Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-28
Young Girl Caught in Santa
rum Elevator.
ATTEMPTS TO JUMP OUT
Officials of the Institution Issue a
Statement.
CAUSE OF ACCIDENT SUGGESTED
Child Died at IL O'Clock Last Night,
Seven Hours After Re-
ceiving Injury.

Helen Marie Lawrence. the thirteen
year-old daughter Of Mrs. Gracia Ford
Tongle of Maple avenue. Takoma Park,
Md, died last night at IL o'clock from
the effects of injuries received in an ele-
vator at the Washington Sanitarium. on
the outskirts of Takoma Park, Md.
The accident occurred about 1 40 o'clock
yesterday afternoon. while the little girl
was on visit to a relative at the sani-
tarium Her body has been removed to
the home Of her grandmother. Mrs. S. Y.
Ford. corner Maple and Tulip avenues.
have been made for the funeral. The
Frustrated with grief.
The facts in the case were presented
to Homer Query. justice Of the peace
for Takoma Park, Md. and he decided
that an inquest would not be necessary.
According to statements secured today,
an accident occurred to the hydraulic ele-
vator In the sanitarium. The matron OF
the institution, who was operating the Ell
evator 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
a patient in a 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 base
ment and stop.
Car Starts Upward.
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
upward journey it's occupants attempted
to jump out upon the basement floor.
The mother and her son succeeded in
alighting in safety. but as Helen Ford
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
during the absence of the matron neither
Of the children touched the mechanism
which operates the car.
The victim was residing with her grand
mother. Mrs. s. Y. Ford. Her mother was
absent from the city at the time of the
accident but was at her side when she
died. The officials at the sanitarium at
once gave medical aid in the hope of saw
ing the child's life. but without avail.
Official Statement.
The officials OF the sanitarium issued
a statement today concerning the acct
dent, which Is as follows:
about 1:45 pm. as the hydraulic ele-
vator was making a trip, the water. 1t
seems. was for a few minutes shut off,
the elevator stopping between the floors.
The operator reversed the crank and al
lowed it to descend to the basement.
THE crank was left in position which
would make 1t impossible for 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 eleven and thirteen.
For some unaccountable reason the
elevator began to ascend. Two, mother
and son. stepped off. while the third. a
young girl of thirteen, remained until it
got up quite high and then attempted to
jump from the car. but was caught.
THE only solution Is that one Of the
children turned the crank sufficiently to
cause the elevator to ascend. This is the
only explanation that can thus far be
given of the accident and its cause. since
the one in charge Of the elevator left the
crank In a position which would make 1t
impossible for the elevator to ascend with
the speed it did without being meddled
with. When found the crank was turned
down instead of up. The child died about
seven hours after the accident"