West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1902-10-09
GAS FAILED TO KILL HIN,
The Telegraph Operator At Redemcrs
Tries 10 Commit Suicide.

Recently John A. Hcrgcrshimer. the D.
.. operator over at Rodemcrs In thl.
county tried to shuttle of this mortal col
by the natural gas route In the National
Hotel at Washington City. The Herald ol
Martinsburg had this to say about It,
After swallowing half pint OF whiske,
to quiet his nerves. John A. Hergcrshimer'
forty years old. a telegraph operator, oI
Rodemer, w. Va, turned of the gas In his
apartment at the National Hotel. Washing
ton, Wednesday night shortly before mid
night with the deliberate intention OF end
ing his life. The transom over the door OF
the room was open. however, and In few
moments the fumes OF the escaping gas
filled the hall aud found their way to the
ONCE on the lower floor. The attention OF
the night clerk was attracted. An investi.
| cation was made and the would.be suicide
was found unconscious on his bed. Mr.
Hergershmer was sent to the Emergency
Hospital. where the physicians quickly
restored him 10 consciousness.
Mr. Hcrgershmer who has relatives In
this city came Saturday night aud spent
Sunday here. lie went to the II. & O.
station sunday afternoon where he bought
IS day excursion ticket FOR Atlantic City,
where he Intended to spend his vacation.
No was late that day aud he decided 10
stop over In Washington.
When MT Hergcrshimer was n boy he
stayed with his aunt In this city and was a
messenger boy at the Il. & O. telegraph
Office In this city. While working here he
attempted TO board caboosc and losing
his hold Tell beneath the wheels aud lost
a limb. Later he learned to be an oper.
ator ana has been working Tor the II. 4 q.
road, He has been working at Rodemer
a short distance west OF Terra Alta.
The Washington Post had the following
account OF the attempted suicide
Mr. liergeishimcr came to the city from
Martinsburg, w. Va. Sunday evening. aud
went immediately to the National Hotel.
He had been TO the hostclry many times
before and was well known there. He is
employed by the baltimore and Ohio Rail.
road as telegraph operator. and IRE.
quentiy came to this city to spend his
leisure time When Mr.. Hcrgershimer
arrived here he was very Respondent. and
the people at the hotel state that he has
been drinking heavily ever since his
arrival. lie went TO his room last night
after n o'clock
Before going TO his apartments the man
purchased pint bottle OF whiskey As
soon as he removed part of his clothes he
drained the bottle and then tul ned the gas
out aud on again before getting into bed.
The night clerk OF the hotel detected the
Tunes oil the escaping gas shortly before
~ o clock and sent the night bell boys to
discover the source OF the odor Not con.
tent with this the clerk made an inyesti.
CATION personally and found that the gas
came from over the trensom OF door OF the
room OF the room occupied by Hcrgershi.
mer. He Knocked on tho door. and re.
celvod no response broke the door open
hergershimer was lying on his bed partly
dressed In an UNCONSCIOUS condition.
While waiting for the ambulance. the
clerk opened the door and window In the
room and brought the unconscious guest
out In the hall near a window that opened
on the street. HergcrshImer was hurried
to the hospital. where he soon regained
consciousness. He told the surgeons that
he had turned on the gas deliberately.
with the intention OF ending his life. He
said he was unmarried and that he had
been drinking heavily ever since he came
to Washington.
Hergershmer was put to bed. and re-.
leased this morning. He seemed to regret
what he had done, and promised the sur.
geons TO make no more attemps. In the
mans clothing AT the hotel were found a
gold watch. number OF railroad passes
bearing his name and large sum OF money
The papers In his possession identified him
as a telegraph operator OF Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad and Hergershimer hlms ELF
told the surgeons his occupation.