This page last updated: Friday, January 28, 2005, 9:48:16 AM EST

Column:
100 Years Ago Today:. Jan 28, 1905
 
by Brandon Woolum
Huntington News Network Writer
 
Huntington (HNN) — Charleston – Fifteen children narrowly escaped death from asphyxiation at the Charleston Baptist Church yesterday afternoon. Had it not been for the presence of mind of the women present and the prompt arrival of medical assistance, the accident would in all probability have resulted in several deaths.
 
The children accompanied by Mrs. Lester Ridenour and Mrs. Shelton, were gathered in a small room at the back of the church, holding a meeting of the Junior League. About fifteen minutes after the meeting a word of complaint, fell to the floor. Mrs. Shelton thinking the child was playing was about to reprimand her, when one of the other children fell.
 
At this, Mrs. Shelton surmised something was wrong, and became conscious of a stupor overcoming her. She and Mrs. Ridenour at once opened all the doors and windows and shut off the gas.
 
By the time this was done seven or eight of the children were partially overcome. The children were taken to the Capitol Hotel, where over an hour was spent in resuscitating them. Later in the evening they were no worse for their experience, save a slight headache.
 
The Rev. T. C. Johnson, pastor of the church, said that he attributed the accident to incomplete combustion, due to some imperfection in the gas heater used to heat the room, in which the meeting was held.
 
The defective stove will be disposed of, and a more perfect one placed in its stead.
 
Washington, D. C.– The house committee on rivers and harbors completed its bill today and it is ready to report to the house. An official statement of the appropriations contained shoe that the following amounts are appropriated for the Ohio River:
 
General improvement, $300,000.
 
Locks and Dams, 2,3,4,5 and 6, $500,000 cast and $1,281,376 under continuing contract to be appropriated in aundry civil bills.
 
Dams 8 and 11, $160,000 cash and $160,000 additional under continuing contract.
 
Appropriation of $43,000 is made for Big Sandy and Tug and Levisia forks to purchase and repair locks and dams owned by Little Kanawha Navigation Company, in Little Kanawha River, appropriation upon counties and city of Parkersburg, which own stock in this property, shall donate their share to the government free of cost.
 
Additional appropriation of $1,000 is made for continuing general improvement of Little Kanawha. These figures are final and absolutely accurate.
 
The bill will probably pass the house substantially as reported today. When it reaches the senate there will be increases, and Senator Elkins, as a member of the commerce committee, will have the opportunity to show what he can do in the way of securing money for his and adjoining states.
 
The damage suit of Brammer against the Triple State Natural Gas Company is on trial in the Circuit court this afternoon, and is attracting a great deal of interest.
 
Brammer was injured in the explosion, which resulted from dropping a match into the city cistern on Twenty-Fourth Street.
 
Vinton Midkiff was arraigned in Justice Gregory’s court today subject to the complaint of assault and battery upon B. L. Gibson a driver for the Union Transfer Company. From the looks of Gibson’s eye, which was one of the purple variety, Midkiff was guilty. Squire Gregory fined Midkiff five dollars and costs. Midkiff then swore out a warrant for Gibson for being drunk and disorderly, which case will come up tomorrow.
 
The suit if Mrs. Kitty Lunsford against Philip Boyer, the Central City saloon man is on trial in the Circuit Court this afternoon.
 
The case is very similar to that of Mrs. Browning against Meadows & Swann which was tried this week. Wives in both cases suing saloon men for the damages sustained through the sale of liquor to their husbands. Mrs. Lunsford seeks five thousand dollars in damages.

More 100 Years Ago Today by Brandon Woolum:
 
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