The morning news., 1898-12-31
THEY BLEW OUT THE GAS.
ONE SOLDIER DEAD AND ANOTHER
HAD NARROW ESCAPE,

CorpI. Williams and CorpI. Newman
of the Ninth Illinois Regiment
Given "a Lodging in an OgIethOrpe
Avenue HOuse-They Did Not Heed
the Warming About Turning or
the Gas-COrpl. Williams Dead
When Discovered and His Conn
panion in an Unconscious Condi-
ton, hut viii Recover.
cover.
Attracted by mans death groans ring
ing in her ears, Madam Dora West hurried
TO a basement room of her house on Ogle-
thorpe avenue yesterday, broke open the
door and rushing inside, found Corpl Mar
Corpl. j. e. Newman, in the last throes
Of death. A kissing gas jet emitting its
deadly poison quickly told the story.
Losing no time in arousing the other in
mates of the house, the women went hur-
ried1y TO work in an effort to rescue the
surviving soldier. The first thing she
did after turning off the gas and
throwing open small window, was 10 lay
hold of Corpl. Newman and drag him into
the open air. When on the outside, the wo-
man began working excitedly to restore
the unfortunate man, who was unconscious
and from all appearances lacked little of
following in the footsteps of his comrade
Meantime physicians had been summoned,
but the inmates did not wish to run the
risk of waiting for them, thinking they
might be able to resusitate the soldier.
BY this time there were several women
with Newman, who was given a vigorous
rubbing. He was given two cups of coffee,
which it was hoped would have the effect
of arousing him from the stupor, but his
stomach was not in condition to retain
anything. Newman finally showed faint
signs of improving by opening his eyes.
The women continued their efforts until
the physicians arrived, when he was taken
in The police ambulance to the Savannah
Hospital.
Capt John T. Tolliver, regimental quar-
termaster of the Ninth Illinois Regiment,
90 which the men belong, and Lieut.. c.
w Stewart also of the Ninth, were the
first to arrive at the house. To them the
women told a story which seemed to be a
true account of the affair.
1t seems the soldiers were the recipients
of hospitality which turned out to be
wandering through the tenderloin district
some time, finally winding up at the West
Woman's house, where they remained un-
til after midnight. At this time CorpI.
Charles Williams, the dead mans uncle,
was with them, and made an effort to get
them to accompany him to camp, but his
persuasion failed to turn them. They were
out for a lark, and intended to remain in
the city. The uncle soon saw that further
flor To he fn
and he left them at the West house. He
asked the woman not to allow them to re-
main in the house oyer night, he said, and
ON being promised that they would be
started away later on, he left with the as
surance they would follow him.
The woman compiled with her promise, 1t
seems, and started the soldiers away a
short time after CorpL Charles Williams
left. They had not been away from the
house a great while, however when they
returned and wanted a room for them
selves for the night. Newman who Is the
younger of the two is said TO have been
drinking heavily, but Wi1iams was per
1ecty sober The men said they We're tired
and did not care to trudge out to camp.
The woman agreed 10 give them a room
in the basement. She accompanied them
to it, lighted the gas, and before leaving
took special care to show them how to
turn it out. Williams seemed TO thorough
ly understand the explanation.
1t was not until late yesterday morning
that one of the inmates of the house smell
ed escaping gas, which was the first init
nation that something was wrong. Ankle
ty was at once felt for the soldiers in the
basement, and going there herself, the
West woman heard Newman groaning
family. She felt satisfied gas was escaping
IN the room, but repeated raps failed to
arouse the sfeepers, whereupon she burst
in the door. 1t was a ghastly sight that
confronted her. Williams lay on his back
dead, while Newman was frothing at the
mouth, breathing heavily, and groaning in
way that indicated he was in terrible
agony.
The room is very small not apparently
being more than seven or eight feet square,
and had therefore been heavily inflated.
It only has one small window, which was
closed, and the door, which enters into
small, close hallway, has no transom. 1t
Is rather strange the corporal lived to get
out after being thus confined so long, and
with the poisoned atmosphere constantly
Increasing in volume.
COrpl. Newman is receiving the best of
attention, and the physicians feel sure he
VIII recover. His home is at Benton, ILL.,,
and ne is about 20 years old.
The remains of Marshal were taken in
charge by Coroner Goette who held an in
quest last night. Everything conclusive
ly indicated that the gas had been b.own
out by one or the other of the men, ana
lhat the blame could not, therefore, be
liked on any one. The remains will be
sent to-day to West Frankfort, Ill. The
pody will be escorted to the depot by
ueldchment from Company E, to which
Ootn the men belonged.