The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-12-23
KEEPER RESCUES GUEST
IN THRESHOlOOF DEATH
ROOM At THE SHERMAN
jshn Haney, Formerly a
Farmer Of Near Mars
ton, Asphxiated.

d Jchn Hsney. 81. retired farmer
81 near Marston. H., met death by
s,s asphyxIation at the Sherman
/ Aotel Wednesday evening and James
rsyer, 40, Peoria, narrowly escap-
4 death from the same cause in a
mali kitchen on the second floor
4 the hotel. The gas escaped from
3hs kitchen stove, but neither OF
ne men had seemed to have noticed
~ od0r.
Hsney. who had left his home on
~ farm last March and who had
since that time lived periodically at
~ Sherman hotel, was preparing
Ne unused kitchen as a place to
pespare his own meals.
Rayer, who came to the hotel
hon Peoria about two weeks ago,
~ called into the kitchen by Ha-
Iey at o'clock in the evening. The
two men talked few minutes and
| Raser went out to mail Christ
Aas package. On his return to
he ho.el he went to the kitchen and
ut down with Haney.
~0uddenly Rayer was overcome
With Illness and told Haney that
As pipe that he, Raver, was smok-
hg was evidently not agreeing with
hin. Haney replied that he was
iseling sleepy and rested his head
m one hand.
He seemed to have gone to sleep
hmediately and Raver walked over
Nd shook him without wakening
IN.
hver at the instant became
ssUe OF what was wrong in the
Nnn and feeling that he was also
hssing into unconsciousness, made
hs the door. He took q few steps
~ fell to the floor, his head close
b the door. He attempted to reach
U and grasp the knob on the door
ut fell back unconscious. Such
~ the story he told when brought
hck to life few minutes later by
~ Of a pulmotor and the admins,
ts;ions Of DR.. +. ID. Paul.
Hotel Manager Saves Life.
It Is due to Lawrence Pedigo, no
" manager, that there was not {
euble tragedy. Shortly after
o'clock the manager returned to thu
lotel and Immediately detected tn.
edor Of gas. Knowing that there
nd been some trouble with a ga!
late on the third floor recently h,
Aousht that gas might be escaping
nom II. He made "a hurried trip Il
W third floor, but found nOthin:
wrong. He then thought OF th'
sarond floor Kitchen and ran dowl
70 hight OF steps from the thirt
NOR. Opening the kitchen door HI
~ both Haney and Raver uncon
kous. He dragged the two mel
MO smother room and opened tn,
nadows and then called a physi
dsn.
All edorts to resuscitate Hane!
Nlsd. but in few minutes Rave
~ brought back to conscious
-. The explanation of this Il
~ haney had been in the gas
uieo room much longer than Ra
hr.
Draft Blew Fire Out
On being called to the scene, Cor
aef John F. Maberry ordered Ha
Is body be taken to the Wheelal
sauertaklng parlors and began hi
a'estigation of the cause of hi
Wsth. At an inquest held at tn
Maeftaking establishment at 10:3 3
sciock this morning the theor.
~ advanced that Haney ha,
Ne'ed one Of the burners on tn
.".e over which was a coffee url
S.tne time the room was entere'
'ne hotel manager, and tha
name was put out by
su from the door, either whel
ver left the room to mail hi
arstmas package or when he re
~. sed 70 the room; or possibly III
i've had boiled over and extiu
ssacd The flames. However, tn
~ neory is not we'll substan
a.ed as there vas no evidenc
.ne coffee had boiled over O
" mad vet got TO the boilin
~. The verdict of the jury wa
~. seutai death by being asphyx
= by Illuminating gas.
Did Not Notice Odor.
Wnsiderable puzzlement has bee
hed by the fact thai neithe
nor Rayer had detected tn
W gas in the room. The dead
Mmes waited about them for
G0elaole time and Raver sal
Mornlng that he did not detet
Nsn or gas odor and had n
I'M OF the situation until tn
vas suddenly borne to hir
ne Tried but failed to wax
81 Haney was born on a farl
lnston township. April 2.
ne had been raised on
ana had followed that OF
n al his life. He was tn
u 81 farm near Marsto1
-. sao was prominent in, this
he left the farm la.
saa spent most Of the tim
III 70 Rock Island
e Ning are his widow. Mr.
haney, living on the farm
.knters, Sarah and Opal. {
~ ana Mrs. Myrtle McFat