The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-11-06
THE SLEEP ETERNAL
CAME TO PASTOR AND MISSIONARY
IN LATTER's STUDY.
CAUSED BY ASPHYXIATI0N.
THE FLAMES OF THE GAS STOVE
WAS NOT IGNITED.

The Tragedy Took Place I'm the
study of the Pastor, and the Pair
Were Found Lying on the Floor,
Evidently Having Been Dead for
Several Hours-The Theory of
Dual Suicide Was Abandoned
when an Open Letter written by
the Pastor Intimated No such In
tentiOn.
Omaha, Neb., Nov. 5.-Clasped in
each others arms. lying on the floor
of the pastors study in the German
Baptist Church here early to-day, Os-
car Berndes, janitor of the church,
discovered the dead bodies of Rev. w.
o. Rabe, pastor. and Augusta Busch,
a missionary and assistant to the pas
tor. Death had been caused by as
phyxiation. The room was filled with
gas, jet and a burner of a small
stove being partly turned out.
The bodies were lying on the floor,
some cushions. They evidently had
lain in that position for several hours.
There seems to be little doubt that
death was accidental
It is believed that the pair had fallen
asleep. the stove flame blew out, and
the gas escaped. The bodies were
rigid and death evidently occurred
during the early hours of the previous
evening. An inquest will be held to-
morrow.
Miss Busch roomed at the home of
Janitor Berndes. and Mr.. Rabe at the
house of Henry Drksen. Miss Busch
went to the Dirksen home yesterday
morning and remained there until
about o'clock in the evening, engaged
in sewing. She left for her home alone
and it is thought probable that she
met Mr.. Rabe on her way, and that the
two went to his study in the rear of
the church. where the tragedy occur
red. They had been good friends. but
no stronger feeling was apparent to
those who knew them.
Mrs. Berndes supposed the dead wo-
man was in her room until Miss Schal-
lxau, housekeeper for Mr.. Rabe, re-
ported that he had not been at home
| during the night. Then 1t was discov-
cred that Miss Busch had not occupied
| her room and q search was made for
| them this morning. The janitor went
! to the pastors study and found the
| door locked and the key on the inside,
| and he detected the escaping gas.
| Quickly he summoned a police officer
4 and the door was broken open.
| In the center of the very small study
| the bodies lay. the heads a few feet
| from the doors. The womans face was
| covered with froth and had begun to
| turn purple. One gas jet above the
| pastors table was partly turned off
| and from a stove gas was slowly es-
| Gaping.
1t was thought at first that the two
| had committed suicide. for on the ta-
| BILE was an open letter, neatly ar
| ranged bouquet, Mr.. Rabies watch and
| glasses and his hat. Miss Buschs
| gloves and handkerchief. and folded
upon the back of a chair was her
| jacket. The letter was written in Ger
man and when translated was found
to be an answer to another letter which
Mr. Rabe had received. There was
nothing in ii to indicate that the two
had intended taking their lives.
Mr.. Rabe was 81 years of age and
came to Omaha from Buffalo, N. Y.
when he was chosen pastor Of The
German Baptist Church. In that state
he left a wife, who is attending a
missionary school, and one son. He
was held in high esteem by his con-
gregation.
Miss Busch was 81 years of age, and
had been a missionary In Omaha for
the last five years. She came here
from Chicago, sent by the church mis-
sionary school. She. too. was held in
high esteem and was very popular.