Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-07

arose a sheath of green.
In very few seconds sheath of green
flame enveloped the yellow. A strong
and unpleasant odor permeated the room.
The odor means that carbon dioxide is
present, but is caused by other gases,
explained DR.. Haywood.
Due to Carelessness or Ignorance.
Such deaths as those of the Bremen
mans" Prof. Skinner said. ARE often due
to carelessness, the result of ignorance.
Bat few people who use gas stoves know
of their danger
He also explained that the danger from
monoxide poisoning is most subtle.
The members of the Bremerman family.
for instance. were sitting in the dining
room adjoining the kitchen yesterday,
the communicating door being open. They
could not feel the effect of the poison that
was permeating their systems and enter
ing their blood.
Finally. it appears, the wife and her
mother-in-law went into the kitchen to
discover from whence came the fumes
which were filling the apartments.
In the kitchen they encountered the gas
in great volume. as it had evidently filled
the small apartment, which was tightly
closed
Then it was the two women were over
come and fell to the floor. 1t Is believed
the younger woman went i'll first and fell.
Her mother-in-law. hearing the fall. then
while attempting to lift her daughter-in-
law from the floor was herself overcome.
The death of the baby did not occur
until afternoon. it is believed, as the little
one was close down to the floor, hemmed
in the little pen, and it was some time
before the volume of deadly gas reached
the floor of the dining room.
Inquest Will Be Held.
Dr. hewitt said today that death was
to n q
asphyxation. He also described the Pc
culiar effect monoxide has upon the blood
of its victims, as shown by the autopsy
this forenoon on the body of the younger
woman. She was woman of most ex-
cellent physique. it was shown, but the
effect of the poisonous gas on the blood
was most marked.
AS matter of precaution Coroner New
lit said he would swear in a coroner S
Jury this afternoon and let the decision of
the Agricultural Department chemists de-
termine whether an inquest Will be nee
essary. He said. of course, the deaths
were purely accidental but there may be
Il lesson in the three fatalities that the
public should learn for Its protection
from such accidents in the future.
IF circumstances justify" DR.. hewitt
concluded Il will order an inquest"
Prof. Skinner concluded with the state
ment that the accident that resulted so
disastrously to the family of Mr.. Brem-
erman was probably due to no inherent
thing in the burner of the water heater,
noted that the cylinder was filled with
SCOT.
Space Too Confnd. , q
1t is the opinion of Health Officer
Woodward that these deaths were due to
the burning of Illuminating gas In
confined space. He says from his knowl-
edge Of the affair there seems to be no
other possible cause.
In speakin gof the case. he said: THE
burning of such. gas tends to use UP the
oxygen in the air and throws into the
atmosphere certain noxious compounds
If the oxygen used up is not promptly
replaced, and the noxious compounds
promptly removed, or kept within safe
limits, by proper ventilation. serious re-
suits are bound to follow. 1t is not UNI
likely that the change in the atmos-
phere of the room in this case was
brought about so gradually that the dan
ger came before these people were aware
of it and that serious results enSued be-
fore they knew of the gravity Of the ex-
listing conditions. Not knowing the origin
of the danger they were in no condition
to remove it. The incident should serve
as a warning to every one using illumi-
mating gas, particularly to those using
it for heating and cooking. If the stove
or heating apparatus does not itself pro-
the open air of the burned gas and the
used-up air of the rooms, then the win
dows and doors must be utilized to eff
feet it,
Bremerman Discovers Tragedy.
St. Aloysius' bells had just ,cftmed 3
o'clock yesterday afternoon when Bremen
man reached his home, relieved from his
duties at the library.
He entered his apartments and gleefully
called to his wife, as had been his wont.
There was no response.
He tiptoed past the little crib in the
dining room, believing his baby boy was
asleep in it, He proceeded to the kitchen.
intending to give his wife and mother MS
usually CHEEKY welcome.
Entering the kitchen softly he peered
about. The sight that met his gaze froze
his blood. His wife was prone upon the
floor. face downward. The body OF his
mother lay across his wife.
The distracted husband seized his wife
hand. 1t was cold and clammy. He
touched the. face of his mother. 1t was
also cold.
Recovering partly from his daze. he
glanced toward the gas heater which was
connected with a water tank There was
a sort of roaring sound, but the gas Je'
was burning and the heater was red hot
Then he became aware of the noxious
odor that pervaded the place. The thought
that his wife and mother had been suf-
located by illuminating gas entered his
mind He threw up some windows.
eHe next thought of his baby boy. He
started to lift the boy from the crib. The
body was warm. but the child was sleep
ing his last sleep.
Nearly Overcome Himself.
BY this time the Mortified man felt as
though he, too, was being suffocated. The
strange odor filled the rooms. Bremen
man fed the house.
Cropping his way along the dark CORR
dor, he staggered from the vestibule on
to the street. The fresh air revived him.
He ran to the grocery store at 1st and
y streets and summoned DR.. William A.
Wells and DR.. George N. Perry. The
life at least of his son, he hoped, could
be saved The physicians found the babe
beyond hope of resuscitation.
A report that three persons had been
murdered caused a large crowd to con-
gregate about the Bremerman home. DR..
hewitt, the coroner, arrived about
O'Clock.
Position of Bodies.
Coroner hewitt found Mrs. Hebe Cults
Bremerman. the wife, lying face down.
ward on the kitchen floor. Her head rest
ing on her left arm, while the right arm
lay stretched out toward a door leading
10 d rear veranda
The woman's body was in a position
which indicated she had tried to reach