CUYAHOGA COUNTY OHIO - HODGSON Newspaper Article (1911)
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by
Jane Hodgson 
hodgson@azstarnet.com
October 6, 1998
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 Cleveland Plain Dealer, 23 January 1911
  Three Funerals in One

Brothers, Two of Whom Were Asphyxiated Will Be Buried Tomorrow.

  The triple funeral of Edward, Archibald and Henry Hodgson, the latter two 
of whom were asphyxiated at the West Side plant of the East Ohio Gas Co., and
the former, who was prostrated and died from grief over his brothers deaths,
will be held at the Hodgson residence, 2616 Franklin av N.W. tomorrow 
afternoon at 3 o'clock.

  Services will be conducted by Rev. J.O. Fall of the Western Seaman's Friend
Society, of which three Hodgsons were members.  The Woodmen of the World will
also assist in the funeral services, and the funeral rites of the Woodmen
order will be observed.

  Joseph Hodgson, father of the victims and superintendent of the gas plant 
in which the youths met their death, is gradually recovering from the brave 
but futile attempt to rescue his sons.  He was taken from the hospital to 
his home yesterday.

Father and Sons Stricken by Gas.

Gas Claims Two in Pit of Death.

Fumes From Leaking Valve Overcome Three Who Try for Lives of Victims.

Father Fails in Attempt to Save and May Add to List of Dead.

  Two men were killed, a third man went to a hospital in a critical condition
and two others were overcome by gas in a valve pit at the point of the
People's Gas Light & Coke Co. River rd. 24 W. and W. 25th st., yesterday.
  Joseph Hodgson, 54, of 2616 Franklin av N.W. superintendent of the plant, 
is in a serious condition.  Hodgson's two sons, Archibald, 24, married, 
2603 Franklin av N.W. and Henry, 21, single, who lived with his father are
dead.
  Patolman Burrows and Toll of the eighth precinct recovered after being led
away from the mouth of the pit.
  The pit in which the father and his two sons were overcome is about fifteen
feet deep and three feet in diameter and is in a shed adjoining a big gas
tank.
 At the bottom is a valve that conducts gas from the tank.  This valve had
been
leaking and the father sent his sons to repair it.  As Archibald lowered
himself into the pit Henry saw him stagger and fall against the side.  He
immediately went to the rescue and also was overcome.  The father found the
two
boys unconscious. Patrolman Burrows acting sergaent and Patrolman Toll 
hurried to the scene, while the firemen of engine Co. 4 together with 
Saxon's and A.R. Nunn's ambulances were called.

  Joseph Hodgson then went into the pit, but was overcome.  Burrows and Toll
tried to effect a rescue, but felt themselves being overcome and crawled from
the pit.  The firemen used a noose and grappling hook to pull the three
unconscioous men out.
  Henry was placed in Saxton's ambulance but died before St. John's hospital
was reached.  Archibald was taken to Lutheran hospital in A.R. Nunn's
ambulance but succombed two hours later.  The father was taken to German 
hospital by Saxton's ambulance and was revived.
__________________________________________________________________________


Jane Hunter Hodgson
Tucson, Arizona
hodgson@azstarnet.com