Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-24
A DOZEN FATALITIES
Reported Yesterday, With Any Num-
ber of Minor Casualties.
TWO RASH EFFORTS TO SUICIDE
And Very Nearly Successful Attempt at
Wife Murder.
MANY STORIES OF BLOOD AND CRIME

Two efforts at suicide, one very nearly
successful attempt at murder, six fatal acci-
dents, in one of which three persons lost
their lives, and any number of minor casu-
alties, was yesterdays record.
Mary Travers, II years old, took rough on
rats, and G. j. Roesenheisen, aged 81, drank
sulphurlc acid. In both cases death may
yet result.
Mary Travers is a good-looking blonde,
well developed for her age and healthy
enough to Withstand almost anything but
poison. According to her story she came to
Pittsburg from Altoona last September
and worked in downtown hotel About
week ago she left there and
table at Mrs. Whalon's restaurant,
No. SIG Grant street, sleeping in room
above. Yesterday morning she got up
about o'clock and worked about the place
until 1890, when she became suddenly i'll.
Mrs. Whalon asked what the trouble was,
but the girl had nothing to say. She kept
vomiting all afternoon, and finally about 6
o'clock became so ill that she had to be
carried upstairs to bed.
Confessed to Taking the Poison.
About o'clock she asked for priest and
one came from the Cathedral To him she
admitted having taken half teaspoonful
of rough on rats. DR.. McKelvey was sent
for and applied the regular remedies for
such cases. The girl said she took the
poison about $50 o'clock. She did not feel
its effects until shortly after noon. As to
the cause of the deed she was mum.
The case was reported to the police, and
Lieutenant Gallant and Detective Nc
Laughlin visited the girl. They questioned
her closely, but she would tell them moth
ing DR.. McKelvey concluded that if she
had taken as much poison as she claimed
death was likely to result, and ordered her
removal to place where she could be better
taken care Of No. patrol wagon was
summoned and the girl taken to the
Homeopathic Hospital. She was resting
comparatively easy last night, and
unless inflammation sets in will
likely recover There is rumor that
young man had been paying considerable
attention to the girl of late, but had sud-
denly deserted her. A sister of the girl
also lives here, but she could assign no
cause for the attempted suicide
Drank sulphuric Acid.
G. J. Roesenheisen tried to end his life
yesterday at noon by taking dose of sui
phuric acid at his home. No 81 Vista street,
Allegheny. The attempt would probably
have proved successful but for fortunate
discovery of his condition. Roesenheisen
is a German, aged 81 years, and employed
as machinist at the W Westinghouse machine
shops. On several occasions of late he
has purchased from Walther's drugstore,
No. III Chestnut street, Allegheny,
small walls OF sulphuric acid, saying he
needed it for battery. Yesterday morn
ing he bought two-ounce bottle and went
to his room.
About noon his sister and father heard an
unusual commotion in the room and broke
in the door, Roese1heisen was acting like
a maniac, rolling on the floor and groaning.
Upon seeing his sister he sprang to hisfeet,
and she and her father, fearing personal vio-
lence, quickly left the room. They summoned
several officers and Dr. r. J. McCready.
The officers held the man while the physi-
clan endeavored to trace the cause of his
condition. A two-ounce bottle half filed
with sulphuric acid was found on table,
and the indication of acid poisoning on the
man told the tale.
Gave the Officers Fight.
Sweet oil and other remedies were given
to alleviate the suffering of Roesenheisen.
He was quieted after about two hours
work. Last evening it was decided
best to send him to the Allegheny
General Hospital. He became excited and
refused to accede to this, and as he is
powerful man the officers were called in.
But despite their numbers he gave them a
hard struggle, and had to be carried by
main force to the patrol wagon. He was
taken to the hospital, and late last evening
was resting quietly. He will recover. His
motive for the course he took is not known
other than the surmise that quarrel he had
with his father the night before prompted
His mother with three of the children
are in Germany while he, his father and
two sisters are living in Allegheny.