Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-02
BREATHEO THE DEADLY GAS
Charles Henry Fischer of West Washington
Takes His Own Life.
Believed to Have Been Mentally De-
ranged-A Union Veteran of
the Late War.

barber. who for nearly quarter of CEN
fury has conducted an establishment at
1865 32d street, committed suicide last
evening some time between and 8 o'clock,
while seated in chair in the rear of his
shop. Death was caused by -inhaling illu-
minatiEg gas, and the victim took every
precaution to make sure Of the work.
When discovered he was beyond earthly
help. 1t Is believed he was temporarily de-
ranged.
From the indications it would appear that
the arrangements for the rash act were
made with great elaboration. A small
rubber tube attached to the burner of
gas lamp. a chair to hold the man and
small piece of cord were all that were re-
quired. The only person in the house at
the time the act was committed was the
wife of of Fischer's sons, who was
upstairs. After fastening one end of the
rubber tube to the gas burner Mr.. Fischer
attached the other end to his mouth. To
keep the tube in position a small cord was
tied to one end. and this fastened around
the neck. When this was completed,
Fischer turned the full flow of gas and
sat down in the chair to await his end.
Escaping Gas Attracted Attention.
He had not been in this position for more
| than half hour, probably, when the
| smell of escaping gas attracted the atten-
| ton of Mrs. Otto Fischer. She spoke to
| Mrs. Smith, who occupies the other side
| of the double house, and that lady sent
| her small Harry to get a policeman to
investigate, it being feared that some
| thing was wrong with the fixtures. In the
| meantime Mr.. Hugh Smith, an older son,
seeing his brother come up the street with
| a policeman went into the house. He de-
tected the odor of gas, and traced 1t 10
| the room in the rear of the shop. He at
| tempted to get in by the rear way, but
| could not. Policeman Edwards, who reach
~; rod 70 rnf
access to the shop by breaking small
pane of glass in the front door and turning
| the key. The smell of gas almost over
powered him, but he proceeded and dis
covered Fischer sitting in the chair. quick
| ly turning off the gas, he pulled the rubber
| tube from Fischer's mouth, and made an
| examination. soon discovering that the man
was dead. DIR. Carl Kleinschmidt was i'm
mediately sent for, but the case was be-
yond his skill.
Widow Prostrnted by Grief.
as soon as the fact was known, word
was sent for the sons of Fischer, who were
at the National Guard Armory. They ar
| rived home by $3.50 O'Clock. Mrs. Fischer,
| the wife of the dead man, was also sent
| for. The sudden news Frustrated her. She
I was carried into the residence of a neigh
| Dor and given medical attendance. The
| coroner was also notified of the suicide.
| The deceased was sixty years of age, and
had been in business in Georgetown since
| 1870 For twenty-four years he had occu-
| pied the premises in which his death oc-
| CURED, and had enjoyed a good patronage.
He was native of Germany, being born in
ZellerfeId, Hanover, near the Hartz noun
| tains. He came over to this country in
1851 and remained a short time in New
York. His brother Otto accompanied him.
| The two went to Baltimore and opened
| business of their own. Mr.. Fischer worked
| there until the outbreak of the war. when
| he went to the assistance of his adopted
country, ard entered the ranks of Company
B, 1st Regiment Maryland Cavalry Volun-
teers. He was in the battles of the Wilder
ness. Cedar Mountain, Second Bull Run
and numerous other battles and skirmishes.
He attained the rank of sergeant and was
one Of the party sent to capture Stonewall
Jackson, who managed to escape by
| treating down the valley. a skirmish fol-
| lowed. in which MIR. Fischer was wounded
| in the left leg. He was taken to the mill
| tary hospital at Alexandria, where he re-
| manned for nine months, and his wound
| growing no better, he was removed to Fort
| Henry. Baltimore, where he was discharged
| from the service for disability in 1868.
| His Society Connections.
Post. No. Z, Grand Army of the Republic.
| He was also a member of William Tell
| Lodge, No. 4, l. o. o. F., of Baltimore, the
| lodge that was Instituted by the founder of
| the order. He belonged also to Potomac
| Lodge. No. 5, F. A. A. NJ, and of Potomac
| Ccmmandery, No 3. Knights Templar and
| also to the Good Brothers, beneficial Ger
| man organization, having been one of the
| charter members of the latter organization.
| He formerly belonged to Hermoine Lodge,
| No. Il. Knights of Pythias, but withdrew
| in 1890. He leaves widow and three sons,
| Otto H.. William c. and Charles j., and
| one daughter, Augusta H., to mourn his
| death In addition to these, he leaves
| sister, Mrs Freedman, residing in Balti-
more, and another in Germany, Mrs. Muel-
| Ter His brother Otto, with whom he came
| to this country, died recently in Baltimore,
| but another brother. Wilhelm, survives.
| His home is in Germany
The funeral will be held Thursday after
noon at o'clock sharp from the West