1924 — Dec 27-29, Carbon monoxide poisoning deaths, New York City, NY –15-20

–20  Dec 27-29. Oneonta Daily Star, NY. “Three Children Made Gas Victims.” 12-30-1924, p1.

–15  Freeport Journal-Standard, NY. “Die From Gas.” 12-29-1924, p. 1.

—  4  Syracuse Herald, NY. “4 Found Dead in Gas Filled Brooklyn Flat.” 12-28-1924, p. 1.

 

Saturday, Dec 27:     (4)

Anna Harricks, 35.

Catherine Harracks, 9.

James Harracks, 7

Allen Berkshire, 40, brother of Anna Harrick.

 

Sunday, Dec 28:        (1)

John Herricks.

 

Monday, Dec 29:       (6)

Eugene McKeown, 60.

William Mulhearn, 40.

Catherine Murphy, 11.

Francis Murphy, 9.

Walter Murphy, 7.

Michael Terigue, 30.

 

Narrative Information

 

Dec 27: “New York, Dec. 27.–Four persons were found dead from gas and a fifth was overcome today in the Brooklyn home of John Harrick. The dead are Harrick’s wife, Anna, 35; there two children, Catherine, 9, James 7, and Mrs. Harrick’s brother, Allen Berkshire, 40. Mrs. Harrick and the children were found on the floor of one of the rooms. Berkshire was in bed in a nearby room. Harrick, unconscious, was removed to a hospital. Gas was pouring from a fixture in the kitchen when neighbors entered the flat.” (Syracuse Herald, NY. “4 Found Dead in Gas Filled Brooklyn Flat.” 12-28-1924, p. 1.)

 

Dec 29: “With 15 deaths from illuminating gas reported within the last 24 hours, 54 persons were overcome by coal gas today in a Brooklyn apartment house. Three of today’s victims are in a critical condition. A postman discovered the odor of leaking gas. He called a patrolman who broke in doors and assisted dwellers to the street. Mary Irwin, 42, and her two children, James, 17, and Dorothy, 14, were unconscious and were taken to a hospital.” (Kingston Daily Freeman, NY. “54 Overcome By Coal Gas.” 12-29-1924, p. 1.)

 

Dec 29 report (Monday): “New York, Dec. 29….Fifteen persons died within 24 hours from inhaling illuminating gas[1] this week-end [Saturday-Sunday] and five others were in hospitals, their lives saved by prompt action of the police. The cold wave was held responsible in most instances, although investigation of possible wholesale suicides has been ordered in the case of the family of John Herricks, in Brooklyn. Herricks’ wife, brother-in-law and two daughters were found dead in a room which had been sealed hermetically. Gas was pouring from open jets. Herricks himself died in a hospital Sunday.” (United Press. “Die From Gas.” Freeport Journal-Standard, IL. 12-29-1924, p. 1.)

 

Dec 29: “New York, Dec. 29–Three children at home from school for the Christmas holidays were found dead from gas poisoning when their father and stepmother returned from work to their apartment here today….The Murphy children were believed to have met death in an attempt to light the gas range in the kitchen of their apartment. Mrs. Murphy told police that on leaving in the morning she had told her stepdaughter that if the apartment became cold she could warm it up by lighting the range. Gas was found issuing from the range….

 

“Three men died from gas poisoning during the day in various parts of the city, bringing the week-end gas death toll her to 20.

 

“Today’s dead: Catherine Murphy, 11, and her two brothers, Francis, 9, and Walter, 7; William Mulhearn, 40, Eugene McKeown, 60, and Michael Terigue, 30…

“Mulhearn and McKeown died after being subjected to gas fumes issuing from broken water heater connections. Terigue was killed in his sleep when wind from an open window extinguished the gas light under a water heater in his room.” (Oneonta Daily Star, NY. “Three Children Made Gas Victims.” 12-30-1924, p. 1.)

 

Sources

 

Kingston Daily Freeman, NY. “54 Overcome By Coal Gas.” 12-29-1924, p. 1. Accessed 1-13-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/kingston-daily-freeman-dec-29-1924-p-1/

 

Oneonta Daily Star, NY. “Three Children Made Gas Victims.” 12-30-1924, p. 1. Accessed 1-13-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/oneonta-daily-star-dec-30-1924-p-1/

 

Syracuse Herald, NY. “4 Found Dead in Gas Filled Brooklyn Flat.” 12-28-1924, p. 1. Accessed 1-13-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/syracuse-herald-dec-28-1924-p-1/

 

United Press. “Die From Gas.” Freeport Journal-Standard, IL. 12-29-1924, p. 1. Accessed 1-12-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/freeport-journal-standard-dec-29-1924-p-1/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[1] Illuminating gas gives off carbon monoxide.