The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-04-04
C.A.REITZE'S TRAGIC FATE
he ACCIDENTALLY KILLS HIMSELF
AT THE DE SOTO.

Expedition TO Florida Sis Gun Y
plodes end Nearly Blows of His
Read-Dead An Hour Before Being
Discovered - A Chambsrmaid the
First to Find Him-Ee Was to start
on a Tug With a Perty OF Friends
To-day.
Carl A. Reitzs shot and instantly killed
himself III bis room at the De Soto WITH a
breech-IoadlDg shotgun late yesterday alter
noon. Everything III the room and the posi-
ton OF the body when found Indicated that
the killing was accides tai
Between 5:8y O'Clock and $50 o'clock
House Detective uartigan, who was walk
ing in the eastern portion OF the north cor
ridor on the second floor, heard report
which sounded like the mutled firing Of
gun. He turned quickly to sea II ne could
locate the sound and at once began to in
ves.igate. He went through the entire cor
ridor, but found nothing out Of the way,
and finally decided that the noise came from
the street.
About an hour afterward the chamber
maid entered Mr.. Reitzes room to light the
gas, as was her usual custom. She opened
the door by means of her pass key and
when she lighted the gas it displayed to her
gaze horrible sight. Mr.. Reisze was lying
half in the room and half IL the clothes
closet with a pool OF blood around him.
The girl rushed from the room screaming,
Detective Hartigau was the FIRST to reach
her in the ball, but the only answer he
could get from the chambermaid was; an
there" pointing to the room she had just
rushed from.
FINDING OF THE BODY.
The detective fastened in and glance
showed him what had occurred. Mr..
Reitze was in O kneoling position with
the gun between his legs and his head
buried into the muzzle. What had been
face was nothing but a hollow with a few
pieces of hanging flesh. The eyes, nose
and mouth we're gone, and the bar
reIs Of the gun were resting
against the base of the skull, acting
as q prop to keep the body in posture. His
shirt, vest and trousers were saturated with
blood, a large pool had formed on the floor
and run in a stream nearly a foot. and
brains were scattered about on the wall and
door sill Blood had also run into the
trunk Mr.. Reitze had been unpGoding in
the closet.
Detective Hartigan notified the pro-
prietors Of the De Soto what had happened
and they at once sent for Coroner Dixon.
DR.. Martin had also been sent for and he
arrived before the coroner, but his services
were not needed. Mr.. Reitzs had been
dead at least an hour, in the doctors
opinion, before being discovered. After
taking note of the arrangement Of things
in Mr.. Reitze's room and hearing state
ments Of those who had been with him in
the afternoon, Coroner Dixon decided that
the killing was the result Of an accident
and that an inquest was unnecessary.
HOW THE TRAGEDY OCCURRED,
Mr.. Reitzo was evidently getting ready
for hunting expedition when the
accident which ended his life
occurred. He had intended going to Flori1a
for few days sport. and last night en-
gagged q tug to take himself and party down
to-day. lie lef, Maj. Bertody little be-
fore 5 o'clock. and said he was going to the
De Soto to get his hunting traps ready.
When Mr.. Reitze reached the hotel he
began to unpack his trunk to get his
hunting suit, and Mrs. Reitze
left him engaged in this
work when she went out
for visit to the hospital He appeared
TO be in excellent spirits in anticipation Of
good time on the hunt.
Mr.. Reize took out his suit and laid it
carefully on the sofa, placed his traps on the
floor alongside and put his valise on a chair.
Then 1t Is supposed he went for the fatal
gun, which was in the closet be-
hind the trunk. 1t is a hammerless
half action weapon, very easy of
discharge. The only theory advanced is
that Mr. Reitze placed the gun between his
legs to look into the barrel to see il 1t was
loaded, and that as he STOPPED the trigger
was pulled by catching IN his trousers and
the charge entered his face under the eyes,
Then as his body fell the gun penetrated the
cavity made by the shot, which threw
him into the kneeling posture. Death was
undoubtedly instantaneous, as the cartridge
was loaded with big buckshot. There was
cartridge in the other barrel Of the gun,
but 1t did not explode.
CLEARLY AN ACCIDENT.
DR.. Martin, who is an expert huntsman
as well as physician, said Mr.. Reitze's
death was clearly due to an accident. In
getting the gun into position for the light
to strike into the barrel Dr. Martin said it
was an easy matter for it TO discharge.
The nicely with which Mr.. Reitza had ar
ranged his things showed that he was an
the treacherous weapon hurled him into
eternity.
Mrs. Reitze arrived at the hotel a few
minutes after her husbands death had been
discovered. She noticed the excitement at
her room and tried to enter, but several
of the ladies led her away aud broke the
news to her as tenderly as possible. The
shock. however, Frustrated her, and DR..
Martin gave her medical attention. She
begged to be allowed TO see Mr.. Reitzs's
body, but it was not allowed, ss the horrible
sight would have only made her condition
worse.
The news of the tragedy spread rapidly
through the city aad was a shock to every
body to heard 1t. The De Soto was soon
crowded with Mr.. Reitze's friends, anxious
20 know If the report were true.
Coroner Dixon took charge of the body
and tookit to Mr.. Reitze's home. opposite the
De Soto, where be prepared it for burial.
PROGRESSIVE CITIZEN.
Mr. Reltzs was one of Savanneh's we'll
known successful and progressive business
men. He was a native of Detwold
Germany, aud was A years old.
be had lived in America
since he was very young
man. He came to this city from Pensacola,
fla., about twenty years ago to enter the
If ,, Z I'll. o.