The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-01-08
ANOTHER VICTIM OF GAS.
a North CaTOlinian'S Experiment
With ii Results DiSaStrOuSly.

n. @. Mcdonald, of Hamlet, N. c., As
phyxiated in His Room at the Screw
en- Housewives on His Way to Flori-
da to GO to Work on a Turpentine
Farm-N othing to Indicate That His
Death Was a Suicide-The Body Will
Probably Be Sent Home To-day.
Asphyxiation claimed another victim
in a Savannah hotel, and yesterday morn
ing II. C. Mcdonald, of Hamlet, N. c.,
was no more.
Mcdonald came in Saturday night on
the South Bound and went to the Screven
house. There was something about his APP
pearance and demeanor which betokened
him a rather unsophisticated individual,
and the idea of registering seemed new
one to him, as he didn't know where to
register from until the clerk explained to
him.
He retired very early, however, calling
for his key shortly after o'clock. He
went directly to his room, which was on
the second floor, just above the barber
shop on Bull street. No evidence Of es-
Gaping gas was detected until yesterday
morning about o'clock, when the party
in the room next to his retired, and little
attention was paid to it then.
FOUND DEAD IN THE MORNING.
About O'Clock yesterday morning a
strong smell of gas was detected coming
from McDonald's room, and as the door
was tightly locked and no response could
be obtained from the occupant, there was
nothing TO do but break IL open
When the room was opened 1t was
found filed with gas, and the jet was
turned on full blast. DR.. Martin was
summoned. and as the body was found TO
be quite warm two of the bell boys were
put to rubbing him with mustard. His
body was covered with mustard when
the coroner arrived, about two hours
later, but all efforts had failed TO resusci-
tate him. DR. Martin made an examina-
ton, aud gave certificate of death from
asphyxiation. Coroner Dixon then had
the body removed from the hotel.
HARDLY A SUICIDE.
There was nothing whatever about Nc
Donald's death to indicate that he was a
suicide He had the windows shut and
the door was locked, but Coroner Dixon
who has had experience with a number
of such cases, says that the rooms are
always tightly closed in every such in
stance. He says II is nothing more than
the result Of the suspicious of a stranger,
who is unused to stopping in a hotel.
They always close the windows and lock
the doors. The presumption is that he
blew out the gas without knowing any
thing about what he was doing.
Mcdonald was from Hamlet, n. c., and
letters in his pockets indicated that he
was on his way to Florida. He had a let
, ter with him from f. M. McNeal, of some
point near Jacksonville, which offered
him employment at the same salary as
was paid him last season, which indicates
that he was not man who had been con
fined to the country all his life, but that
he had been working in Florida before.
MeNeal is judged from his letters to be a
naval stores producer and 1t is supposed
that Mcdonald was to take charge of one
of his stills. as he was told TO bring with
him as many good hands as he could get.
He had a ticket from Savannah TO Jack
sonville in his pocket, and was probably
on his way there.
WANTED THE CAUSE OF HIS DEATH
Coroner Dixon took charge of the body
and wired the telegraph operator at Ham
let, N. O., to know who Mcdonald was,
and what should be done with the body
The operator replied that Mcdonald had
family there, but asked first to know
the cause of his death and said he would
advise later as to what was to be done
with the body. Coroner Dixon answered
that message and was expecting a reply
last night
Mcdonald had just Lei in his pockets,
and there was pint flask of whisky on
the table in his room, but very little of it
had been used. He was a man of 30 or 40
years of age and did not appear to be
heavy drinker. 1t is certain that he was
not intoxicated Saturday night before
going to bed. The body will probably be
sent on to his relatives in North Carolina
to-day.