs. Whitehead and her son
drew the sauItaTlum sJaff TO the scene.
The elevator had been stopped by the
iJGmmiug OF the Child's body against the
door OF the shaft When the elevator
was lowered the unconscious child was
taken TO the operating room. and Dr.
tLauretta kress, wife Of Dr. d. II.
lhress, head physician OF the sanitarium,
attended her.
The little girl regained consciousness,
and although i'll and faint from the
shock, seemed apparently unhuFt. She
made little complaint until evening,
~ IN Il
was noticed.
Mother Reaches Dying Child.
The chld's mother, Mrs. Grace Toung.
OF 716 Gator avenue, Baltimore. had been
sent for by the injured girls grand
mother, Mrs. serath Y. Ford. of Ia
koma Park, with whom the child had
been staying while being treated at the
sanltarium for nervousness. Mrs. TOung
arrived IN time to talk with her daugh-
Ter. who grew weaker and weaker. and
died about 8 o'clock last night
No blame IS attached 10 the sanitar-
lum ofncials by the authorities of Mont
Scmery county, Md. who were notified
of the accident and made an investiga-
ton. The explanation of Mrs Nettie
irwin, the matrOu of the institution
who operated the elevator at the time. is
regarded as the only tenable one.
Left Crank at "Srop" Mark.
Mrs. Irwin says that at about 1.45
o clock in the afternoon, during the rest
hour of the regular elevator attendant.
she was running the elevator on a trlp
10 the top story of the building. The
elevator STOPPED between floors. and To
ind out what was the matter. she al
lowed the car to descend 10 the base
ment. where she put the controlling
crank in the stop" position and went
10 investigate
The elevator is a hydraulic one. and
IL is claimed that IL could not have
started to ascend on It's own accord. The
reason Ter Its having stopped between
floors was found TO lie in the fact rhsr
The water had been shut off for a few
moments.
When the elevator was entered after
Ihe accident the starting crank was
1ound In position exactly opposite TO
mat IN which IL had been left bv Mrs
irwin, according to her statement. The
poslJon OF the crank after the accident
was that for ascend at full speed Mrs
Whtehead's s son has been too excited
k.hce the accident 10 remember whether
or not ne tampered with the mechanism
Of the elevator
The funeral services for the little girl
will be held at Mrs. Ford's residence
Monday. The remains viii be cremated.