Des Moines, IA newspaper, 2 Feb 1951:
10-STORY FALL DOWN A SHAFT AND HE LIVES

Arthur Hinton, 51, fell 10 stories down an elevator shaft in the Walnut
Building, Fifth avenue and Walnut street, Thursday morning - and lived.
Hinton, a Walnut building maintenance man who lives at 743 Thirty-sixth
st., was conscious after his 125 foot fall. Taken to Broadlawns General
hospital, he was reported in "fair" condition later Thursday. Hospital
officials said he suffered a broken left leg and multiple cuts and bruises.
X-rays were to be taken to determine if there were further injuries.

A brother, Verne Hinton of 4931 Woodland ave., said Arthur burned his
hands trying to grab elevator cables in the shaft during his plunge. "He
wouldn't have had a chance of coming out of it otherwise," Verne Hinton
said. "He told me he tried hard to grab them to break his fall."

Just before the accident, Hinton and Judson Colton of 1109 Twenty-fifth
st. had been painting on the tenth floor of the building, located at the
southeast corner of the intersection. Both are employed by the Walnut
Realty Co., owner of the building. When they finished at 9:50 a.m., Hinton
climbed on top of an elevator in one of the two elevator shafts and Colton
handed him their 10 foot ladder. They planned to return the ladder to the
basement by lowering it on top of the elevator. "That's the only way to get
it down," said. The top of the cab- that part of an elevator in which
passengers ride- was even with the tenth floor when Colton handed the
ladder to Hinton. "I started to get on with Hinton and ride down, but he
asked me to get inside the cab so I could take the ladder from him when we
got to the basement," Colton said. Colton then asked the elevator operator,
Thelma Reeves of 3013 Third st., to move the cab upward to the tenth floor
so he could get inside. When the cab moved up to the tenth floor, the ladder
jammed against timbers at the top of the shaft and knocked Hinton into the
adjoining shaft, Colton said. Hinton fell the 125 feet to the top of the
motionless elevator cab at the basement level of the adjoining shaft.



Des Moines newspaper, IA, 5 Feb 1951:
LOSES FIGHT FOR LIFE AFTER 10-STORY FALL
The man who fought desperately for his life last Thursday while falling 10
stories down an elevator shaft succumbed Sunday to multiple injuries at
Mercy hospital...

He clutched frantically at elevator cables after he was knocked from atop
an elevator cab while attempting to mave a ladder. Although the cables
caused cruel burns on his hands and he suffered a broken leg and severe
bruises, it was thought at the time he had cheated death. He was taken to
broadlawns General hospital, but was transferred afew hours later to Mercy
hospital after his surgeon said Mr. Hinton's condition was good enough to
allow the move. About 12 hours after the accident, the surgeon described
Mr. Hinton's condition as "good" and said no internal injuries had been
detected.

Mr. Hinton, who had remained conscious, was even able to talk good-
naturedly Thursday night as he described his 125 foot fall. "Lucky? -
You're not kidding," he declared.

Another surgeon said Sunday that Mr. Hinton died of "multiple injuries but
no one specific thing."  He said internal injuries which "came to light
gradually" contributed to the death but were among a number of causes. Mr.
Hinton's condition worsened Saturday night and early Sunday, during which
time he was given blood transfusions.

A lifetime resident of Des Moines, Mr. Hinton is survived by his wife,
Lucille, a son, Edward Dwight, and a daughter, Miss Patricia Ann Hinton,
all of Des Moines. Also surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William A.
Hinton, a brother, Verne, a sister, Miss Vivian May Hinton, and three
grandchildren, all of Des Moines. Another brother, C. Frank Hinton is in
Oak Ridge, Tenn.


Transcribed & submitted by:
Janette (Wilson) Ramos
RamosGang@Worldnet.att.net

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