The morning call., 1890-09-30
TWO MEN SUFFOCATED
They Die in the Poisonous Gases
of a Wine Tank.
Patrick Mullgrew Meets With Terrible
Fate, and Michael Koenig Expires
While Attempting to Save Him.

Patrick Mullgrew, bother in the wine
vaults of the Eisen Vinegar Company, ~
Stevenson street, was suffocated at o'clock
yesterday afternoon in wine vat at the es-
tablishment by carbonic acid gas.
Michael koenig, the foreman, lost his life
heroically making vain endeavor TO save
the life of Mulgrew.
Fred Miller and Mulgrew proceeded to
wash out = 5000 gallon cask, which is located
on the top floor of the building, and from
which wine had been drawn only a few days
ago. The top of the cask almost meets the
rafters overhead, and, TO gain access to its
inside, it was necessary for the men to pass
between rafters. Mullgrew easily found
his way over the casks rim, from which po-
siton he lowered lighted candle as a test
for gases. The candle burned satisfactorily,
and Mullgrew went into the tank, still hold
ing the candle. Miller remained above on
step-ladder to pass in buckets of water.
DARKNESS AND DEATH.
But only few seconds elapsed when the
tank was in darkness and Miller knew that
his fellow workman was dying below. lie
could hear the unfortunate Mullgrew gasping
for breath and groaning, and Instantly gave
the alarm He ran downstairs to the b0ttiing
department aud called to the men TO help
him in rescuing Mullgrew, who was then
suffocating in the tank. The men hurried
upstairs, armed with ropes, axes and any
thing they could carry which might be of
some use in saving the dying man.
Fred Cashier, bother, was the first at
the tank. He was in the act IF going down
into the caSk when the warning smell of
disturbed gases drove him back.
He lowered lighted candle toward where
Mullgrew lay. 1t would not burn, and he
withdrew saying that where gas was strong
enough to extiuguish light it was equally
strong in Quenchng life.
KoENIG GOES DOWN.
Seeing Mller's hesitation. Koenig ran up
the step ladder and dropped INTO the tank,
taking rope with which TO haul out Null
crews body.
Another few moments and Koenig sank
down unconscious in the deadly fumes.
Never word escaped his lips, nor even
groan-he passed out of sight and life to-
gether But he died nobly in the gallant at
tempt to save another.
None of the others would then hazard an
effort to rescue the men in the caSk. IL APP
peared beyond all reason to hope to come
out alive. They fell to, like frantic beings,
with heavy axes to hew out portion of The
slaves. their excitement giving them super
human strength while chips flew from the
thick timbers
The time seemed remarkably short for
men to cut away the slaves, but after all it
WAS 100 ioDS, luT DOlH MuliSfeW ana hOp1ll1
we're then CHASTITY corpses. A physician,
who had been summoned, declared them
dead and notified the Coroner.
Their bodies were taken to the Morgue.
THEMSELVES TO BLAME.
Both OF the dead men were single. Null
grew lived at the corner of Church aud
Twenty-irst streets with relatives. He was
90 years of age. Koenig was year younger,
and lived at the corner of Howard and First
streets.
II is not an uncommon occurrence to have
poisonous gas generated quickly in wine
casks. Knowing this, men employed in
wineries are generally cautious about enter
ing empty tanks, and it is claimed in this
case that Mullgrew was rather heed less of
consequences and Koeng forgetful in his
momentary excitement From what the
men say, however, they imagine that the
gases will escape when the cask is uncovered
at the top. They evidently forgot that the
deadly gas evolved from the acdulous wine
lees are heavier than the air and remain
upon the bottom. In Mullgrew's case it was
supposed that the light was not let down far
enough to CO me in contact with th~ =--i-nn--