The Savannah morning news., 1902-09-30
EMILE lola DEAD
THE GREAT FRENCH NOVELIST AS
PHYXIATED.
FUMES FROM A COAL STOVE.
OVERCOME BOTH HIMSELF AND HIS
WIFE.

Bedroom Lighted Before Retiring
Owing to Sudden Cold SpeIl-De-
fective Stove and Pipes the Cause
of the TraSedy-M. ZOIa's Death
Causes Great Sensation.
Paris, Sept. 29.-Emile lola, the
novelist, who gained additional promi-
nence in recent years because of his
defense of the Jews and of Capt. Drey
fus, was found dead in his Paris home
this morning. Asphyxiation resulting
from the fumes from a stove in his
bedroom is given as the cause of his
death.
NJ. lola and his wife retired at 10
o'clock last night. Madame Zola was
seriously i'll, when the room was
broken into this morning. At about
noon she was removed to a private
hospital, where she recovered con-
seriousness for short time and was
able to briefly explain to a magistrate
what had happened. NJ. and Nine. 70
la returned to Paris from their country
house at Medan yesterday. Owing to a
sudden spell of cold weather the heat
ing stove in their bedroom was ordered
to be lighted. The stove burned badly
and the pipes of the stove are said to
have been out of order.
To the magistrate Nine. lola ex-
planned that she woke early this morn
ing with a splitting headache. She
awakened her husband and asked him
to open a window. She saw him rise
and attempt to move toward win
dow, but he staggered and fell to the
floor unconscious. Nine. lola tainted
at the same moment and was, there
fore, unable to give the alarm.
Nine lola does not yet know of her
husbands death, and it is feared che
may suffer a relapse when informed
of it, 1t is thought tonight, however,
that she will recover.
The death of M. lola, which only
became generally known late this at
ternoon, has caused a great sensation
in Paris, and this evening there was
constant stream of callers at the lola
residence. M. Zola's body lies upon a
diVan in the center of the spacious
drawing room of his house, under
canopy of rare and ancient hangings.
The body is covered with sheet and
electric lamps throw their vivid light
upon the waX-ike features OF the dead.
The servants of the lola household,
not hearing any one in their masters
apartment this morning, entered the
bedroom at $3.50 o'clock and found M.
lola lying with his head and shoulders
on the floor and his legs on the bed.
Doctors Were summoned, but they TALL
ed to resuscitate him.
Nine, lola was unconscious, but af-
ter prolonged efforts on the part of
the physicians, she showed signs OF
life, but it was some time before she
became conscious.
A slight odor Of carbonic gas was
noticed when the servants broke into
the bedroom. From the position of M.
Zolas body it was evident that he had
tried to rise, but had been overcome
by the fumes from the defective stove.
The servants Immediately opened the
bedroom windows and sent for phySl-
clans. A commissary of police was
also summoned.
1t was reported here during the day
that there were evidences of suicide
in the death of M. Zola. Nothing has
so far developed to substantiate this
theory, and the statement made by
Nine lola to the magistrate seems to
disprove it. M. lola dined with
good appetite yesterday evening, and
the servants of the household ate
of the same dishes. No unusual
sound was heard from the bedroom
during the night Two little dogs be-
longing to the Zolas passed the night
in their masters bedroom. They were
alive this morning. 1t is believed they
owe their lives to the fact that one
slept on the bed and the other on
chair, thus escaping the heavy carbonic
gas which settled near the floor
A druggist, who was the first to ar
rive at the house to attend M. lola
and his wife said
"When | entered the bedroom M.
Zola was lying partly on the floor. No
especial odor likely to cause asphyxia-
ton was distinguishable.
M and Nine. lola did not present ex-
elusive symptoms of asphyxiation.
Their faces were contorted and their
lips were bloodless, but not violet
colored. | think the accident was pro-
badly caused by the Zolas inhaling
heavy carbonic gas, which lay mainly
below the level of the high bed. This
would account for Nine. Zola's escape.
They were not suffocated on the bed.
NJ lola was awakened by the effects
of the gas and tried to rise. but he
was seized with vomiting. tainted. fell
to the floor where he was suffocated.
gas. but to a less degree than her
husband"
The commissary of police who was
summoned to the lola residence. said
in his report to the project of Paris:
THE heating stove was not lighted
and there was no odor of gas. 1t is be-
lieved that NJ. zola's death was due
to accidental poisoning by drugs. Two
little dogs found in the bedroom are
alive"
In a second report the commissary of
police endorsed the medical opinion
that NJ. Zolas death was accidental
and due to asphyxiation.
DR.. Leyrmand. who attended M. and
Mime. lola, is quoted as saying in an
interview published this afternoon that
the heating stove was still warm ;-hen
he entered the room.
The project of Paris has ordered the
city architect To examine the bedroom
In which NJ. Zola died and has issued
instructions that an analysis be made
of his blood and OF the atmosphere In
his room.
M. Zola had been resting from liter
arv work since ne finished his book
called "The Truth" which is being
published seriaily IN the Aurore.
a. Z0la was born In Paris April 2
1870.
Emile Zola was a Partisan. born and
reared. and was IN his siNty-thira year,
ifc PASSED the earlier years ~ his NE
however. ln Provence, whore his faith
~ orlgluated "a canal which bears bis
name 80 AK Emile Iola Naa ecu"