Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 September 1911 — KILLED BY LEAKING GAS [ARTICLE]

KILLED BY LEAKING GAS

Fatal Mishap in Big Cleveland Chemical Works. Three Men Are Dead, Two Almost Suffocated and Several Others Overcome by Noxious Fumes. Cleveland, 0., Sept. 22. —Three men were killed, two were almost suffocated and several others were overcome when gas leaked into a room at the Grasselli Chemical company’s plant, where they were employed. The two men who were overcome risked their lives to drag out the three others, but their efforts were in vain, as the three were dead before they could be taken to a hospital. The three victims, Joseph Waparenski, Paul Josefek and John Mazurek, were laborers employed in the ammonia room of the plant, which is one of the largest chemical works in the country. They were working near a large quantity of boiling vitriol, the gas from which was being conveyed! to another retort. In some manner the pipe burst and the gas spread into the room, the three men dropping to the floor. The five or six other men in the room saw them fall, but only two of these had the nerve to attempt a rescue.