The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1901-02-19

Edward N. Grimm Suf-
focated by Gas.
FOUR OTHERS ESCAPE
But the Condition of Two Is
CriticaI...AII Unconscious
When Found.

Burned gas escaping from q range at
the home of Mr.. Edward N Grimm at
422 North Cherry street Friday morn
ing caused the death of Mr.. Grimm and
the serious injury Of four other persons.
These are. Mrs. Grimm, Miss Anna
Clayton, Mrs. Grimm's sister of Chi
cago, and the two children, Isabel and
Harold Grimm, aged three and eight
years respectively.
At 10:45 Friday morning, Alfonso
Fosnaught, who has a butcher shop on
Third street. near the Grimm home,
called at the house. He found that the
door was not locked and entered the
kitchen. The fumes of burned gas in
the house were suffocating. Fosnaught,
suspecting that the family was pros
trated by the gas, ascended the stairs
and entered the bedroom occupied by
Mr.. and Mrs. Grimm which is imme-
diately at the head of the stairs.
There were five persons lying in the
small room. Mr.. Grimm's body lay
leg was thrown upon the edge of the bed
and his arms were outstretched. On the
bed nearest him Mrs. Grimm lay
gasping for breath. At her feet was
the young son and near her head was
the little girl, both unconscious and ap-
parently lifeless.
Another bed in the room contained
Miss Anna Clayton, Mrs. Grimms sis
ter who arrived from Chicago Wednes-
day evening. Miss Clayton was strug-
Cling for breath and appeared to be in
the throes of death.
Fosnaught threw open one of the
windows and, descending the stairs,
shut off the gas in the range. He then
rushed out Of the house and summoned
DR.. March, who happened to be near
at hand.
The physician entered the house i'm
mediately and made hasty examina
tion of the persons in the room. He
found that Mr.. Grimm was alreay
dead and that Mrs. Grimm and her sis
ter were in very critical condition.
Other physicians were called and the
proper means were taken to revive the
surviving members of the family. The
children remained unconscious for n
half hour but being the least affected,
gradually recovered. They were taken
to the home of Charles Lawrence, a
neighbor, where they were given all
necessary attention.
Miss Clayton's condition is regarded
as the most serious, although Mrs.
Grimm is still in precarious state.
After time both of the women opened
their eyes but up until o'clock neither
has been able to recognize anyone or
to utter an ineligible word. DR..
March said two hours after the dis
covery was made that Mrs. Grimm
would, in all probability, recover, but
that her sisters case was less hopeful
HOW 1T OCCURRED.
The conditions surrounding the ca
lamity are rather unusual. The nox-
ious fumse Of the burned gas emanated
from a large gas range which is set
Immediately at the foot Of the stairs
which lead to the door of the bed room
where the family was found. An ex-
animation Of the stove showed that the
pipe had been clogged by an accumula-
tlon Of SCOT. thus forcing the gas out in
10 the room. The opening of the stair
way being just at the left of the stove,
furnished a natural exit for the deadly
stuff. 1t poured up the stairway and
filled the small room located just at the
top.
1t appears that the two children slept
down stairs during the night on a
lounge. They were dressed when found
and it is supposed that they came up to
their parents room early in the morn
ing. Miss Clayton also had her clothes
on, which is rather puzzling feature
of the case. She was lying in the bed
alone with covers over her but she had
oil Of hor clothing on, even her shoes.
1t is supposed that she arrived on a
very late train and may have thought
1t unnecessary to undress before retir-
ing. Mr.. and Mrs. Grimm were both
in their night clothing when found.
DR.. March said to a News Democrat
reporter that he has been attending
both Mr.. and Mrs. Grimm for grip dur
ing tho present week. Mrs. Grimm has
been quite i'll, and the husband has
been feeling very badly for the last
few days. The doctor said that he In
tended making them a call Friday
morning, and was in fact on his way to