Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-11-06
DEAD IN EACH
OTHERS ARMS.
Omaha Baptist Minister and Lady
Missionary So Found
SUICIDE OR ACCIDENTALLY
Probably the Latter-Notbiug tmprop'
or In Their Relations Had Ever
Been Noticed.

Omaha, Neb., Nov J.-Clasped In
each others arms, lying on the floor OF
the pastors study in the German Bap-
list church early today Oscar Berndes'
Ienitor Of the church, discovered the
dead bodies Of Rev. william c. Rabe,
pestor and Augusta Busch, mission
Gry and assistant to the pastor.
Death had been caused by asphyXia-
ton. The room was filled with gas, i
get and a burner OF a small stove being
partly turned on. The bodies were ly-
ing on the floor when found, the wo-
mans head being pillowed on some
cushions. They had evidently lain In
that position for several hours. There
seems to be little doubt that death
was accidental,
II is believed that the pair had fallen
asleep the flame blew out and the gas
efcaped The bodies were rigid and
stiff, and death had evidently occurred
during the early hours Of the previous
evening. The coroner at once TOOK
charge OF the remains and will hold an
inquest tomorrow.
Miss Busch roomed at the home OF
Janltor Berndes, 2635 Seward street,
and Rev, Rabe lived at the home or
Harry Dickson at 1882 Parker street.
Yesterday morning Miss Busch went
to the Dickson home and remained
there all day and until about o'clock
in the evening engaged In sewing. She
1, a.. a RArnnaG
dence alone. and II Is thought probable
that she met the Rev. Mr.. Rabe return
ing home. and that the two then Went
TO his study in the rear of the church,
where the tragedy occurred They had
always been good friends, but no
stronger feeling Is said to have made
itself apparent to those VINO khe"
them.
This morning the janltor went to the
pastors study and found the door lock-
ed and the key on the inside. FROM
crack beneath the door he smelled the
escaping gas. Quickly he summoned
the police and the door was broken
open. In the center of the small study
the bodies lay, the heads just few feet
from the door. The woman's face was
covered with froth and had Degun 10
turn purple. One gas jet over the pas,
tors table was partly turned on, ana
from stove gas was slowly escaping,
The officers notified the coroner ana
the remains were taken to the morgue'
II was thought at first that the two
had committed suicide, for on the taple
was am open letter, q neatly arranged
bouquet. his watch and glasses, ana ms
hat. her gloves and handkerchief neat
w folded. On the back OF chair was
her Jacket, and the room was orderly
as though 1t had just been cleaned the
letter was written In German ana
when interpreted was found TO be an
answer TO another letter which Kew
Mr.. Rabe had received and there was
nothing In It to indicate that the two
had intended taking their lives.
Rev. Rabe was "a years Of age ana
came TO Omaha from Buffalo, N Y,
when he was chosen pastor OF the Ger
man Baptist church. In that state he
left a wife and one son, Carl, He was
held in high esteem by his congrega-
tion. and recently upon the occasion
of his birthday. church party was
given In his honor. He roomed with
two young men named Dickson and
housekeeper.
Miss Busch was 81 years old ana had
been missionary in Omaha for the
last FIVE years. she came here from
Chicago sent by the church mission
airy school. She, too, was held In nigh
esteem and was very popular.
A dispatch from Chicago this after
noon soys: Mrs, Mary D. Burdette,
secretary and treasurer Of the Society
OF Baptist training school, said this af-
ternoon that Miss Augusta Busch en-
tered that institution In 1895 and took
a two years course In Bible study. Be-
fore she entered the school, she lived In
Oak park, where she had the reputa-
ton OF living a moral and religious
life. Since going TO Omaha she had
been doing good work, according to re-
ports received by the executive Of the
school here. Miss Busch was 80 years
of age"
Pensioners Of the church say that
no one had noticed any undue intimacy
between the young woman and her pas
tor. They say she was frequently
thrown with the clergyman In the
course af her Missionary labor, but no
one had the least suspicion that they
were other than pastor and mission