Anchored by Her Crinoline

[Danny]

Memphis Daily Appeal[Memphis, Tenn.], March 2, 1861, p. 1, c. 3

"Fast Anchored by Her Crinoline...A lady in a dry goods store in Buffalo had seated herself on one of the revolving stools now in use in front of the counters in such establishments, and on rising got her hoops so completely and firmly entangled about and under the revolving top as to anchor her for the time being to the spot. The only method of releasing the lady was by unscrewing the top of the revolving seat; this being accomplished by the gallant storekeeper, the fastened fair one was set at liberty."

- Dan Wykes

[C.R. Henderson]

Now that's funny, Dan. Oh, to see the look on that poor lass's face when she realized her predicament! Good find!

[Hank Trent]

A lady in a dry goods store in Buffalo had seated herself on one of the revolving stools now in use in front of the counters in such establishments

That part is pretty interesting too. I'm picturing seats like at a snack bar or soda fountain, except you sit while you shop, looking over the merchandise the clerk brings you. Is that what they mean?

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

[Drygoods]

A local mercantile that has been in operation since the 1850s had exactly that same style of chairs at their drygoods counter. It is sort of an anchored piano chair style, with swivel seat and a back rest. The chairs were bolted to the floor, quite attractive and had been there likely since the store had been built. Sadly, the owners thought them too much of a liability and sold them. Those same chairs are now living in an old victorian home that had a kitchen remodel and now are used at the kitchen island/dining bar. However, I could easily see how a woman could get tangled in those chairs wearing a cage.

[Stephen Shepherd]

There is a great account written in a journal by the women to whom this happened. While traveling to Great Salt Lake City a woman was walking beside a wagon when her dress got caught in the projecting hub of a wagon wheel.

She had enough presence of mind to jump on the wheel as her dress tightened, she held to the spokes with her feet on the fellies, for two revolutions before they got the wagon stopped. She could not free herself, so a couple of women held up a blanket as she climbed out of her dress, untwisted it from the wagon wheel hub and put it back on. All while maintaining modesty.

She wrote in her journal that she no longer walked 'next to the wagon' but in front or back.

Mr. Shepherd