The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-02-28
POISONED LUNCH
AT A SALE.
Meat Cooked in a Copper Kettle
Followed by Disastrous
Results.

-ASAt VI ie,> c4cllei1ent Nds Cttdleu mere
Monday afternoon when ii was learned that
Jeremiah Ringler, a prominent resident Of
QGemshoning township, had died at an
early hour that morning from the effects of
poisoning. A short time afterwards it was
reported that Alex Rhoads, leading farmer
ofJenner township, bad died from the same
cause, that ten or twelve other farmers of the
north Of the county were critically III and
that at least ifiy Others had been effected by
eating poisoned meat at sale held Thursday
last at the residence Of the late William
Holder, in Qaemahoning township. Those
effected by the poison are scattered all over
the north Of the county, and a number live
in Somerset and the immediate vicinity.
IL is customary all over this county to
prepare cold lunch for all persons who at
tend sales in the rural districts, and on this
occasion the people who had charge Of
Holders effects prepared among other arti-
cles lot of cold beef that had been boiled
in copper kettle the day before and stood
in the vessel over night.
About two hundred and fifty people Ct
tended the sale and most of them partook of
the meat Soon after eating a number of
them became violently sick None of them
knew to what cause TO attribute their sick
ness. John Tayman, of Lavansyille, who
was one of the auctioneers at the sale, was
one of the first effected. He says that
shortly after lunch he had intense gripping
pains in his stomach and was soon after
wards seized with fits of vomiting. He
managed TO keep his feet during the after
noon and came 10 Somerset that evening.
He was still very sick when he reached here
and said he thought he would die before
be arrived home. He continued i'll until
Sunday. John A. Walter, of Somerset, the
other auciiOneer, was also effected by the
poison, but not seriously. Frank Miller,
clerk in the Register and Recorders Office,
ate piece of the meat and was sick at the
stomach the balance of the day and through
out the night. he did not know what
caused his sickness Wilson sAnner, Of
Somerset, was similarly effected.
Persons who attended the sale say that
Ringler ate very heartily of the meat and
about a halfhour after eating complained
of feeling very sick at his stomach. He
returned to his home and continued sick
Thursday night and Friday. Saturday
physician from Stoyestown was called in
and he soon discovered that Ringler was
suffering from poison. The physician, upon |
inquiry. learned that his patient had been |
poisoned by the meat he had eaten at the |
Holder sale. The physician was poWerless |
to eradicate the poison and Ringler lin |
gered in great agony until Monday morning |
when he expired.
Among other rumors afloat is one to the |
effect that the persons who were preparing |
the lunch for the sale had added large /
lot Of salt to the boiling va er in which |
the meat was cooking. The salt had the
effect Of removing every particle of verde
girls from the sides Of the kettle and it con-
tsminated the beef
Every effort was made before going to /
press Tuesday evening to verify the report /
that Alex Rhoads had fallen victim to the |
poisoned meat, but from the best irforma-
ton obiainable he was not seriously ef-
lecied.
People from Jenner township. who are at
tending court, say that they heard nothing
in regard to Mr.. Rhoads' sickness. and had
be died they would certainly have learned
of it,,
The other reports in regard TO farmers in
the north Of the county being critically i'll
as a result of eating the poisoned meat, are
now thoroughly discrediied.
Il is well settled, however, that large
number of persons were more or less ef-
fected by poison after eating the meat.