New Ulm review., 1922-04-19
FREE RIDE + ATAL
TO PASSENGERS
Gas TAKES LIFE
OF TWO HAPPY YOUNG
PEOPLE.
WENT TO SLEEP ON TRIP TO
MANKATo FROM CITIES.
NEVER WOKE UP.

4 NEVER WOKE UP.
Two persons are dead and one mar
rowly escaped death as aresult of mon
oxide gas poisoning from the exhaust
pipe Of the White delivery truck owned
by the Windmiller company, Mankato
florists. The dead are Lloyd McCry-
stal, aged twenty three, plumber
employed by C. M. Masters Of Man
kato for the last five years, and Rose
Augustine of Springfield and Minnea-
polls.
William Thilgen of the Windmiller
company is the member of the party
who narrowly escaped death after
Ehaving been partially overcoma but
he is now recovering.
4 Trip TO Cities.
Wednesday morning at six o'clock
the Windmiller company sent itstruck
driver, George Enfield Of Mankato to
Minneapolis with a truck load Of
plants to be delivered to Minneapolis
and St. Paul florists. Accompany
ing him were Thilgen, an employe Of
the company, and Lloyd McCrystal,
who took the trip in order that he
might visit his mother, who is q resi-
dent Of Minneapolis. The three men
left Mankato at six o'clock in the
morning and arrived in Minnea polls
Iabout noon, according to Enfield, dri-
yer of the car. Arriving in that city,
they drove at once to the home of
Mrs. McCrystal, but found that she
was not at home. The men then
called upon number of florists in ST..
Paul to dispose of their wares. They
then returned to Minneapolis.
Returning Home.
This was about five o'clock in the
evening and the three men went into the
Elgin Cafe in Minneapolis for supper.
From there they drove once more to
the home of Mrs. McCrystal. Mrs.
McCrystal told the men that two
girls, Rose and Marie Augustine were
going to Mankato and would like to
ride in the truck as that would mean
saving Of car fare to this city. 1t was
agreed that the girls might ride
a AS far as Shakopee the girls rode in
the cab which has drivers seat that
easily accommodates three. persons. At
Shakopee when the car stopped, Rose
Augustine got out Of the cab and went
into the rear compartment Of the truck
and sat on some blankets with her
Itraveling bag behind her.
A Happy Party.
All three, Rose Augustine, William
Thilgen and Lloyd McCrystal sang
for a number Of miles. The singing
continued until they came to Belle
Plaine where the truck was stopped
and one of the men bought a bottle
Iof pop for. each. 1t was becoming
colder in the rear compartment and
1.-THE doors were closed reducing the
ventilation in the car to the minimum
From Belle Plaine to'Le Sueur, dis
tance of about sixteen miles, it was
necessary for Enfield to drive his car
lin low gear on account of the bad
roads and for that reason there was
more than the ordinary amount of
monoxide gas generated and this gas
came through the floor Of the rear
compartment. There are two small
vents in the floor for heating purposes
in that part Of the truck.
Thilgen Found Self Doing.
Thilgen, recovering from his attack,
said today that several times he found
himself doing but thought nothing
! of it as it was getting late and it had
been a busy day for them all. Sever
al times during the remainder of the
"trip Thilgen got out of the car and
watched the road while Enfield drove
i the car over particularly bad spots
and to this fact he attributes his es-
cape from the fate Of his two fellow
passengers. Neither Of the Others
stepped out Of the car after it left
Belle PLANE.
Thigen said that when they ap.
preached Mankato and he could see
4 the lights, he called to McC Crystal and
! the girl, telling them that it was time
Ito wake up as they were arriving
] home. Thilgen was certain that Me
Crystal answered, ep'' and let i
go at that. Thilgen knew that M
il Crystal was tired and had had little
], sleep the night before. 5s s5. s5.
When the car stopped at HOP N
/ Fourth street where the Augustine
/ girls formerly lived Thilgen opened
!. the rear door and Enfield carried sew
) Ieral grips into the house for Mari,
Augustine who had remained in th'
) |cab with the driver. Thilgen shovel
: open the rear door and dangled III