New Britain herald., 1918-06-25
Screw Shop Employe Succumbs
 to Injuries in Five Story Fall ANOTHER SERIOUSLY HURT
"Something Slipped,'' Charles Glover's Explanation of Fatal Accident Women Scream As Car Plunges In- to Concrete Death Pit.

One man was killed and another very seriously injured this morning at the Corbin Screw Corporation fac tory when an elevator dropped from the fifth floor into the basement, distance of 75 feet. The safety de- vice on the elevator failed to work when the freight car began to drop. It is believed that the accident was caused by the stripping of a gear in the elevator.
 The victim of the accident was John Kowalski, aged about 40 years, of 99 Orange street. He died soon after being admitted to the hospital. Moses Najerian, a trucker, is at the hospital and in a critical condition on account of injuries received.
 Towalski, who was the elevator operator, and Najerian were proceed ing to the top floor of the factory shortly after 9 o'clock, when the acci- dent happened. The load on the ele- vator was only about 1000 pounds, whereas it's capacity was about 2,000 pounds. When near the fifth floor the elevator began to drop.
 The yells of the men imprisoned on the elevator were heard above the roar of the machinery. Workmen paled and women working in the vi cinity tainted as the elevator went down. There was a loud crash and a smashing of metal-Work and timber when the car struck the concrete well at the basement floor. Screws with which the car was loaded scattered about the floor.
 Workmen in the factory rushed to the we'll and the injured men were dragged from the debris A hurry call was telephoned to the police sta- ton for the ambulance and the men were taken to the hospital. Kowalski, who was apparently the most seriously injured, went first and Najerian fol- lowed in the second trip.
 Dr. Carl J. Hart attended the vic tims at the hospital. He found kOW- alski unconscious and apparently suf- fering from a fractured skull His head was badly crushed and bruised, on the left side. He bled from the ears, indicating fractured skull. His right leg was broken, it being a cOm- pound fracture. He died half an hour after his arrival in the hospital. Najerian's head is badly bruised. He was partly unconscious. No effort was made to ascertain from him the cir cumstances of the accident.
 Factory officials made an investiga- ton. Manager Charles Glover said afterward that it seemed as if "sone- thing s1ipped," causing the elevator to fall. It was said by workmen at the factory that it semed as if the gears on the elevator, which was hoisted by power, were stripped. Others asserted that a large crossbar at the top broke. There was, how ever, no defect in the cable. The ele- vator was equipped with standard safety devices.
 The elevators at the factory are reg ularly inspected by representatives of an insurance company carrying ele- vator insurance.
 Medical Examiner Dr. Harry A. FL cock made an tigation following the accident. He said that Kowalski's death was due to a fractured skull. He questioned a number of witnesses but declined to make known what he learned.
 Kowa1ski had operated the elevator at the factory for some time. He has been in this country several years and leaves a wife and children.
 Najerian's home Is at 23 Lafayette street