The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-09-09
Deadly Fumes Kill
Hebron Farmer and
His Four Children
Continued from page one)

~o~
and saw her husband and two boys
unconscious in the pit. After call
ing his mother, Fred had made a
rescue attempt. Mrs. Neidhart then
ran into the house and called her two
daughters. Margaret Immediately
climbed down into the silo and was
aSphyxiated as soon as she reached
the bottom of the ladder.
"Ill 60 down and get Margaret"
Freda screamed. I'VE can't leave
them in there" Freda then climbed
to the bottom, lifted Margaret up,
and slumped over unconscious.
Mrs. Neidhardt then rushed to the
telephone and called Hebron. At the
call for help, Charles Lawrence and
Ollie Bohlke rushed to the farm.
Upon arriving at the farm about
$3.50 o'clock. MI. Bohlke Immediately
climbed INTO the silo, thinking most
of the gas had left the chamber. Ar
irving at the bottom, he turned
George over on his back. This ac-
ton. in the belief of Mr.. Kennedy,
prolonged the life of George. The
other four apparently were dead. all
being face down with their heads
partly submerged in the silage slush.
After turning George over. Bohlke
slumped down beside him.
Hebron Citizens Arrive
BY this time a score of persons
from Hebron had reached the scene
of the tragedy. Among them was
Waldo Bohlke, who, upon learning
his father was in the pit, insisted on
going down after him.
Only by force did the Hebron group
prevent the boy from going down i'm
mediately. They tied a rope around
his waist and sent him down with
another rope which he vas to fix
about his father. On his first trip
down, Waldo fixed the rope to the
arm of his father. The rescue crew
refused to pull MIR. Bohlke up until
the rope was around his waist. So
Waldo made his second trip into the
silo and the group outside pulled
both Of them up by the ropes.
Both were weakened by the gas
and MIR Bohlke was unconscious. He
was revived in IS minutes.
With the aid of the ropes, the bod
les of the Neidhardts were brought
out Of the pit. one by one. John
Neidhardt, cousin of the children, at
tached the ropes to the bodies. All
but George were dead. The uncon-
sciouS George was taken to Hebron,
where he died at 2 a. m. despite eff
forts made by Bismarck doctors, who
flew to Hebron by airplane, to re-
suscitate him with a pulmotor.
All the bodies we're out of the pit
at 4:30 o'clock, a little more than two
hours after Neidhardt had pierced
the gas chamber in the silage.
Late last night, according to Ken
nelly, the odor of the ife-taking gas
was evident in the vicinity of the silo.
He was called to Hebron as soon as
the plight Of the family became
known.
Several Rescuers Overcome
Several of the rescuerS were over
come, but nom suffered any serious
effects. MIR. Bohlke was able to walk
last evening and his recovery, after
he regained consciousness. was rapid.
More than 200 Hebron residents were
at the farm yesterday afternoon and
last evening.
Neidhardt came here from Ger
many about Is years ago. He was
prominent in the life of the Hebron
community and the county. His farm
was n of the largest in this section
and a show place. He was vice
president of the Missouri Slope Wool
Growers association.
Besides the widow and the two
daughters, Annie and Clara, Mr..
Neidhardt is survived by two broth
ers. Jacob and Henry. and a sister,
Mrs. George Steingrueber, all of the
Hebron vicinity.
The pastor of the German Evan
gelical church at Hebron. of which
the family were members, said fun
eral arrangements have not been
completed.
Methane or marsh gas which caus-
ed the death Of the five is generated
in cornstalks and other vegetable
matter. 1t is a hydrocarbon which
may be reduced to a liquid by ex-
IRENE pressure and cold. When
mixed with air, the gas is one which
constitutes the dreaded fire damp of
coal miners.