William B. Bane (1861-1913)

BANE

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:11

From Nevada Representative September 26, 1913 (front page)

W. B. BANE ASPHYXIATED.

is Victim of Gas at Cedar Rapids.

W. B. Bane of this city was found dead in his bed Wednesday morning at Cedar Rapids the result of his accidentally turning on the gas in the night. He had been working at Cedar Rapids for a month or so and was arranging to move his family there. His daughter, Miss Florence, was planning to go down Saturday and help him at house hunting when the word of his death was received. Mrs. Bane and Miss Florence went to Cedar Rapids Wednesday noon and returned with the body Thursday morning. The funeral is this afternoon from the Bane home.

Mr. Bane was 52 years of age and had been a resident of Nevada for many years, being engaged the most of the time in some department of the meat business. He was well known and most kindly regarded, and his death is a shock to very numerous friends. He is survived by his wife and one daughter, Florence. His father resided with him here for a number of years but died here several years ago. Aside from his immediate family he is not understood as having near relatives. The circumstances of his death are reported thus by the Cedar Rapids Republican:

While trying to turn on the electric light in his room early Wednesday morning, W. B. Bane, a meat cutter, accidentally opened the gas jet and the mistake caused his death. He was found about two hours later dead from asphyxiation. The accident occurred in the home of S. R. Gilmore, 527 Third avenue, where Bane rented a room while he was trying to find a house for himself and his family. Mr. Gilmore noticed the smell of escaping gas at about 6 o'clock in the morning but did not suspect anything serious and was still looking for the leak when he passed Bane's room, and knocked on the door to call Bane. As there was no answer, Gilmore pushed the door open, and was horrified to find Bane lying across the bed apparently unconscious. A physician was called immediately and stated that Bane had been dead for two hours. Coroner King then was called and the discoveries made by him to not lead to the conclusion that Bane had committed suicide, as was believed at first.

Coroner King declared that wen the rainstorm started early Wednesday morning, Bane probably got up to pull down the windows of his room. He evidently tried to light the electric light so that the could see. The electric button, however, is so near the valve of the gas jet that one can easily make a mistake of turning on the gas instead of the electric light or of touching the gas valve and opening it while turning the electric button. It seems that Bane opened the gas jet first by mistake and failed to close it after turning on the electric light or that he opened the gas while turning on the electric light. He then probably closed the windows, put out the electric light, without noticing the escaping gas and sat on the bed. He was soon overcome by the gas and fell backward. The door of Bane's room was not locked, and no clue which might lead to Bane's intention of ending his life was found.

In the pockets of his clothes Bane had letter from his wife and daughter who now reside in Nevada, Iowa. The letters were such as a loving wife and devoted daughter would write. Bane was employed as a meat cutter in the Damour store and roomed with Mr. Gilmore who also is a meat cutter at the Damour store. Bane intended to make his family home in Cedar Rapids and Tuesday spent several hours looking for a house. Bane frequently spoke with enthusiasm about his daughter Florence who is a stenographer at Nevada. Bane was about 45 years old.

Coroner King notified the wife and daughter of the deceased about the tragedy and it is expected that both will come to Cedar Rapids on the first train.