The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-11-06
TRAGEDY In AN
OMAHA CHURCH
Pastor and Young Woman Found
Dead in Pastors Study.
HELD IN EACH OTHERS ARMS
ASPHYxIATIoN BY GAS WAS
THE CAUSE OF DEATH.

nMAHA. Neb., Nov 5.-ClaSped in each
others arms, lying on the floor OF
the pastors study in the German
Baptist church. early today, Oscar Bern
des. janitor of the church, discovered the
dead bodies of Rev. William c. Rabe,
pastor. and Augusta Busch. a mission
airy and assistant to the pastor.
Death had been caused by asphyXia-
ton. The room was filled with gas, a
jet and a burner of a small stove being
partly turned on. The bodies were lying
on the floor when found, the womans
head being pillOWed on some cushions.
They had evidently lain in that position
for several hours. There seems TO be
but little doubt that death was acct
dental. 1t Is believed that the pair mad
fallen asleep, the flame 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 at once took charge
of the remains and will hold an inquest
tomorrow.
Miss Busch roomed at the home Of
Rev. Rabe lived at the home of Harry
Dickson, at 1872 Parker street.
Fatal Meeting.
Yesterday morning Miss Busch went to
the Dickson home and remained there all
day and until about 8 o. clock in the even
ing. engaged in sewing. She left for her
home at the BeTndeS residence alone, ana
it is thought probable that she met the
Rev. Mr.. Rabe returning home and that
the two then Went to his study IN the
occurred. They had always been good
friends but no stronger feeling is said
to have made itself apparent TO those
who knew them.
pastors study and found the door locked
and the key on the inside. From a
crack beneath the door he smeiled 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 begun 10 turn purple
One gas let over the pastors table was
partly turned off and from a stove gas
was slowly escaping The officers no.
titled the coroner and the remains were
taken to the morgue.
Suicide Not Intended.
It was thought at first the two had
an open letter, a neatly arranged bou-
quet, his watch and glasses, and his hat,
her gloves and handkerchief neatly
folded. On the back of a chair was her
Jacket and the room was as orderly as
though it had just been cleaned The
letter was written in German, and, when
interpreted, was found to be an answer
to another letter which Rev. Mr.. Rabe
had received, and there was nothing in
it to Indicate that the two had intended
taking their lives.
Rev. MIR. Rabe was "a years Of age and
came to Omaha from Buffalo, n. Y,
when he was chosen pastor of the Ger
man Baptist church. In that state he
left wife and one son, Carl.
He was held'in high esteem by his con-
gregation, and recently, upon the occa-
sion of his birthday, church party was
given in his honor He Toomed with. tw o
young men named Dickson and house
keeper.
Miss Busch was 81 years old and had
been missionary in Omaha for the last
five years. She came here from Chicago,
sent by the church missionary school.
She, too, was held in high esteem and
was very popular.
Practitioners of the church say that
no one had noticed any undue intimacy
between the young woman and her
pastor. They said she was frequently
thrown with the clergyman in the
course of her missionary laboTs, but no
one had the least suspicion that they
were other than pastor and missionary
in their relations toward each other,
A Shapely Blonde.
In a sort of autobiography found
among the papers Of the dead woman,
she had written that she was born in
East Prussia, Nov. IS, 1871. In the
sketch she referred to her conversion
and entrance into the training school
at Chicago, and of her life at a broth
er's home at Oak Park, Chicago The
paper was dated year ago. She was
petite and shapeiy woman of the
blonde type. and was plainly but taste
fully dressed In a striped waist and
walking skirt, wearing gray felt hat.
OF the ministry and home life of
Rev. Rabe, the members of his congre-
ga ton bear testimony Of the greatest
praise. He was tinely educated man,