Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-06
DEATH EXPOSED Them
PASTOR AND MISSIONARY DEAD
LOCKED IN EACH orHER,s
ARMS.
THOUGHT SUICIDE AT FIRST.
Believed Now That the Double Tra-
sedy Was Accidental.
FLAME BLEW OUT; GAS ESCAPED.
Asphy1iation Seized Them In Their
sleep-The Pastor Was 81 Years
Old and Hailed from buffalo, n. Y.
The Woman Was 81 Years Old and
Had Been Missionary In Omaha
for Five Years.
Believed Now That the Double Tra-
sedy Wa. Accidental.
FLAME BLEW OUT, GAS ESCAPED.
for Five Year,

OMAHA. NEH., november 5.-Clasped In
each others arms. lying on the floor OF
the pastors study of the German Baptist
church here, early to-day. Oscar Berndes,
janitor of the church, discovered the dead
bodies of Rev. w. C. Rahe, pastor. and
Augusta Busch, missionary and assist
ant to the pastor. Death had been caused
gas. jet and a burner of a small stovs
being partly turned on
The bodies were lying on the floor. the
woman's head being pillowed on cushions.
They evidently had lain in that position
for several hours.
There seems to be little doubt that death
was accidental. 1t 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 hours of the previous evening.
An inquest will be he.,. tomorrow.
Miss Busch roorned at the home of Jaui-
tor Berndes. and Mr.. Rabe at the house
Of Harry Derecksen.
Went to Church to Sew.
Miss Busch went to the church yester-
day and remained until P. NJ. engaged
in sewing. She left for her home alona
and it is thought she probably met Mr..
Rabe on the way and the two went to
his study in the rear Of the church where
the tragedy occurred. They had been
good friends, but no stronger feeling was
apparent to those who knew them Mrs
Berndes supposed the dead woman was
in her room until Miss Schalkau, the cook,
reported that Miss Busch had not occu-
~, Ea- Il, fI,a ioh md
search was made. The janitor went to
the pastors study and found the door
locked and the key the inside and he
detected the escaping gas. He quickly
summoned police officer and the door
was broken open. In ,ne centre of the
very small study the bodies lay, the heads
few feet from the door. The woman's
face was covered with froth and had
begun to turn purple. One gas Jet above
the pastors table was partly turned OFT
and from stove gas was escaping 1t
was thought at first the two had COM
rnitted suicide, for on the table was an
open letter, neatly arranged bouquet.
Mr., Rabies watch and glasses, and his
hat. Miss Busch's gloves and handkerchief
and neatly folded upon the back OF cnatr
was her jacket. The letter was written
in German, and wher translated was
found 70 be an answer to another letter
which Mr.. Rabe had received There was
nothing in it to Indicate that the two
had intended taking their lives.
Had u Wife.
Mr.. Rabe was 81 years oA and came
TO Omaha from Buffalo, n. l., when hs
was chosen pastor of the German Baptist
church In that State he left wife. VINO
Is attending missionary school, and ona
son. Carl w. He was he'd In high esteem
by his congregation. Miss Busch was 81
years old and had been missionary LII
Omaha for tie last five yeacs. She came
here from Chicago, sent by the Cnurch
Missionary school. She, too. was nelo III
high esteem and was very popular