The San Francisco call., 1903-01-07
EIGHT VICTIMS
Of TRAGIC DEATH
Officials Of Morgue and
Hospital Are Kept
Busy.
Three People Die Suddenly
Under Peculiar Con-
ditions.

Eight persons met sudden and tragic
deaths yesterday. Three were victims of
asphyxiation, one was drowned in the
bay one took carbolic acid and the other
three died at the Central Emergency Hos
pital from causes which the Coroner will
determine later.
j. D. A Ahlers, who conducts a saloon
a 2997 Folsom street, was asphyXiated in
the rear of his resort, where he slept.
Death was probably accidental, as the
gas ESCAPED from two jets in the show
window of the saloon and the gas jets and
gas stove in the room where Ahlers met
his death were properly turned off.
Ahlers went to bed about o'clock yester-
day morning in an intoxicated condition
and it is supposed that he accidentally
turned on the gas again after putting out
the lights.
Frank Dimmick, who lives upstairs over
the saloon. detected the odor of gas about
4:30 o clock yesterday afternoon. and no
ticing that the saloon had been closed all
day long he became suspicious and called
in Policeman Prendergast. Ahlers' body
was found lying on the floor in the sleep
ing room He was so years of age and had
no relatives here.
An unidentified Mexican laborer from
San Jose about so years of age was found
dead in bed Yesterday forenoon in q room
in the lodging house at sol. Montgomery
avenue He was dressed only in his uu-
derclothes and was lying on top of the
covers. The room was full of illuininat-
ing gas and the gas was turned fully on
at the burner. The Mexican engaged the
room last Sunday evening.
Peter Holtzhelser, 5S years of age, a
widower, was suffocated in his bed last
Monday night at his home. 1925 Vallejo
street, by gas escaping from open
burner. The body was discovered by Ed
win Schmidt, his son-in-law.
Peter Nesser, a Swiss cook, residing
with his family at 16S Clementina street.
jumped off Howard-street wharf yester-
day morning while insane from delirium
tremens and was drowned. The body was
recovered a few hours later. He was en-
ployed In the Vienna Bakery on Kearny
street
Maria Loose, a middle-aged woman. who
lived at 609l9 Natoma street, was found
lying on the sidewalk in an unconscious
condition and taken to the Central Emer-
gency Hospital, where she died a few
minutes after arrival. The cause of death
can only be determined by the autopsy.
c. Scheper, who lived at 919 Mission
street, suffered the same fate He was
found in his room in an unconscious con-
dition and died shortly after being re-
moved TO the hospital.
Edward Smith, who was treated at the
Central Emergency Hospital Monday last.
died yesterday at the City and County
Hospital. The cause of death is un-
known.
- William Hunter, who had been team
ster in this city for twenty years or more,
committed suicide last night by drinking
carboIic acid. He had been out of work
for several weeks and was in destitute
circumstances In order to drown his
sorrows he had been drinking heavily for
the last three weeks.
About S:15 o'clock lest night he entered
a saloon at 5l2 Fourth street and ordered
a drink After the liquor had been served
to him he emptied into it bottle con-
tanning two ounces of carbolic acid. With
the remark, This will be the last drink
that | will ever take he swallowed the
deadly mixture. He became unconscious
almost Immediately afterward. He was
taken to the Central Emergency Hospital
in a patrol wagon by officers j. T. Nc
Cormick and James, Boland. Despite the
efforts of DR.. Leonard the unfortunate
man died in about twenty minutes after
he was placed on the operating table.
After he had poured the poison into the
liquor Hunter deliberately corked the
empty bottle and replaced ii in his pock-
ct. The label on the bottle showed that
il had been purchased at the Washington
pharmacy, 1876 Fourth street.
For many years Hunter was in the en-
ploy of the Morton Draying and Ware
house Company. He was about 65 years
Of age and as far as is known had no
relatives. He was well known among the
fno of he rf+x