Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1910-01-10
FATHER DIES, A
VICTIM OF GAS,
SON RECEIVERS
Patrick Hunt Found Beneath
Window in Room at Hotel
Central; Youth III.
ILLUMINATING GAS
ESCAPED IN NIGHT

Escaping Illuminating gas in a
room on the third floor of S. Spitzer s
Hotel Central at Smith and State
streets early yesterday morning
caused the death of Patrick Hunt.
sixty-nine years old, an en-
ploye of the Barber Asphalt Works,
and nearly caused like fate to be-
fall his son, Gerald Hunt, about
twenty-one years old, who was asleep
in the room with him The son was
removed to the city hospital but is
now out of danger.
The elder Hunt had been living at
the hotel for some time and Saturday
night his son, who is plumber at
Newark, came here to spend the
weekend with him. At / o'clock
yesterday morning the Hunts con-
versed with some of the other board
ers. They retired shortly after
wards.
About $50 o'clock, yesterday
morning a boarder who had an ad-
Joining room, awoke and smelled
gas. Mr.. Splitter was notified and
the odor was found to be coming
from the apartment occupied by Mr..
Hunt and his son. The father was
found dead on the floor under the
window and Gerald unconscious on
the bed.
AS the young man was breathing
heavily, hurry call was sent for Dr..
M. S. Meinzer who, after making eff
forts to revive him, ordered him re-
moved to the city hospital. Mr.. Spit
zer had in the meantime notified Pa
trolman Andrew Jensen and Coroner
Ferd Garretson.
At the request of Mr.. Splitter the
coroner removed the body of Mr..
Hunt to his mortuary establishment
in High street Patrolman Ton
nesen removed the son to the hospl-
tai in the city ambulance.
Mr.. Garretson says that Mr.
Hunts death was due to asphyxia-
tion and declares that he believes it
was accidental Mr.. Garretson G.tvs
the room-was small and that, in all
probability, whoever tlrned off the
gas believed it was safe. The cor
oner examined the fixture and says
that, on account of the pin being
loose, when the gas was shut off the
cock slipped back trifie and allow ed
the gas to slowly escape. The tran
som of the room was open which c
counts for the man in the next room
detecting the odor.
After examining the body, Dr.
Meinzer said that he did not believe
that Hunt had been dead more than
an hour as the body was warm and
limp. Patrolman Andrew Jensen or
dered Mr.. Splitter to lock up the
room after it had been vacated and to
take care of Mr.. Hunts belongings
until his son recovered or some one
in authority called for them.
Patrick Hunt was short man
with white hair and had been en-
ployed at the Barber Asphalt Works
as a laborer for the past two or
| three years. He was a jolly man and
was well liked by bis fellow-em-
ployes at the plant and all who knew
him. He was frequently to be seen
at Smith and State streets, joking
with the policemen, and had many
| friends. Mr.. Hunt came here from
| Newark and was visited by his son
| frequently.
His daughter, who is married and
who lives in Newark, came here last
night and made arrangements for
the disposal of the body, which will
probably be taken to either Newark
or New Brunswick for burial today.
Patrick Hunt formerly lived at "a
Hammond street, Newark. He was
horseshoer by trade and lived in
! Newark for over forty years. His
wife died several years ago and
since then he has been in this city.
He is survived by his son, Gerald
Hunt, and two daughters, Mrs. Alice
Daley, of 9 Elm street, Newark,
with whom his son lived, and Mrs.
Cassie Harrigan, also of Newark.
Both daughters were notified yester-
day of their fathers death.
The room adjoining that of the
Hunts was occupied by William
Neetz and Thomas Cannon. They
noticed the gas and one of them no
titled Proprietor Splitter.