The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-11-06
PASTOR AND MISSIONARY
 DIE IN EACH OTHERS ARMS
Rev. w. Rabe Pastor of German Baptist Church, and Miss Augusta Busch, Missionary Are Asphwated in Pastors
 Study-Had Fallen Asleep With Gas Jet 0pen

Omaha, Neb.. November 5.-clasped iH each others arms, lying on the floor o1 the pastors study in the German Bap- tist church, Oscar Berndes, janitor of the church. early today discovered the dead bodies of Rev. W. c. Rabe, pastor, and Augusta Busch, a missionary and as- sistant to the pastor
 Death probably was caused by asphyx- iation. The room was filled with gas, a jet and a burner of @ small stove be- ing partly turned on.
 The womans head was on some cush- ions. They had evidently lain in that position for several hours. There seems to be little doubt that death was aeei- dental. It is believed that the pair had fallen asleep, the stove flames blew out and the gas escaped. The bodies were rigid and stiff. and death had evidently occurred during the early hours of the previous evening The coroner took charge of the remains and will hold an inquest tomorrow. Miss Busch roomed at the home of Janitor Berndes, at 27sa Parker street.
 Left Home Alone.
 Yesterday morning Miss Busch went to the Dirksen home and remained there all day and until about o'clock in the evening, engaged in sewing She left for her room in the Berndes' residence alone, and 1t is thought probable that she met the Rev Rabe while returning homo and that the two went to his study in the rear of the church. where the tragedy occurred. They had always been good mt no to have made itself apparent to those who knew them. Mrs. Berndes supposed the dead woman was in her room until Mrs. Schalka, housekeeper for Rev Rabe, came and said MT. Rabe had moi been at home during the night. Then 1t was discovered that Miss Busch had not occupied her room.
 Bodies Are Found.
 Each falling to return home during tho night. occasioned a search for them this morning. The janitor went to the pas. tors study and found the door locked and the key on the inside From crack beneath the door he smelt the es- caping gas. He summoned a police of- ficer and the door was broken open In the center of the very small study the bodies lay, the heads just a few feet from the door The woman's face was covered with froth and had begun to
 
 tors table was partly turned off and from stove gas was slowly escaping. The door from the study opening to the auditorium of the church was slightly open and the auditorium was filled with gas. The officer notified the coroner and the remains were taken. to the morgue.
 Theory of Suicide.
 It was thought at first that the two had committed suicide for on the table was an open letter. a neatly arranged bouquet, the preachers watch and glasses and his hat; Miss Buschs gloves and handker- chief with her jacket neatly folded on the back of a chair. The room was or derly as though 1t had just been cleaned. The letter was written In German and when interpreted was found to be an an- swer to another letter which Rev. Rabe had received. There was nothing in it to indicate that the two had intended talk ing their lives
 Around the front and side of the church building, at Twenty-sixth and Seward streets, a large crowd stood as the bodies were taken from the building.
 To Miss Ottolie Noerling, particularly was the death of the two shock, and she was almost prostrated. Miss Noerling is about IS years of age. and arrived in Omaha on a morning train from Louis- vile. Ky en route to Denver She stop ped OH Tor lew uayS 10 NlSlt MISS Busch She arrived at the room of the dead woman just the news was taken there that she was dead.
 We'll Thought Of.
 Rev. Rabe was 54 years of age and came to Omaha from Buffalo, N. Y.s when he was chosen pastor of the Ger man Baptist church. In New York he left wife, who is attending a mission ary school, and one son, Carl, of whom he often spoke to his friends He was held in high esteem by his congregation. He roomed with two young men named Dirksen and had a housekeeper The parents of the young men recently died and Rev Rabe remained with the boys to take care of them.
 Miss Busch was 3l years of age and had been a missionary in Omaha for tho last five years. She came here from Cnl- cago. She, too, was held in high esteem and was very popular. She had broth- CT. believed to be in Michigan, but for some time she had had no trace of him and his address is unknown to her friends. Her trunk, containing many letters. which will likely lead to the location of her relatives, has been taken in charge