, 1866-01-04

A Whole Family sufocatcd by Coal
Gas IN New Yorls-Dcath OF Two Per-
sons from same cause In Worcester.
Mass. ......
[From New York World, Jan. 1stI
A terrible accident from sufocatlon by coal
gas, resulting in the death OF two persons md
the cndaDgering of the lircs Of two others, oc-
Cured yeste1d day afternoon, at No. 5o7 Grand
street, under very aggravating circumstances.
The tacts Of the case are rs follows: i Mrs.
Cosgrore, residing at $50 Grand street. went
about llalfpast two o'clock yesterday alter
noon to Pay friendly visit to an ased lady
friend of hers, named McGahey, who lived at
the former number. On arriving at the door
she knocked several times; but, receiving no
answer, lifted the lntch, and pushed the door
open and entered. Mrs Cosgrove, in opening
the door, first Eaw the old lady In her usual
place in The bed, lying On her BUCK, aud to oil
appearances IN quiet slumher. She advanced
toward the couch, and was on the point Of
waking its occupant when she heard lond
groans, as Of one in deep agony, issuing from
the bedroom In rear Of tho one in which Mrs.
3fcGahoy was lying, She was about retiring,
when she perceived kerosene 1amp lying ou
the table. She hastily seized it and entered
the room. On tho bed lny Francis alcGahoy,
a man about thtfty-dve years Of nge, and
bis sister Anna, aged about forty. The
woman was groaning as II laboring under
great pain, and the contortlons Of her feat
nTes were fearful to behold. The man lay on
his side with his eyes open In vacant stare,
to Ill appearances In 1 state of stnpefactlon
caused BY excessive drinking. Becoming
alarmed at-Hhat she bcheld, Mrs. CosgroYe
rushed into the street and gaye tho alarm,
when officer Droadhcad, VIM. Act!ahey.
member Of The unfortunate family, and
several neie hhors came into the apartments.
The old lady, on examination was found to
| he dead, and the nun and woman In the inner
apartment In the last throes Of death. While
removing the two latter from the bed, little
EoY, The son OF Francis McGahey, was lounl
heIng entirely extinct. At tho discovery Of
this terrible catastrophe, crowds Of persons
surrounded tho huusc, nnl for q time
the excitement amorg those present ran very
high. The suffering man and woman Ncro
Immediately conveyed into the opcn mir, 4al
ven was soon on the spot, end pronounced tho
case one Of sulfocation. Remedies were ap-
piled, and The sufferers were taken to house
in the ncighborhood, where ut last accounts
hopes Of Their recovery wcrc entertained b.
their friends.
STORY OF ONE or TIE VICTIMS.
According 10 tho statement OF Francis Nc
about lhrce O'Clock, his business as a baker
RECURRING him to be out all night. On enter
fng tie room. Le found his mother apparently
asleep In her bed His sister and little son
were In tile bed Of the inner apartment, and
both were attempting to vomit, complaining
Of iecliug llnwe1l. Not wishlag to 20 to bed
under such circumstances, he seated himself
in chair by the stove, In which lively fire
Of coal was burning at the time, in order to
wait until lis son and sister would get over
tlei- aflment cs he was under the impression
tley were only laboripg under sone slight at
tack OF Gicine:a, which would last but few
minutes, lie remained seated but q few min
1stes when lie began TO feel Lrowsy, and short
u afterwards fell asleep, and remained slru1-
betIng for over an hour. Gu awakiug he felt
extremely III himself, the sensation lie expert
cnred being like what person Wonld fcelwath
q grent load pressing them down. Unable to
rndrees, he threw himself bodily down on the
led, md from that time up to the moment Re
was rescued from an awful death by a mere
chance, rerythiES Is to him as II hc had not
lived.
1t Is turmlscd and generally believed that q
nun named Edward Hunter, who wanted TO
get the family out Of the honsc, Was gailty OF
stopping up the chimney, thus driving the
ccai gas into tho rooms, causing thc fatal re-
suits stated nb6ye.