The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-12-06
15OvERCOME
in SCHOOL BY
DEADLY GAS
Grade Children Are Made
Violently III by Fumes
From Stove.
TREATED IN BUILDING
Mother Finds Son Lying on
Floor With Dozen
Others.
TREATED IN BUILDING

Fifteen fourth grade pupils we're
made sick Tuesday, some of them
violently so, by carbon monoxide gas
escaping from the coal stove in an
annex at School SO, Linwood avenue
and Michigan street, it was learned
today.
DR.. A. A. Hollingsworth, 1900 East
Michigan street, treated the stud
ents and all but one, Warren Rus
sell, 9, Of So South Colorado street,
had returned to school today.
Improper firing Of the stove prob
ably caused the trouble, Carl w.
Eurton, school buildings and
grounds superintendent said. Eur
ton today warned all janitors car
ing for portable schools and other
makeshift annexes to avoid putting
too much coal into the heater
stoves at one time.
Gas Is Deadly
The only certain way to avoid re-
currence of the trouble would be
to install steam heating facilities In
all the portables and the school Of
llcials do not have the money to do
this, Eurton said.
The children became sick shortly
after returning to school after the
noon hour, it was learned. The
deadly monoXide gas which causes
hundreds of deaths over the country
each winter, probably had spread
through the room after the stove
was fired at noon.
Monoxide gas also is the gas given
off by automobile exhausts and the
majority of its victims are motorists
who run their automobiles in in
closed places.
Found Children ON Floor
Many of the sick children vomited
and some tainted, but none were
seriously affected as tests showed
the gas had not injured their hearts,
DR.. Hollingsworth said. A few were
sent to their homes, but others re-
manned at school. They were treated
in the hospital room at the school,
the principals office and about the
halls.
Parents of those sick we're called.
According to Mrs. Roy Russell,
mother Of the 10y still unable to re-
tr-n to school, because of nausea,
there seemed to be about twenty
children lying about on the floors,
with cold towels and cloths on their
heads. when she reached the
building.
Feared Son Would Die
Her son seemed so violently Ill
she at first believed he was going
to die, she said.
Mrs. Thelma Dean, teacher of the
grade using the annex, an old one
story house moved to the school
grounds, also was made slightly i'll,
it was said.
Mrs. Maude Moudy, principal, OF
the school refused to discuss the
matter, saying all information must
be obtained from the school offices
to which she had made a report.
The accident was a very regret
able one which, however, migt have
occurred in any home, Charles F.
Miller, school superintendent said.
Lesson" Says Miller
Although not serious in itself, 1t
SHOWS the unfairnesS of compelling
children to attend school in poorly
ventilated and heated portables
and annexes, forty-five Of which
now are in use, he said. 1t Is inn
possible to avoid using such build
ings entirely in a rapidly growing
city. but recent action of various
citizens organizations in opposing
higher school tax levies have pre-
vented Indianapolis from making
as much progress as it should to do
away with portables, he said.
Rudolph Bowers, janitor at School
So, blamed formation Of the mon
oxide gas on the grade of coal he
was compelled to use.
The coal was good coal for use
in boilers, but not IN stove, he said.
A heavier coal with less dust from
which the gas forms easiest, was
sent to the school today.
n.N-A