The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1902-10-09
DEATH OF EMILE ZOLA.
The Noted French Novelist and
StaunCh Friend OF Drcyfl,s.

Emile lola, tho novelist, who gained
additional prominence in recent years
because Of hls defonso of tho Jews and
of former Capt. Dreyfus, was found
dead in his Paris homo Monday morn
ing. Asphyziation resulting from the
| fumes from stove III his bedroom is
giVon as the cause Of death.
M. Zola and his wife retired at 10
O'Clock. Madame lola was seriously
i'll when tho room was broken into.
AT about noon sho was removed to a
private hospital, where she recovered
consciousness for short timo and was
able briefly to explain to magistrate
what had happened. M. and Nine.
lola had returned to Paris from thoir
country house at Mcdan. Owing to a
sudden spell of cold weather the heat
ing stove in their bedroom was ordor-
cd lighted. The stove burned badly
and the pipes of the stove arc said to
havo been out of order.
10 the magistrate Nine. lola OK
planned that she woke early in the
morning with a splitting headache.
She wakcnod hor husband and asked
him to open a window. She saw him
rise aud attempt to movo toward q
window but he staggered and foil to
the floor unconscious. Nine. lola
tainted at the same moment and was,
therefore, unable to give the alarm.
Nine. lola does not yet know of her
husbands death, and it ls feared she
may suffer a relapse when informed of
it. 1t ls thought, however, that shc
will recover.
The death of M. lola, which only
became generally known late in The
afternoon, has caused great sensation
in Paris, and there was a constant
stream of callers at the lola residence.
The servants of tho Zola household,
not hearing any movement in their
masters apartment, entered tho bed
room at half-past 8 o'clock and found
M. lola lying with his head and
shoulders on the floor and his logs on
the bed. Doctors werc summoned but
they failed TO resuscitate him.
Nine. Zola was unconscious, but
after prolonged efforts on the part of
the physicians she showed signs of life,
but it was somo time before she be-
came conscious.
A slight odor of carbonic gas was
noticed when the servants broke into
the bedroom. From the position of
M. Zola's body ii was evident that he
had tried to rise, but had been over
come by the fumes from the defective
stove. The servants Immediately
opened the bedroom windows and sent
for physicians. A commissary Of police
was also summoned. 1t was decided
that there were evidences of suicide in
the death of M. Zola. Nothing has 80
far developed to substantlate this
theory. The statement made by Nine.
lola to the magistrate seems to dis
prove it. M. Xola dined with good
appetite yesterday evening, and tho
servants of tho household ato of the
same dishes. No unusual soaila was
heard from the bedroom during the
uight. Two little dogs belonging TO
the Zolas passed the night in their
masters bedroom. They were alive.
1t is believed they owe thor lives to
tho fact that one slept on the bed and
the othor on chair thus escaping tho
heavy carbonic gas, which settled near
the floor.
A druggist, who was tho first to ar
rive at the house to attend nj. lola
and his wife, said: " When l entered
The bedroom, Nj. Zola was lying partly
on tho floor. M. and Nine lola did
not present exclusive symptoms of as
phyxiation. Their faces were comfort
cd and their lips were bloodless but
not violet colOred. I think the acci-
dent was probably caused by the Zolas
inhaling heavy carbonic gas, which
lay mainly below the level of the high
bed. This would account for Mmo.
Zola's escape. They wore not suf.
focated on the bed. M. lola was
awakened by the effects of the gas and
tried to rise, but he was seized with
vomiting, tainted, fell to the floor,
whore he was suffocated. Mme. lola
also was overcome by the gas but to a
less degree than her husband.'
The commissary of police who was
summoned to the Zola residence said
in his report to tho project of Paris
" The heating stove WAS not lighted
and there was no odor of gas. 1t is
believed that M. Zola's death was due
to accidental poisoning by drugs. Two
little dogs found in the bedroom arc
alive"
In tho second report the commissary
OF police endorsed the medical oplnion
that M. Zola's death was accidental anG
duo to asphyxiation.
DR.. Leyrmand, who attended M
and Nine. Zola is quoted as saying in
an interview that the heating stove
was still warm when he entered the
room.
Tho project of Paris ordered the
city architect TO examine tho bedroom
in which M. Zola died and has issued
instructions that an analysis be made
of his blood and of the atmosphere II
his room.
M. Zola had boen resting from liter
ary work since ho finished his bool
called The TRUTH" which is bcin,
published serially in The Aurore.
M. Iola was born IN Paris April 2nd
1910.
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