The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-01-18
GAS KILLS 0NE;.
OTHERS IN PERIL
Mrs. ;. Matilda hy|en, Of AZ
PekIn Street, Asphyxlated.
HUSBAND AND BROTHER ILL
All Were SIck-ME. Nylsn Ia Waiting Upon
His Wife Had Accidentally Opened
Q Gascuck
HUSBAND AND BROTHER ILL

gas fatality occurred AZ " fchhl
street yesterday afternoon, by which one
life was lost and two others jeopardized-
The decedent was Mrs. Matilda Nylen.
The others who were endangered were
her husband. Ludwig. and her brother,
Lr4c Larsen.
The accident was probably due 10 the
illness OF all three. and particularly to the
affliction Of the husband, who three
months ago had shock.
Mr. Nylen Is Al years old, his wife was
d and her brother Is is years OF age.
The husband had been employed at the
Coriiss engine works, but having ex-
perienced a shock had been obliged 10 re-
main at home.
Larsen Is an apprentice at the Brown &
Sharpe Manufacturing Cos. plant.
since the husbands illness the wife had
supported the house by doing work for
East Side and Elmwood people.
Mrs Nylen had been III with la grippe
for nearly a week and Larsen had come
down with IL on Monday, being so indis-
posed that he remained in bed yesterday.
About II o'clock. as Mrs. Nylen was en-
deavoring TO do some washing. she was
overcome by faintness and had to go to
her bed.
Nylen acquainted Mrs. Norah Warnock.
who occupies the lower tenement. of the
condition OF his wife and was advised to
call a doctor. which he said he would do
in the afternoon.
That was the last heard or seen OF any
member OF the family until Mrs. Warnock
arrived home in the evening, when her
daughter told her that something must
be wrong up stairs, as there was no light
IN the tenement and no movements had
heen observed.
Mrs. warnock stopped long enough TO
All bowl with soup for Mr.. Nylen and
proceeding up stairs Knocked upon the
door.
Receiving no response she opened the
door and lighted the gas at a side bracket.
She did not detect the odor OF gas: why,
she cannot tell.
Observing that all the doors opening out
from the kitchen were open she went to
Mrs. Nylens room and spoke to her.
Again there was no response, and step
ping to the bedside she touched Mrs.
Nylens face and found 1t was cold.
Mrs. warnock fastened TO her own
tenement. gave an alarm and caused DIR.
Callaghan. OF Smith street. 10 be called.
DR.. Callaghan responded Immediately
and found that Mrs. Nylen was dead and
that Mr.. Nylen and Mr.. Larsen were in
d serious condition.
the men were conveyed TO the Rhode ISL
and hospital.
Mr.. larsen rallied during the night
and this morning was resting comfort
ably, but Mr. Nylen did not improve and
was said to be in a dangerous state.
Medical Examiner Perkins was called
and gave permit for burial OF Mrs.
Nylen.
The presence of gas in the tenement
was purely accidental
In the kitchen is a. hanging gas fixture,
20 one burner Of which In attached a nex-
5ble tube. To facilitate the preparation Of
light meals. small gas stove has been
used. which Mrs. Nylen placed on top Of
the range when II was In service. detach-
ing the pipe at other times and leaving
the heater on metal mat under the
range.
Mr.. Nylen had evidently attempted 10
warm some food for his wifs and then
detaching the flexible tube had wound II
over the arm Of the chandelier. In doing
This he was of course hampered by his
disabled arm, and In all probability hit
the gascock and thus turned on the gas
The flow of the liquid had been slight;
otherwise Mrs. Warnock would have de-
tected the presence of gas when she en-
tered the kitchen and there would have
been an explosion when she lighted the
eide bracket burner.
Slight that flow had been II was
suf1cfent in volume to kill one and almost
the other. two sick persons. Mrs. Nylen
probably succumbing because NJ the ,yesk-
ened condition Of her heart due TO Ia
wf1p