New-York tribune., 1897-01-15
TWO MEN sUFFoCATED.
THE SECRETARY OF BIG SIX" AND
ANOTHER PRINTER KILLED By oAA

FOUND DEAD IN A ROOM IN A HARLEM HOTEL
PECULIAR CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE.
Two men were sufrocated by gas in their room
In Henry singhrs Hotel Timer. at No 70 West
One-hundred-and-twenty-n -nfth-st. and their bodies
were found In bed yesterday morning The men
were William Ferguson, thirty-eight years old. OF
One-hundred- y-seventh-st and st. Nicho.
las-ave. who was the secretary of Typographical
Union No. 6. and James McKenna. printer. forty
years old. OF No. 7S Halsey-st. Brooklyn.
who Is also q member Of the union.
Ferguson had frequently stayed at the hotel and
well known to the proprietor. He was =
brother of Edward Ferguson who keeps "ine
Drive" at One-hundred- red-andtwenty-hfth-st' ana
Seventh-ave. The two men entered the barroom
Of the hotel at 80 o'clock Wednesday night ana
engaged Room No. 2. which Is on the second moor
Of the house. They asked to be called at In the
morning
When Jacob Heinrich tho clerk Of the hotel
knocked the door Of the room at the hour
designated he noticed strong odor OF gas coming
from the room. The door was locked. but Helm
rich burst 1t open ard found the room filled with
illuminating gas and the two men lying apparently
dead the bed. fully undressed. Although A.
most stined. Heinrich managed to open wfndow
and let out the gas. Then he noticed that one OF
the lights OF the chandelier in the room was ourn-
Ing low. and that another Of the burners "ss
turned full on but was not lighted.
pital and a messenger sent for DR.. Shepp In
Madison-ave., between One-bundred and twenty
fifth and One-hundred- d-and-twenty-sixth sts. ~.
Shepp who was the nrst to arrive r vaid and that
death had been caused by asphyxiation Or ray
lor. Of the hospital VINO arrived moment 'a's''
When the police searched the clothing OF rersu. ~
son. letter from his wife was found In one OF ne M
pockets The letter. was not given out by the ne
police, but it is said to hint Of proceedings for
said that he had understood that Ferguson had
Mr. Singh said that neither Ferguson nor Nc
hotel. nor when they retired to their room The
police. the surgeon and Mr.. Singh are puzzled 20
understand how It happened that sufficient gas TO
suffocate the two men could have gathered in .
room where gas jet was burning without caus-
ing an explosion.
William Ferguson was secretary OF Typographical
Union No for six years and was serving ne
seventh consecutive term at the time OF MS deatn
ular printers in the country He was thirty
eight years old and learned his trade In scranton;
Repnbcan ep' m and afterward on The Union Of the
same city. He always took an active interest IN
,hs aamnsrn aSGr a~f When
Knishts Of Labor. was elected Mayor OF Scranton
independent ticket ne came an tho 70 Exestivs tive
Committee OF big six" In 1880 he Was eiectsa
secretary Of the union His % sWo oces Of
Secretary and treasurer were merged into ons.
which he filled with credit TO himself ana r va!'Issr Fsr
suson was sent as a delegate TO the convention OF
the International Union at Denver IN lSs ana nsso
was delegate to many other important meetinss'
where his Intelligence and conserva.iye veSs rsat
coupled with his energy awhyS hS senarsted from
h,s wife and although he never spoke OF his Per.
sonai troubles his friends knew ,hat tn,s hnaewsr @
ba, his mn matrimonial difficulties had anything 70
ana, dn With ' his death. which they think was purey
accidental Wne Nm hooks there is not the slightest
susnicon in the union OF his integrity