The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1905-07-07
Overcome With Bi-SuIphide Of
Carbon Gases.
THEY PERISH IN SILENT AGONY
Friends and Help on Every Side.
Bodies Discovered After 36 Hours.
Neher and LeFlOhic the Victims.

udSC SATURDAY evening y. .. NeueT
and Fred LIE Flohic. the miller and as
sistant in charge of the work for the
Blackfoot Mill and Elevator company
were overcome with gas while fumi
eating with bi-sulphide of carbon, and
died within reach of the door that stood
between them and pure air.
They had arranged to do this work in
the evening and leave the mill closed
Sunday SO that the fumigation should
be thorough. In talking over the mat
ter with manager A. G. Robert they vol
nnteered to do the job themselves, re-
lieving him of every part of the dis
agreeable task, and said they intended
spending Sunday at Pocatello, re
turning in time for duty Monday morn
ing. They cautioned him about opening
the door before Monday, saying it would
allow the fumes to escape.
Monday morning Mr.. Roberts opened
the front door of the mill and was
stricken with horror at the sight of the
two men lying together on the floor at
his feet, their hands and faces turning
dark and their features drawn. Friends
and officers were summoned, the build
ing opened and ventilated and the signs
of their operations carefully noted to
nnveil the mystery Of their fate.
It seems they had sprayed the first
floor and were working on the second
when they quit work and attempted to
get out Neher was lying on his back
and LIE Flohic on his side, the position
indicating that LIE Flohic might have
been carrying Neher and that he gave
out just as he reached the door. The
snap lock was on, so that it was neces-
sary to use the key to open it. The key
was on the desk but in his smothered
condition he had not succeeded in using
it. Harry Kinney who went to the place
during the evening to get -four was un-
able to get in but heard heavy breathing
and spoke of the fact that somebody
was snoring, but not knowing of the
work within had no suspicion of harm to
anyone. On Sunday Mr.. Roberts looked
in at the window and stood very close to
the bodies lying dead behind the desk.
Coroner Kinnard held an inquest
upon the bodies, and the jury found
that they came to their death by as
phyxiation. No blame attaches to any
body, as Mr.. Neher had done such work
before and declined Mr.. Roberts offer
to stay and assist or do sentinel duty. It
seems strange that they did not begin
at the upper floor and finish at the exit,
thereby leaving the fumes behind them
as they worked. However, this is &C
counted for on the ground that the gas
from this solution is heavier than air
and descends instead rof rising, SO that
they were leaving the fumes behind
them as they worked, and expected to
finish at the top floor and then pass
quickly down the stairs to the front
door.
DIR. Mitchell in discussing the matter
stated that instances have been known
where this gas rose instead of descend
ing, and this may have been such a case.
Again, there were marks on Neher's face
which had the appearance of having
been made by splash of the solution.
It is said that if this solution splashes
in persons face it's effect is intantan-
eous, and the person falls unconscious as
from blow. Neher's face showed no
signs of suffering or exertion, while LIE
Flohic's features we're drawn, and he
bled from the nose. 1t is probable that
there was an accident which Frustrated
Neher without warning and that LIE
Flohic's strength lasted till he had car
ried his companion to the point where
he was to open the door. The key lay
on the desk about a foot from the lock
which was snapped, and had his system
withstood the force of the fumes a mo-
ment longer they could have been out
side.
Mr.. Neher was a native of the state OF
Ohio and his wife is somewhere in Cali
fornia. His remains were buried'ln the
10. O. F. cemetery Tuesday morning
under the auspices of the Masonic order
Fernand LIE Flohic was native OF Ida
no, his parents living at Blackfoot ana
being Frustrated with grief at the un-
expected blow, falling on their nome