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- [S271] Newspaper - Wisconsin - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Check Asked on Deadly Gas; 4 August 1936.
Check Asked on Deadly Gas
Dr. Koehler, Wants Action to Regulate Business of Fumigators Here
City regulation of fumigators will be asked, Dr. John P. Koehler, city health commissioner, said Tuesday. Dr. Stanley L. Pilgrim of the health department will meet with fumigators and assistant city attorneys to draw up an ordinance to be submitted to the common council in September.
The death Sunday of Miss Esther Radey, 27 of 1722 W. Wells st., who walked into her apartment while cyanide gas remained in the building, drew attention to the lack of supervision.
Dr. Koehler said the ordinance would require fumigators, when using cyanide gas. to seal all windows and doors and to plug the keyholes in all doors to make it impossible for anyone to enter the building or to leave a guard at the building.
Registration is Favored
a system of registration instead of licensing of fumigators is favored by Dr. Koehler
Licensing might give the public a false sense of security," the health commissioner believes. "A license does not give assurance that the fumigator will be careful."
He proposed to ask that all fumigators be bonded.
The ordinance will be concerned chiefly with cyanide gas, said Dr. Koehler, because this deadly gas has only a faint odor and cannot easily be detected. Other gases used in fumigating have strongly disagreeable odors and give their own warning.
An investigation of Miss Radley's (sic) death by a sergeant of the sanitary policy di not prove definitely that Miss Radley (sic) had been warned of the presence of cyanide gas in the building said Dr. Koehler.
Notices to Tenants
"Notices were sent to all tenants of the building, but we do not know that Miss Radley (sic) personally received her notice," he said.
The report showed that the front door of the building was locked, but it was not plugged and any tenant could enter with his key.
Coroner, Frank J. Schultz held late Monday that Miss Radley died accidentally as a result of her own negligence.
"I am satisfied with the statement of Samuel Seelig (representative of an exterminating company) that all tenants of the building ha been notified to stay away until late Sunday," said Schultz.
- [S98] Newspaper - Wisconsin - Waukesha Freeman, Miss Radey was asphixiated; news; 5 August 1936.
Waukesha Freeman August 5, 1936 Same article appeared in Stevens Point Daily Journal Monday August 3, 1936
Miss Radey was asphyxiated by acid fumes used to destroy insects in her apartment.
From Michele Gurich Rembert, daughter of Lorraine Radey Gurich Let me tell you about Esther Radey. She lived in an apartment building on the East Side of Milwaukee. My mother, Lorraine, and a couple of her sisters were visiting relatives in Milwaukee. Esther had to work that evening, so her sisters were unable to see her on that trip. Esther was unaware that the apartment building was being fumigated. Don't know why she wasn't notified. She went into the building after work. She was found inside the hallway near the building entrance. It appeared from her outstretched arm that she was trying to reach the door handle to exit the building. Her sisters returned home to Manitowoc just before the police arrived to notify the family of Esther's death. Esther's body was laid in the living room of her parents' home. My mother told me that her mother, Anna, rocked in a chair beside Esther's body, all night long. She stayed by her side until she was laid to rest.
- [S106] Newspaper - Wisconsin - Manitowoc Herald Times - Newspaper Archives, Esther Radey is Victim of Fatal Fumes; news; 3 August 1936; page 2.
Esther Radey is Victim of Fatal Fumes
Local Girl Accidently Gassed At Her Rooming House in Milwaukee
Esther Radey, 27, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Radey, 1205 Franklin street, was accidentally gassed in her rooming house at Milwaukee late Saturday evening.
Miss Radey, employed in a restaurant at Milwaukee, was trapped by cyanide fumes when she returned to her room at 1722 W. Wells street and failed to notice fumigating signs. She rushed for the open air but collapsed just as she reached an outside door, almost within reach of fresh air and aid.
Body Found Sunday
Her body was found, hands outstretched toward the door at 8:30 a.m. Sunday by Sam Seelig, who occupied another room. He and a passerby, Delmar Cohen, called police but the woman was dead on entrance to the County emergency hospital, Milwaukee.
Mr. and Mrs. Radey and their children were just seated at dinner here Sunday when a message advising of the death of Miss Radey arrived. Mr. Radey went to Milwaukee at once. The body was brought to Pfeffer funeral home here and will be removed to the home on Franklin street Tuesday morning.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 9 a.m. at the St. Boniface church. Interment will be in Calvary cemetery.
According to reports made to Milwaukee police, occupants of the four story building where Miss Radey had a room were warned to vacate at noon Saturday and stay away until Sunday during fumigation for roaches. Miss Radey, who was required to work late evidently was unaware of the lethal gas.
She returned to her second floor room sometime Saturday night and opened a window before rushing frantically for the outside, dropping part of a Sunday newspaper as she ran. her purse was found beside her body. She still had her hat on. The body was identified by a bank passbook and by her finance, Jack Bernstein, Milwaukee.
The death was recorded as accidental due to asphyxiation from hydro-cyanic acid gas after a post mortem Sunday afternoon.
Miss Radey who had been employed in Milwaukee for seven years, was a frequent visitor to Manitowoc. She was here July 4 to attend the Centeniel celebration. Only last week the journey to Madison to visit her brother Gordon, a patient in a Madison hospital.
Survivors are her parents, 11 sisters, Thelma, Irene, Vivian, Carmen, Lorraine, and Joan, city; Mrs. Mabel Baral, Evelyn, Rose, Ruth and Marie, Milwaukee, and a brother Gordon, city.
Manitowoc Herald Times | Manitowoc, Wisconsin | Monday, August 03, 1936 | Page 2
- [S45] Newspaper - Wisconsin - Manitowoc Sun Messenger, Esther Radey; news; 7 August 1936; page 6; viewed online; 2 April 2019.
Esther Radey, 27, was the accidental victim of cyanide gas poisoning at her rooming house at Milwaukee, sometimes during Saturday night. Her body was discovered by other roomers at the home early Sunday morning and death had apparently come just as she was about to reach safety. The body was returned here and the funeral was held Wednesday morning. Survivors include the parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Radey, 1205 Franklin street, eleven sisters and a brother. Miss Radey has been employed at Milwaukee for seven years.
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Jindra and Chaloupka Families
1909 - 1936 (27 years)
