The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-01-25 00:00:00

SUFFOCATION OF A FAMILY AT

CRADLEY HEATH.

uTighsoninhuaybbitp
uts. of this
(four in number)-of a small house, situated at Scolding
on the
quiet
gniinetei Viragenweeerathmatutchhe itilisktee de
apartment; in this the bodies were found. From what
ground lidoeo6dr,.onTehole cottage
a°sensrviesti as
tawiouerolii:imogs
hu yet been wertained, it appears that they all retired
to bed, in health on Sunday night, at the usual hour, but
on Monday morning several persons who visited the
house on business or otherwise, tailed to gain admittance.
it first this caused no alarm, but is the day advanced
I and no entrance could be gained, enspieions began to
arise that all was not tight. About twelve o'clock an
entrance was effected through the window, when the
residents, Edward Whitehouse, aged 81: his wife, Phiabe
Whitehouse, aged 28; Joseph Edmunds, aged 26, brother
to Whitehouse; and Edward Edmunds, aged eleven
I months, son of Jouph Edmunds. were found in • state
of insensibility, and wen thought at first to be all dead.
On the arrival of Dr. Staudish'e aesistant, he found that
Edward Whitehouse and Edward Edmunds were quite
dead, and Phcebe Whitehouse and Joseph Edmund. were
in • state of coma. Drs. Standish, Thomson, and Ken,
now arrived, and proper remedies were instantly applied;
but very little hope is held out u to the reeovery of the
survivors. As • bucket of cokes was found in the bed-
room,the ventilation of which is defective,Kwas supposed
that suffocation was the cause of the sad catastrophe.
From the nurse's account it appeared she was engaged
to work as nurse at the house, but slept at home. She
• went to the home about seven o'clock in the morning on
Monday, and knocked at the door, but without effect,
and then went and told the neighbours she could not get
in. From time to time she returned to the house, which
remained closed, but eventually it was thought desirable
to gain admission, which was done by a neighbour,
Catherine Billingham, patting the nurse through the
I front room window. The girl, having lit the fire and
swept up the hearth, noticed sounds as of heavy breath.
ing in the adjoining room. She accordingly went and
told Mrs. Billingham, who returned to the house, and
went into the bedroom, the door being on the latch.
Mrs. Billinghani immediately perceived that something
was wrong. The bed-room is very small, being only
about 9 feet by 8 feet. In it were two bed., the one
nearest the door occupied by Edmunds, and the other by
Whitehouse, his wife, and the child. He first sensation
wu one of great oppression, arising from the state of the
atmosphere in the room. On looking round, she saw
Edmunde lying quite still, but breathing with greet
difficulty. The bed-clothes were disarranged, and Mrs.
Billingham's impression is that Edmunds had been
struggling. In the other bed she observed that Mr.
Whitettonie and the baby were dead. Both were lying
as if asleep, and appeared to have died withoat a struggle.
With regard to the wife, she was lying beside the baby
much in the same condition as her brother. She was
breathing very heavily, and the bed clothed were parti-
ally removed. The relatives were then sent for, and
Edmonds was placed on the sofa in the front-room. The
father of Whitehouse says that he, seeing that his son
was dead, and the others in so critical a state, at once
sent for a surgeon. This was about one o'clock. A
gentleman acting as toeunt renew to Dr. Standish at once
proceeded to the house. On entering he found Edmuudd
lying on the sofa, as above described, breathing very
heavily. The wife was in • similar condition in the bed-
room, the husband and child being, as we have already
said, quite dead. Both rooms were crowded with neigh.
boars, and the first impression among them was that the
family had been poieoned, but on examining the bed
chambers the surgeon found a tolerably large galvanised
bucket halt fu" of small coke still warm. The cause of
death was, therefore, apparent. It is clear that the
bucket containing the coke had been taken into the bed
room on the previous night, which was • very cold one,
for the purpose of warming it. and that the carbonic
oxide vihich arose from the combustion had done in;
fatal work. Artificial respiration and the usual remedies
were immediately resorted to, and it was at first believed
that the results would be satisfactory. Shortly after-
wards Dr. Standish arrived, and both he and his Iltunt
Centros remained in the home until nearly midnight on
Monday. Edmunds and his sister continuing much in
the same condition as that in which they were found.
On Tuesday morning the state of Edmunds and Mrs.
Whitehouse had not undergone any change, the surgeons
being early in attendasce. Every possible means were
used to restore consciousness, but without the least
apparent effect. The neighbours were unremitting in.
their attentions, and much praise is due to Mrs. Billing.
ham, alluded to above, for her constant and discrimine.
tine supervision.
At twelve o'clock on Tuesday, the impression of the
surgeons was that one or both of the survivors would
ultimately recover, but we are sorry to add that as the
day progressed all favourable symptoms disappeared.
The stertorous breathing continued, end a death-like
pallor gradually overspread the countenance of Edmunds.
It was • fearful sight to witness the struggle for life
on the pert of poor Mrs. Whitehouse. Late in the thty
the heavy breathing observable from the beginning had
mach increased. She was perspiring and frothing at the
mouth, her teeth being firmly clenched. which rendered
it impossible to continue the smell doses which bad been
previously administered. There is no doubt that she
was then rapidly sinking. Edmunds died about five
o'clock on Tuesday evening. The scene which then oc-
curred may be more easily imagined than described.
Several members of his family were present, including
his mother, sister, and sweetheart, all of whom had been.
most assiduous in their attentions. When the end came
their grief was simply indescribable, and was, if possible,
increased by the consciousness that the sister would in all
human probability share the same fate within • few
hours. On Wednesday morning, about seven o'clock the
sister died.

Much intereet has naturally been awakened in the
whole district by this distressing and fatal event. The
cause of death is very clear. The family sere desirous
of warming their bedroom, and being ignorant of the
deadly effects arising from burning coke in an unventi-
lated room, have paid the terrible penalty of their indis-
cretion. In addition to the weather being eery sold, the
bedroom itself was damp—s farther reason why the
burning coke was introduced. There was no chimney,
or outlet of any kind for the noxious fumes. The habita-
tion was built—as too many are in the same locality_
without proper regard either to ventilation or other re-
quirements. Whitehouse, himself, was described as a
very industrious, ingenious, and economical man. On
the side of the cottage stands a small well-arranged
conservatory, which was built by the deceased not long
ego. He was noted for his skill in everything connected
with his business. There were no signs of poverty about
the premises; the house, such as it is, being well and
comfortably furnished. Edmunds was a puddler, em-
ployed at the Corogrearee Ironworks. He also was a
steady, industrious man.