When 30 People Were Stranded On A Ferris Wheel In Jersey Shore, June 1960

On Saturday June 25th 1960, the 3 inch main shaft  of the Ferris Wheel at the Jersey Shore Fireman's Carnival snapped, causing the wheel to stop and tilt at an angle.  Some passengers where stranded for nearly two hours.

An aerial ladder from the Lock Haven fire company was brought over to assist with the rescue.

At 9:40 pm, the three inch axel of of the Ferris Wheel slipped partway out of one of the hubs.  This caused the wheel to tilt against the supproting steel braces.

The 45 foot tall wheel was owned by Lewis Garbrick, of Centere Hall.  Garbrick was on the carnival grounds that night, and he said the wheen had been in service for four years, and was subject to regular inspections.  There had been nothing to indicate a problem.

Those in cars closest to the ground scrambled to safety, or were helped by volunteer firemen.

Those near the top waited for an aerial ladder to be brought from Lock Haven.

Harry D. Toner, shown handing a child to Allen Koch, both Hope Hose Co. firemen. (Notes, this later article states 18 were rescued - that refers specifically to the 18 rescued by aerial ladder.  The other 12 were able to be rescued without needing the ladder form Lock Haven.)

The wheel was tied with ropes and chains to secure if for the rescue. It hung at a 10-15 degree tilt for two hours, while passengers were rescued.

  At 10:40 pm, the wheel dropped once again.

"The crunch of the already bowed braces prompted fearful exclamations from spectators, more than from the passengers"

"Despite the hazard that the wheel could topple at any time and almost unmindful of the dangers of mass hysteria, nearby high-voltage lines, and other handicaps, the workmen went bout the dramatic operation quietly and quickly"

The first photographers on the scene were asked to not take flash photographs, for fea it would startle those on board the wheel.

  Care had to be taken to not unbalance the tilted wheel.  Firemen had to work side to side, removing passengers while attempting to keep the weight on each side as even as possible. 

It took two hour and 15 minutes to finish the rescues.

Two men were taken to the hospital.  Alan R. Miller, of Jersey Shore, fainted shortly after handing his 2 year old daughter over to firemen.

Frederick Baye was taken down by stretcher after handing an infant over to rescuers.  Baye's legs had become temporarily paralyzed, when a previous injury was aggravated while on the Ferris Wheel.

3 year old Janie Allen, being carried by Allen Koch

Alan Miller, on the ride along with his 3 year old daughter, felt the wheel "start to go".  He shouted to spectators below, and made the decision to throw his 3 year old daughter down to those below. "The decision wasn't necessary however, as Miller, and his daughters, and all others were brought to safety."

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Those listed as rescued  by the aerial ladder included:

Donald Beaver, 15, of Avis

Allen Miller 34 & his daughter Janie, age 3

Leonard Lockuff age 5

Sandra Lee Tawney, 8 of Linden

Douglad, Deborah, and Pamela Guthrie

John Miller, age 13

Donna & Naomi Burvis

Fred Bay, age 27, and infant son Timmy, of Salladasburg

Edward Zerbee age 36, and son David, 4, of Linden

Fred Keller, age 12

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The first Ferris Wheel was constructed by G.W. Gale Ferris, for the Chicago Worlds

 Columbian Exposition in 1893.  It could carry a total of 2,160 persons in 36 cars.  Modern Ferris Wheels are smaller, usually made with 12-16 cars carrying two persons each.

In 1965, Garbrick owned patents on several Ferris Wheel parts, including a special "easy up" design iwth a special trailer, made to make assembly at carnivals faster.

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