Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-30
WOMAN TRIES SUICIDE
MRS. IDA HOPKINS Whales IL
ILLUMINATING GAS.
Removed to Casualty Hospital, Where
Heroic Measures Were Neces-
sary to Save Her Life.

Mrs. Ida Hopkins, forty-two years OF age.
attempted suicide at her home. 1909 Gales
street northeast. this morning by inhaling
Illuminating gas. The woman. who Is .
widow. was In the room with her two chill
dren. and the three members Of the family
came near losing their lives. Her son VIM
field, fifteen years of age, was awakened
about 8 o'clock, and looking toward his
mothers bed. he noticed that she had the
end OF a gas tube in her mouth. The boy
Jumped from his cot and pulled the tube
from his mothers mouth, then, going to the
window. called for assistance. at the same
time arousing his sister. Edith Hopkins.
ten years OF age. who was sleeping In bed
with her mother.
This Is the second time she has tried
this" said friend who went to the Cas-
ualty Hospital with Mrs. Hopkins.
Mrs. Hopkins was unconscious when
, found and It was feared she would not
recover, but through the efforts of DR.. Ro-
maine, after the patient reached the hos
pital. she was reported this afternoon to be
improving. She had not fully regatned con-
seriousness, but there had been an improve
nent shown which the physicians thought
meant that she would eventually recover.
Mrs. Hopkins and her two children retired
last night about the usual hour. Edith
went to bed with her mother, as had been
her custom, and the boy made himself COM
:. Closes the Windows.
Because of the warm weather the win
dows were left open, but the mother closed
them during the night. She left her bed
and is believed to have walked about the
room some minutes making preparations
for death. The windows and doors were
fastened and the cracks chinked in order
that none Of the gas should escape. Hav-
inc 10 hor Inns cha a1a hA
end of the gas tube in her mouth and re-
tired, and she would undoubtedly have end
ed her life had her son not discovered her
when he did. AT an early hour this morn
ing Edith was awakened and she COM
planned that her head was troubling her.
probably from the effects of the gas. Her
mother had not become unconscious at that
time and, the police were informed. she told
the daughter to go to sleep, saying every
thing was all right.
The Sons Discovery.
It was some time after this incident oc-
Cured that the boy. aroused by the heavy
breathing Of his mother. got up and made
the horrifying discovery that his mother
was nearly dead. Mrs. Ethel Dulin, who
lives in the adjoining house, was the first
one to hear the boys appeal for help, and
she hurried to the house. In a short time
a number Of other neighbors arrived. The
affair caused considerable excitement In
ROsedafe. rumor first having 1T that the
woman and her two children were dead.
Policeman Allen went to the house as
soon as he learned that something unusual
had occurred. and upon seeing the condi-
ton Of the woman he summoned the am
bulance from the Casualty Hospital DR..
Romaine responded with the ambulance,
and he treated the patient while the driver
was urging his horse toward the hospital.
It was at once observed that her condition
was critical.
Mrs Dulin, the neighbor took charge Of
the children and cared for them at her
home Neither Of Them 1t Is stated. suf-
fered to any great extent from their ex-
perience from the gas.