Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-02-08

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Present Day.
A frightful discovery was made at No
22s Washington street, Brooklyn, shortly
after noon yesterday. A family of six
persons, who took possession Of the house
the day previous, passed the night in q
ANAL room in the rear, on the first floor.
The weather being very cold they put
Franklin stove and lighted q coal fire.
Closing the door and windows, they laid
down and went TO sleep some on the bed
and others on the sofa and chairs, while the
infant was placed in the cradle. The gas
had not been turned off and that, together
with the gas from tbe-one of the lids hsv-
ing been taken ef-illled the air with nox-
ious vapor, from the effects of which they
all became insensible, and the youngest
died before their condition was discovered.
The name of the unfortunate family is
Van Buren,. The fsther, Barnett Van
Buren,, is aged AZ; his wife, Eunice Ann,
80; three children, Ida IL years old, Ed
wsrd, :, and Myron, years old. A sister
in-lsw, Mrs. Van Buren, also lived with the
family. She is about 25 years old. Mr.
Van Buren, had rented the house for the
purpose Of keeping bosrders. The goods
and furniture were brought in on Thurs
day, and everything being in confusion,
occupied the small apartment in which
they were found in the night. The house
had been unoccupied for some time, and
was in charge OF colored jsnitor. He
called at noon, more from curiosity than
anything else, to see how they were get
ting along. Not finding any one sstir, he
made noise to attract attention. Pres
emily he heard sounds of distress proceed
ing from the rear room. He knocked but
receivedno answer. The grosning became
more distinct, and st last he opened the
door. Hs found the husband and wife on
the bed, and the others lying in different
positions about the apartment; their faces
were frightfully contorted, and very black;
He came out of the house, and informed
officer Dyer, who was in the neighborhood.
The officer went into the apartment, and
found The state Of affairs just as the janitor
represented. He at once hoisted the win
dows and threw open the door. The fresh
air had q reviving effect, and some of them
began 10 show signs of life. He summond
DR.. Gilfllen, who was at the scene IN q
few moments, and on examining the diff
feTent parties pronounced tnem al alVe,
with the exception of Myron, the infant,
who was stiff in death The others we're
still unconscious, but revived somewhat af-
ter the application of restoratives, with the
exception of Mrs. Van Buren, who from
appearances was past recovery.
On examining the apartment it was
found that full head of gas was escaping
from the burner. The lid of the stove had
been taken off to prevent the fire from
burning too rapidly, the draft had been
shut of, and the gas from the coal conse-
quently also escaped into the room. There
wss not the slightest ventilation, and the
family going to sleep in that poisonous at
mosphere were doubtless soon rendered
helpless. Had they remained undiscoV-
cred few hours longer, not one of them
would now be alive. Mr.. Van Buren, was
fast sinking last evening, but there is a
fair prospect that the others will eventu-
ally recovery 7. World.