Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 January 1896 — ALL DIE TOGETHER. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ALL DIE TOGETHER.

PETER HOUGAARD KILLS HIS FAMILY AND HIMSELF. 4 ’ ? ‘ A Chicago Dane, Goaded by Reverses in Fortune, Turns on the Gas While Hie Wife and Children Sleep—Suicide la Added. Puta Seven to Death. Peter Hougaard killed himself, wife and five children in Chicago Sunday night. The discovery was made by the police Monday. Upon forcing open the door of Hougaard’s residence they found the whole family asphyxiated. Hougaard had j evidently waited till all were asphyxiated, and then,. turning on tire remaining gas ; jets, calmly laid down and waited his own death. - v . Hougaard was a Dane living at 731 Sixty-first street. He wrote a letter to a friend telling him what he was going to do, saying he was despondent and he spoke of some diamonds which the police would find by his side when they entered the house. The letter, ‘Which was written in Danish, was recaiyed by Hougaard’s friend Monday and he immediately informed the police of its contents. When the police broke open the doors of the modest homie the chill of death pervaded every foom. A house dog, half dead with the fumes of escaping gas, dashed past the officers and up the stairs to the bed chamber of Hans, the eldest child. And there 'he remained until beaten away by the officers of the coroner. ■ ■ , Seven persons lay dead in the three rooms. From every jet the gas was yet flooding the rooms, but its deadly work had long since been completed. In the front room were found the bodies of Peter Hougaard, his wife and their 2-year-old infant, the little form of which was nestled closely against that of its dead mother. Hougaard’s arms were crossed upon his breast and his face was peaceful in its last sleep. In an adjoining room was the body of Hans, the 14-year-old son. He had died without a struggle. Locked in each other's arms in the rear room were Jennie, Olga and Maud, the beautiful

Hougaard girls, beloved of all the neighborhood. Death had come in the night—silent, painless and pitiless. Peter Hougaard came to Chicago from Denmark two years ago. A man of education, culture and ambition, he was attracted to Chicago. He was trained in the business methods of his native country and did not hesitate to throw his small fortiifie into the balance. He engaged in business, at first with success. Emboldened by his first victory, he plunged into speculation—and lost. How much he lost and how hfc lost it no one knows. It makes no difference. It is sa«id he lost $40,000 and that the remainder of his little fortune was stolen by a swindler. Hougaard was penniless. His dream of riches was rudely swept away. But he

did not burden his wife with his troubles, ar\d he always seemed happy and cheerful. There was yet food and warmth in the little cottage. He went bravely ahead in an attempt to secure work, but it was denied him. His business reverses aniLthe fact that he was practically penniless and unable to find employment, so preyed on Hougaard’s mind that finally, seeing no other way of escape, he resolved on death. The police found little food in the house and not a cent of money, with the exception of some small Danish coins.

THE HOUGAARD FAMILY.

WHERE THE MURDER WAS COMMITTED.