The sun., 1898-02-12
Ne BLEW OUT THE GAS
John Barrick Gets Himself and
Brother in Trouble.
IT LOOKED LIKE SUICIDE
Two BrOiher Came to This City and
Nearly Lost Their Lives In Il
Room AT the Merritt House.

1t has Just leaked out that the Merritt
House was on last Sunday morning a
scene OF what ut first looked like at
tempted suicide, but which proved to Ike
narrow escape from death by asphyxia-
tion.
Leonard and John Barrick, Of Norris
town, Md, figured prominently in the
affair.
The lives of both Of item were saved
only after strenuous efforts.
Leonard Barri,k is young man about
twenty-five years old who deals in lime,
and it is his custom to make Il tour OF
the different cities of this section to sell
lime to the farmers fo, ferilzing pllr-
poses.
lie has been to this city many times
before but on previous occasions always
travelled by himself. This trip he was
accompanied by his older brother John,
who 10 twenty-four years of age
The Young men arrived in this city
early Saturday evening, and registered
at the Merritt House. After eating sup
per the younger brother who is familiar
with the city, took his brother out to
show him the town.
They first paid visit to the Opera
House, and witnessed the performance
Of Uncle Toms Cabin.
After the show they visited several
places of interest, and arrived at the
hotel shortly after twelve O'Clock.
Both men were sober as neither of them
had partaken Of any Intoxicating liquors.
The men went directly totheir room
after arriving at the hotel.
Nothing further was heard from them
until shortly after one O'Clock, when the
call bell rang, slnmoning the porter tc
the room which was occupied by the
two Norristown men.
The porter went to the door OF the
room, and, trying the door, found it
locked, at the same time he noticed q
strong odor Of gas. He Immediately sur:
mized that something was wrong, and
called for help. When the night clerk
reached the room, the two men with
their combined strength broke in the
door.
When the door opened the two
men were staggered by the strong
oder Of gas. but they managed
to get to the windows of the room and
open then. They next proceeded tc
carry the occupants of the room who
were in an unconscious condition into
the corridor.
A messenger was cent to DR.. George
Quinn, who arrived shortly after, and
went to work to resl,sic,ate the two men,
1t required three hours of hard work
before the men were able to talk, and
when they were able to make an ex
planation as to the cause Of the ACCIDENT,
the statement OF the younger brother
was to the effect, that he, Immediately
after going to the room, had disrobed
and gotten into bed and was asleep be-
fore his brother had finished undressing
He did not awaken until he Wa'
aroused by a terrible smothcrint
feeling.
lie was so nearly asrhyxiated that h'
was not able to get ont OF bed. but hat
presence Of mind to touch the buttol
which was within reach. That was the
last thing he remembered until he fonnt
himself in another room and the doctor
wirking on him.
1t was learned that the Older lrother
after undressing had blown out the ga'
before getting in,o bed. As both mel
were very tired they were sound asIccI
before the odor Of the gas was noticea
bic.
1t was thought for a time that botl
men would experience serious troubl,
from the effects of the accident, but the,
grew better SO rapidly they were SEN
home on Monday evening.