The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1918-08-01
HORRIBLE DEATH
John Richardson Meets Death In Lexins-
Ton Elevator.

elsewhere are deeply grieved and
shocked at the distressing death Of
John Richardson, Oldest son Of Mrs.
Elizabeth Richardson, formerly of
this city, who before her marriage
was Miss Elizabeth Sweeney. sister
Of Mrs. j. c. Robinson and aunt Of
Mr.. J. w. Sweeney.
Young Richardson lost his life in
an elevator Of the Phoenix hotel at
Lexington last Saturday afternoon.
The circumstances of his death are
distressing indeed and the blow is a
sad shock to the devoted mother who
looked TO this model industrious
young man for her sole support.
The management of the hotel and his
associates speak Of him in the high
est terms. Beside his mother he is
survived by one brother, George, who
lives with his mother in Lexington.
Immediately after the accident
the hotel management made care
full inquiry into the circumstances
connected with the death of young
Richardson and President Stoll and
Manager Skain gave to the newspa-
pers the following statement of the
facts as ascertained by them:
Johnnie Richardson, young man
in the employ of the Phoenix hotel,
was accidently killed by one Of the
elevators in the hotel at 2:30 o'clock
yesterday afternoon. Young Richard
son was Is years Of age, resided with
his mother at S62 South Mill and was
unmarried. He had been in the en-
ploy of the hotel about thirteen
months in the capacity of general
helper
Shortly before the accident he
and Mr.. Sweeney, one Of the
mechanical employees of the hotel,
had gotten upon the top Of the elev-
ator for the purpose Of oiling the
machinery and cleaning the dust
from beneath the doors and descend
ed from floor to floor as they COM
pleted the work.
when they reached the three-hun-
bred floor, Mr.. Sweeney was cleaning
and oiling the elevator door and was
looking toward the east, with his back
toward the western elevator, near
which young Richardson was stand
ing. He was not looking at Richard
son and the first he knew of the ac-
cident was when he heard the noise
of the western elevator which was
descending and which caught Rich
ardson between it and concrete
beam which separates the two elev-
ators. The descending elevator
struck the back of his head and tore
away a part of it and also crushed
his arm. The elevator was stopped
within two feet from where it struck
Richardson. There was no actual
witness to the accident.
1.-THE operator of the western ele-
vator was on one of the upper floors
and was descending to the lobby
when the accident occurred. The
east side of the western elevator is
of solid material so that the operator
~ the west car could not see young
Richardson and had no knowledge of
his being on the east car until she
felt that the elevator was obstrueted,
when she at once stopped il.
young Richardson was killed in
stantly and his body was removed to
an undertaking establishment. The
elevators are cleaned and oiled once
a week and young Richardson had
assisted in this work before and was
perfectly familiar with the conditions
and operations of the elevators in the
different shafts. 1t will Of course,
never be known why he leaned over
the shaft Of the other elevator and
was caught beneath it,"
The funeral services were con-
Quoted at the family residence, by
Rev. Coils after which the remains
were taken to Somerset for inter
ment. A large number Of handsome
floral designs were sent by friends
of this splendid young man and many
tear shed at his untimely end.