The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-11-12
DIED TOGETHER.
& Shocking Tragedy and Revela,
ton in 0maho. Neb.
APREACEER AND "A MISSIONARY.
Found in Each Others icrlS Cold in
Death in the Preachers SIudy
in Rear orthe Church.

a most shocking tragedy was enact
ed in Omaho, Nebraska, on Tuesday
night Of last week. CiaSpcc in each
others arms. lying on the floor OF the
pastors study in the German Baptist
Church early Wednesday. Oscar Bern
deS. janitor of the church. discovered
the dead bodies Of the Rev. ". o..
Rabe, pastor. and Augusta Busch. a
missionary and assistant to the pas
tor. Death had been caused by as
phyXiation. The room was blled with
gas, a jet and a burner Of 4 small
stove being partly turned on. The
bodies were lying on the floor. the wo-
mans head being pi!lowed on some
cushions. They evidently had lain in
that position for several hours. There
seems TO be little doubt that death
was accidental. II is believed that
the pair had fallen asleep. the stove
flame blew out and the gas escaped.
The bodies were rigid and death evil
dently occurred during the early hours
Of the previous evening.
Miss Busch roemed at the home OF
Janitor BerndeS and MIR. RaOe at the
home of Harry DirkSen. Miss Busch
went to the DirkSen home yesterday
morning and remained there until
about O'clock in the evening. engag-
ed in sewing. She left for her home
alone and it is thought probable that
she met Mr.. Rabe or her way and
that 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 wo-
man was in her room until Miss Schal-
ker, houSekeeper for Mr.. Rabe, repQr-
ted that he had not been at home
during the night. Then it was dis,
covered that Miss Busch had not Oc-
cupied her room and a search was
made for them this morning. The
ianitor went to the pastors study aud
found the door locked and the key on
the inside and he detected the escap-
ing gas. Quickly he summoned po-
lice officer and the door was broken
open.
In the centre of the very small study
the bodies lay, the heads few feet
from the doors. The Woman'S face
was covered with froth and had begun
to turn purple. One gas jet above the
pastors table was partly turned of
and from a stove gas was slowly eS-
Gaping.
1t was thought at first that the two
had committed suicide, for on the ia
bic was an open letter. a neatly ar
ranged bouquet. Mr.. RABIES watch
and glasses and his hat, Miss BuSch'S
gloves and handkerchief and folded
upon the back OF a chair was her jack
ct. The letter was written in German
and when translated was found to be
an answer to another letter which Mr..
Rabe had received. There was moth
ing in it to indicate that the two had
intended taking their lives.
Mr.. Rabe was 81 years Of aye and
came to Omaha from Buffalo, \. Y.
when he was chosen pastor OF the Ger
man Baptist Church. In that State
be left wife who is attending mis-
sionary school, and one son. He was
held in high esteem by his congrega-
tion.
Miss Busch was 81 years Of age 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.