Peter Klensmith Died 1923

KLENSMITH

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 8/2/2018 at 11:17:22

Sioux City Journal
2 February 1923

Fourth Victim of Gas Is Dead
Peter Klensmith, Stockman, Passes Away Early This Morning
The fourth victim of gas to die in Sioux City during the past 60 hours passed away early this morning

Peter Klensmith, a stockman of Fordyce, Nebraska, who was found lying unconscious beside the dead body of John Schieffer, also a stockman, of Crofton, Nebraska, in a room in the Loyal hotel, Wednesday morning expired at St. Vincent’s early today. He never regained consciousness after being taken to the hospital.

Two men were killed by gas fumes Thursday. They were Knute Williams, 44 years old and Orville Simpson, 22 years old and were found lying side by side in bed in a room at 810 pierce Street, dead.

Williams, despondent over financial reverses and known as a “hard drinker” is believed to have committed suicide, snuffing out the life of Simpson as he ended his own.

Although the room occupied by the two was equipped with electric lights, a gas jet and one burner on a small gas stove were found wide open, with the deadly fumes pouring from them.

These were the second and third deaths caused by gas fumes in the rooming house during the past two months. Zack Joslin, a roomer, was accidently killed by gas fumes in an adjoining room on December 17.

Had Been Out of Work

The two men came here from Duncombe, Iowa, shortly before the Christmas holidays. Simpson had been working steadily as a driver for the Day Coal Company. Williams had worked most of the time at the Cudahy packing plant, but had been unemployed for the past week.

According to Harry Pounds, proprietor of the rooming house, Williams had been acting queerly for some time.

Tuesday evening according to Mr. Pounds, he decided to invite Williams down for dinner. When knocking on the door of Williams room he smelled gas fumes. Williams, partially clothed, answered the knock. One of the gas jets was open at that time. Mr. Pounds stated.

Wednesday night Williams retired about 11 o’clock. A short time later Mrs. Pounds heard Williams get up and leave the room. He returned about 1 o’clock.

Windows Tightly Closed

A roomer, in attempting to awaken the two men Friday morning, noticed the odor of gas and called Mr. Pounds, who broke in the door. Both men were dead. The windows to the room were tightly closed.

Police and Coroner J.H. Robbins were summoned. The bodies were removed to the Westcott undertaking parlors, where they are being held pending word from relatives.

Wednesday morning John Schieffer, a stockman of Crofton, Nebraska, was found dead from gas fumes in a bed at the Loyal Hotel.