Omaha daily bee., 1891-01-18
A STOCKMAN'S DEATH.
He is Asphyxiated i'm His Room at the
Merchants.


Another victim of asphyxiatiou by gas was
reported from the Merchants hotel yesterday
morning
Friday night man registered as &C. A.
Carlsten, Oakland" and asked to be shown
room, paying in advance for the same. He
was assigned to room and the porter claims
that he turned off the gas as is his custom,
after the guest had retired
About o'clock yesterday morning the smell
of gas was noticed and was traced to the room
occupied by Carlsten. One of the employees
OF the house entered the room through the
transom and found the gas turned on full and
the room tightly closed.
The man was lying in bed upon his back,
with the bedclothes drawn over him. The body
was cold, showing that life had peen extinct
some time.
The gas Jet was a single burner chandelier,
pendant from the ceiling and hung over the
foot of the bed.
The victim was Dane, about thirty-fve
years of age, 8 feet s inches tall, weighed
about one hundred and fifty pounds, sandy
hair and mustache, with about weeks
growth OF beard. When found he was at
tired in blue checked shirt and brown jeans
drawers. Beside the bed was a pair of dark
pants, congress shoes and overshoes. On
small stand beside the bed were dark blue
double-breasted reeting jacket and vest to
match An open-faceu gold watch and gold
chain were attached to the vest.
In the mans pocket was found paper
which established both his identity and his
business. 1t was a receipt from the railroad
showing that Carlsten had started from Oak
land, Burt county, Friday, In charge of
load of live stock belonging to n. Becllman
Il Co. of Oakland and destined to South
Omaha.
Numerous other articles were found in the
pockets of the clothing, among them
chased for the family at home. "Cheap
shoes, No. 5, for Mabel" beaded this
list, showing that he had a little daughter at
home. Among other articles were : Checked
gngham, calico, pie plates, cups, sauccrs and
glasses, and "No. 80 wrap or cloak" evil
IDENTIFY for the wife. A bib for. the baby
was also among the articles which he was to
purchase for the loved ones at home.
In purse in one of the pockets was S2l.5O
in bills and silver, draft for s., a 32-calibre
revolver, loaded knife, keys, etc.
The body was removed to MauPs under
taking rooms, where the coroner summoned
jury at o'clock last night and viewed the
remains and the room where Carlsten was
found dead. The night clerk and the porter
at the Merchants Were called as witnesses,
and stated that Carlsten had been assigned
room, and about 9:30 the porter showed him
up. The porter further stated that he had
asked Carsten If he understood the use Of
gas and how to turn out the light. He said
he did not, but If the porter would show him
he could handle it all right The porter then
showed him how to turn out the light and
told him TO be sure tnat ne le1t the gas smut
off.
About O'Clock the porter said
he smelled gas in the hall, and
pushing open the transom where Carl
stem slept he discovered that the room was
filed with the suffocating fluid. He called
the clerk and they broke in the door, finding
Carlsten lying across the bed dead.
The jury returned verdict in accordance
with the evidence, to the effect that Carlsten
came to his death from suffocation caused by
illuminating gas which he accidentally turned
on and inhaled in room 33 in the Merchants
hotel.
Several of the relatives and friends Of the
deceased arrived from Oakland on the 9:l5
train last night to take charge Of the remains.
The deceased was member of camp 9O7,
Modern Woodmen of America. He leaves a
wife apd one child.
Those who came in from Oakland last night
TO take charge of the remains Were John
Carlsten, father of the deceased; Mr.. A. Beck
man, banker of Oakland, and X. N. Rock, q
merchant of the village
Mr.. Beckman said that the deceased was
an honest, hard working farmer who never
indulged in any sort OF dissipation. He had
come to Omaha with several car loads Of
cattle which Mr.. Beckman was marketing
Carlsten had travelled good deal and had
slept many times in rooms where gas was
used but the cause of his death is believed to
have been purely accidental, for his friends
can think of no reason why he should take
his own life