The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-03-05
Funnligating
Kills
of g
Deadly Fumes Used to Rid
Restaurant Of Reaches
Proves Fatal TO Three
Generations.
Man Doing Job Arrested

three generations of one family
were killed today when a deadly gas.
used IN ridding a first-floor restaurant
Of reaches. seeped through a forgot
ten opening in old walls up to the sec
ond.floor flat.
A dozen other persons probably are
alive only because they slept with
windows open. for the fumes were so
penetrating that canaries and goldfish
IN neighboring flats. even as high as
the third floor. succumbed.
The dead are:
William Kratzenberg. 50. wealthy re.
tired wagon maker and head of the
family.
Mary kratzenberg. Ga. his wife
John kratzenberg. 81. Their son
Mrs. Laura Szymanski. 38. daugh-
ter of the Kratzenbergs.
Henry Szymanski. 30. her hus-
band
Harold. ! ). their son.
The fumigation was under direction
Of o. ". Hull. formerly an inmate Of
the psychopathic hospital. who termed
himself manager Of the National
Hygienie corporation Of Buffalo. He
was held by the SOUTH Chicago police.
VINO term his work a clear case Of
criminal negligence. To his statement
that the gas was non-poisonous. ply
sielans replied that X was probably
the most deadly gaseous substance
known inside from the fumes turned
loose IN Flanders By Germany during
the war
Death Came Quickly.
TIE position Of the bodies indicated
that the gas in some instances had
ended life while the victim still slept.
but in others had choked of a futile
effort % reach the relief that only
fresh air could bring.
Ars. kfatzenbers already near
Death from pneumonia died in her
bed beside her husband. but the
sprawiing position Of their son-in-law.
Henry, under a kitchen table with his
hand stretched toward the window.
told a story OF a struggle which end
ed one step short Of The fresh air
which might have kept him alive
Mrs. Szymanski body was fourI
In the bathroom. II seemed that the
gas had awakened her. made her sick
al her stomach. but that she had been
unable to walk further. The others
were found IN their beds.
state Representative VII am W.
Powers and his brother IN law. j ",
Fitzgerald. who discovered the trag.
edys I've with the Kra;zenbers fam
igx. but He-o unaffected b. ra1e gas
because the door Of their room IS
sealed and they sleep with all win
dows open.
Hull. according 10 Capt. Josepn
Smith of the South Chicago pclice
has caused Illness in previous fumiga-
iions.
Opening Overlooked.
The fumIgator vas called 10 by
Peter Nrdolyk and N Gush. who
own the restaurant. Tnder Hull =
direction the restaurant was scaled
and all families in the building noii-
fed 10 keep their windows omen. Mrs.
Kfatzenhere's condition made u
necessary 10 close the windows 10
iheir fat following A rather gusty
wlndsform at IN the morning.
Hull. in ssnlng the restaurant.
blocked all the usual openings. Ont
near sink was shaft which Tor.
merlv held drain pipes Il ieads III
rccfly 10 the kratzcnberg kitchen and
because !, was partly closed 1t was
overlooked
Under police questioning nnll in-
sisted the gas was not poisonous and
said 4hlS VAS the first time there had
been any trouble. He told of fumi-
eating many boats while people were
aboard. lie said he was IA the psy-
ohopaihIe hospital because Of rheu
matlsn and that a Or. Foley thers
had pronounced him cured. He al
nittod he was not licensed 20 han
ole chemicals e. 20 fumigafe
The nelicc tclcsraphed George c.
piekhard. Cleveland general manager
~ the .Natioual Hygieuie Chemiosl
company. TO appear at the inquest
with rs foreman.