The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-10-27

the inlet of the holder, which flood
ed the place with gas.
II the two men went in as it Is sup
posed they did, they took the fatal
step without first shutting off the gas.
Gas Was Shut OF.
When the trouble was discovered,
this was one OF the first things that
was done. AS a result no gas was
used throughout the city this after
noon. The Keokuk Electric company
hoped to have the plant in running
order by 500 o'clock this afternoon.
After the excitement had subsidized
it was possible to get a rational &C
count of the accident.
Three Men at Plant.
Only three were working at the gas
plant this morning, Henry Biermann,
the foreman, George Renard. the
boiler fireman, and James Pitt,
helper.
The regular fireman at the plant is
Robert Daman, but it was his day off
and Renard was taking his place.
Along toward the latter part of the
morning, something happened in the
purifying room, but before Biermann
went down 70 investigate, he called
up the Keokuk Electric company and
asked for someone to come out and
take his place while he was working.
s. G.. Goode was sent out.
While Goode was on his way out,
DieTmann won't down into the puci'
flying room. The gas was so strong
that he was overcome. Undoubtedly
Renard went down to help him and
was unable to get out, also. .
Pitts Is Rescued.
When Goode arrived at the plant
he found Pitts making desperate
effort to rescue the two men. Pitts
was so far gone himself that if it had
not been for the timely arrival Of
Goode, he might have met the same
fate as the other two. Goode rescued
Pitts and then made an attempt to
get the others, but was unsuccessful.
Pitts then ran outside and hailed
Andrew Anderson, master mechanic
of the Keokuk Electric company who
was passing GU motorcycle. Ander-
son came in and efforts were made
to rescue the men, but the gas fumes
drove everybody back.
Help was summoned and the work
| of rescue went on until the two
bodies were taken from the place. In
the meantime Robert Daman, the
regular fireman arrived and made the
heroic offer TO go through the hole
in the foundation without a gas mask.
Ropes were lied on him, but before
| he had a chance to go into the place,
Mr.. Bufe arrived with an oxygen
helmet.
Bodies to Morgues.
The body of Henry Biermann was
taken to the undertaking establish
ment of J. J. Crimmins & Son. that
of George Renard to l. S. Ackley's.
J. P. Ingle, manager of the Keokuk
Electric company, was one OF the
first men on the ground and he di-
rected and assisted in the rescue
work.
George Renard.
George Renard was born near IA
hoka, Mo-, June 10, 1866. He moved
here when boy with his parents and
has lived here practically all of his
life. He is survived by his widow
and three children, Adolph Renard of
Chicago, Ed. G Renard of keokuk
and Mrs. Ruth Stebbinger Of Keokuk.
There are three brothers, Charles
Renard and John Renard OF Odell,
Nebr,, and Henry Renard Of Summit
vile; also one sister. Mrs. Agnes
Ewers.
Married on October 10.
Henry Biermann had been in the
employ of the Keokuk Electric com.
pany for some time. He was mar
ried to Mrs. Jewell Hayes Walker a
week ago yesterday by Justice Of the
Peace Burrows at his office, at 500
o'clock in the evening.
He was thirty-nine years Of age.
His parents live in Germany.