The Washington times., 1905-07-07
FAULTY GAS JET
CAUSES DEATH.
Petra Popoyiteh's Inexper-
lence Proves Fatal.
ATTENDED HOTEL OPENING
Then Took Room for the Night, an
it Began to Rain Very
Hard
ATTENDED HOTEL OPENING

Asphyxiated by gas. Petra Popovitch,
an Austrian, twenty-five years old, was
found in the bed in his room at the
Ihyson House, Seventh and P streets
northwest, shortly After o'clock this
morning. Coroner Nevitt was informed
and after an investigation gave a GER
tificate of accidental death. 1t is be-
heved that ignorance of the workings of
a defective gas Jet was responsible for
the young mans death.
Popovitch attended an opening at the
hcstelry last night. AT the time the
festivities ended and those who had
enjoyed them were about to take
their departure, it began to rain very
hard, and many of them remained in
the hotel for the night. Popovitch. al
though he protested that he had TO get
To work very early and was afraid he
would oversleep himself, was induced to
take a room for the night, and was as
sured that he would be awakened in
time 10 go TO his place of employment.
Showed How to Work it.
Several friends who were with him
Showed him to his room and before leav-
ing showed MIN how to work the gas jet.
He was Informed that the jet was loose,
and if he turned the little piece of brass
half way around the gas would be shut
off, and If it was showed entirely around
the vapor would be turned on again.
Pcpovitch said he thought he could work
it. and his friends bade him good
night. Going downstairs they left word
that he should be called at o'clock this
morning
Promptly at that hour a bellboy went
to the door of Popovitch's room and
raped loudly upon it. There was no
response to the knock. The boy put
his eye TO the keyhole. and as he did he
smelled a strong odor of gas, and sa "
the man lying on the bed as stiff as
though he was dead
Evidence of Terrible Struggle.
The bellboy reported his discovery 60
the clerk, who hurried to the room and
unlocked the door. The clerk was almost
knocked off his feet by the gas which
rushed at him when the door was open
ed. Popovitch lay dead upon the bed.
His knees We're drawn up under lis
chin, his tongue hung out and bore evi-
dences of having been chewed upon and
he clutched the bedclothes tightly with
both hands. There was every evidence
that he had terrible struggle with the
grim reaper and that he made repeated
efforts to get UP and turn off the gas
after awakening and finding it still
turned on.
Coroner hewitt was then Informed and
visited sthe hosiery, where he was told
CT the circumstances prior TO Popovitch' s
death. DIR Nevitt was of the opinion
that life had been extinct about three
or fou- hours before the body was dis
covered.
First Experience With Gas Jet.
1t is believed Popovitch sat on the
side of is bed some time after his
friends left him, and after undressing
tried to turn off the gas. Last night
was the first time he had ever spen
the night in room where there was {
gas Jet on the wall, and in trying II
extinguish the light he turned The
handle OF the jet too far around anc
the gas flowed into the room all night
Pepoyitch had been in this countr,
about five years He was employed OF
the new Connecticut avenue bridge a.
iron worker and was quite popular L
is said he has a brother engaged in tn,
same work in Virginia where railroad
improvements ara being made. Eugen,
Chelrn, Of 1000 H street northwest wa:
an intimate friend Of the Austrian
and Informed the police OF the Second
precinct that he would find the dea(
mans brother. The body was sent Il
an undertaking establishment 10 h.
prepared for burial and will be hell
until orders are received from the bro
ther.