The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-08-15
DEATH WAS AT HAND
j. T.. kRENIK HAS A VERY MAR
ROW ESCAPE FROM AsPHYX-
AATION
GAS JET PARTIALLY TURNS,
WAS DISCOVERED TO BE IN
CONSCIOUS.
HE HAD LEFT AN EARLY CALL,
Which,, With the Fact That the Win
dow Was Slightly Open, Ac-
counts for His Being Alive.

J.. E. Krenik, the junior member Of
the firm Of J. H. Kartack & Co., COM
mission merchants doing business at
! 313 st. Peter street, had a narrow es-
cape from death by asphyxiation,
yesterday morning. When found MI.
Krenik was unconscious and ap-
parently beyond aid. but the joint eff
forts Of several physicians who were
hurriedly summoned. succeeded in re-
suscitating him after two hours hard
work, n yesterday afternoon he
was pronounced out of danger, though
| confined to his bed throughout the
day.
Mr.. Krenik lives at 376 Franklin
street. When he retired Friday night
he left word to be called at 6 o'clock
yesterday morning, and to this fact
he doubtless owes his life. When the
person who went to his room shortly
before 6 o'clock and received no re-
Spouse to the knock, she was not at
first concerned as she failed to detect
the odor Of the escaping a. and
merely thought her border doing a
moment before arising. In about ten
minutes, however, when Mr.. Krenik
| did not come down stairs and no
sound was heard. in his room, she
again went to the upper hallway and
was alarmed at smelling gas. Run
ming to Mr.. Krenik's room h pound
ed on the door, but got no answer.
A strong odor Of gas was noticeable,
apparently coming from the room.
Hastily trying the door and finding it
locked the landlady screamed loudly
for help, arousing others Of her
boarders and attracting several per-
sons from the street.
Among those who heard her cries on
the outside were ex-City Detective
Harry Meyerding . and Herman
Schlithing, a cigar dealer at Seventh
and Franklin streets. They ran into
the house, and learning the situation,
at once broke in Mr.. Krenik's oor
The young man lay ~insensible cross
wise of the bed, while the coverings
were twisted and disheveled, show
ing hat he had probably felt himself
being overcome n had tried to
arise. Mr.. Meyerding carried the I'M
conscious man to the fresh air and
labored with HIM until the arrival of
a physician, succeeding in arouSing
distinct signs of life, though it was
feared the young mans experience
would prove fatal. When Mr.. Krenik
q lCSONClCo SulllCICLIIIy " ldlh lS
told the story of his close call, which
shows the affair to have been purely
accidental.
When he retired, Mr.. Krenik said,
he had turned off the gas and had
thrown his shirt over the improvised
bracket made by the fixture. Either
in this way or as he released the stop
cock after shutting off the gas, the
jet was partially opened, allowing the
room to slowly fill with the poisonous
vapor. An examination of the stop
cock showed it to be quite loose, per-
hitting it to be turned with a very
slight pressure. Before going to bed
Mr.. Krenik opened the window in the
room several inches, n thus a GUAM
tlty of the gas made it's escape dur
ing the night. Had the window been
closed he would undoubtedly have
been overcome earlier in the evening
without he knowledge of those about
the house. When the landlady
knocked on the door the first time
Mr.. krenik says he had a ain knowl-
edge that some one was trying TO
rouse him and that he tried to get IN
but he could lot shake off the stupor
which a seized upon him. He CON
slders his escape from death almost
miraculous, and is deeply grateful to
those who rescued him so onpor.
tunely.
VaDatian yuotor ocn1-1