The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-12-16
R. H. OFFICER
DIES SUDDENLY
Expires of Cyanide Poisoning While
at Work in His Laboratory.
ASSISTANCE is TOO LATE
DEcEoENT PROMINENT m coUN-
TRY AND UNIVERSITY CLUBS.
! Ii OFFICER. head Of the metailur-

n ii, OFFICER. head of the metalIur-
n. gical firm which bears his name.
and one OF the best known men ia
his line IN the country, died yesterday
morning in one of the work rooms of
his establishment from what circum-
stances seem TO prove was a clear case
Of accidental poisoning by cyanide OF
potassium.
Mr.. Officer had left his home about
O'Clock in the morning in good spirits
and Immediately on reaching his office
began work. In the course of tests mr.
had on hand he went into the basement
where his crushers, tanks and chlorina-
ton plant are located. His associates
were engaged for some time ana paid no
attention to his absence. Later when
jerry Black. one OF the employees, de
Scended 10 the basement. he discovered
MI Otficer PROSTATE in chair and gasp
ing for breath in what proved 20 be q
last struggle for life.
As quickly as possible DR. T. b. Beatty
the family physician, was summoned anu
j. H. Johnson, manager Of the Hill Drug
company. was called in with such Othcr
emergency assistance as could be Sc
cured. Although every effort was made
10 resuscitate the dying man, il was fu-
tile. The indications all pointed TO cy-
anide poisoning and the drug works so
quickly that recovery was hopeless FROM
the first.
Theories as to Cause.
Since Mr.. Officer was working alone. -
Is probable no one can ever know exactly
the way In which death came. He had
not been vigorous man for several years
and his powers Of resistance were IN
equal to any severe shock, particularly
If II affected his heart. Several theOric-
nave been advanced; one that he had
inhaled fumes which in his euf5ebed
condition. affected him more than Jhoy
would have affected n stronger man. An
other theory is that lac might possibly
have taken a drink OF water from a grad
uate containing cyanide which had not
been cleaned thoroughly after some eX-
pertinent Hhe solution OF cyanide of pot
aSslum is COlOrless ana might be mis-
taken or overlooked in q laboratory but
the dead man was 80 careful i'm his habit-
that TINS explanation is thought imprOb-
able, unless familiarity with the poison
had led to caTclessness i'm handling. as
sometimes happens. II was supposed al
first that chlorine fumes might have
overDOwered him. but his physician SAID
the symptoms all pointed TO death from
the cyanide in some form
Career of MIR. Officer.
Robert II. Officer was born i'm Chicago
fcrty-foUr years ago ard went 10 Colo
RADIO with his family when "a boy. lie
vas graduated from the School of Mines
al Golden and in 1890 came to Salt Lake
where he has since resided. Tie was IL
member of the University and Countr,
fclubs, and had wide acquaintance among
mining men all over the west. In 1875
he was married to Miss Marion Simmons.
daughter of Daniel =. simmons The wife
and three children. ROiin, Nelil and the
2-year-old baby, survive him. His hone
Tela lions We're particularly happy. and al
though he had been compelled 10 devote
much OF his time 90 outdoor life for his
health. he was successful in business and
found time TO take an active part in the
social affairs of his clubs and the wide
circle Of friends he had won
Reserved, unOStentatlOus and Unassum-
ing. he was recognized as @ man Of un-
usual ability in his profession. The com
paratively few who enjoyed an intimate
acquaintance with him valued him for
his high standard of honor. bis regard
tor the rights of others and his UufaiIiug
kindness to his associates. Several years
ago. by his physician s order. ne took up
golf as & recreation and began his active
connection with the Country club. He
had been prominent in the mana cement
of its affairs and al the informal social
events there and at the University club
he was d welcome participant. The mem
bers Of both OF these Organization Will
feel his loss most kCenlN.