A Coal Elevator Gives Way at the Foot of Madison Street

The hydraulic elevator at the Seattle Coal & Iron Company's bunkers, at the foot of Madison Street, broke last evening at 6 o'clock, and two cars of coal and three men fell a distance of twenty feet. The cars were almost demolished and the turntable was broken, but the men had a miraculous escape from injury, not one of them suffering even a scratch. The damage would necessitate a new caisson and cause a delay of about ten days, the damage amounting to several hundred dollars.

Four employees of the company, Thomas Bosher, Bill, Fred Woodrow and Brown, were preparing to hoist the first coal of the evening to the bunkers. Two cars were run onto the elevator and Bill, Woodrow and Brown climbed onto the coal while Bosher remained at the wheel. When up about twenty feet the elevator stopped, and Woodrow, becoming alarmed, sprang from the coal to the top of the bunkers, which were within easy reach. A second later there was a crash, and the elevator, cars, coal and men shot downward and were piled in a heap. Bill and Brown were covered with coal dust, but crawled out of the debris none the worse for their experience, though both badly frightened.

Harry B. Talcott, engineer of the company, explained the accident by saying that the salt water must have caused the hoisting cylinder to rust to such an extent that it grew thin and could not stand the pressure, and it burst, letting out the water, when the weight of the coal cars forced the elevator down to the sump. The break was unavoidable in his judgment, and the elevator is now in its present position. The break occurred in the outside casing of the hoist at the mud line, twenty feet under water. An order for the casting of a new cylinder was given yesterday. Arrangements were made for the necessary screens, which will be attached to the cars, and the accident will not materially interfere with the retail coal business in this city, but for ten days the bunkers cannot be used.