Married Mary E. "Minnie" Card (1870-1931)
Asa Alspach
----------------
BOTULISM IS DEATH CAUSE MRS. ALSPACH
----------------
FATAL BOTULISM POISON IS TRACED TO SPOILED HOME CANNED VEGETABLES.
-----------------
AMARILLO, Texas, Oct. 21 -- (UP) --- Physicians held little hope today for recovery of A. R.[sic] Alspach, 60, production supervisor of the Prairie Oil and Gas company at Border.
Alspach was stricken with botulism, which caused the death of his wife Tuesday.
The illness was traced to home canned vegetables not properly sterilized, physician said. The husband was stricken at the besides of his wife.
Should other cases develop a supply of anti-toxin will be brought here by airplane.
Alspach's condition was such that physcians regarded it as hopeless to attempt to administer the anti-toxin.
---------------
An autopsy on the body of Mrs. Asa Alspach, former Wells county woman, who died of a mysterious malady early Tuesday morning at a hospital at Amarillo, Texas, is expected to disclose the nature of the illness that caused her death and confined her husband to the same hospital critically ill suffering from the same symptoms that caused her death.
The first death message was received by Abbott Alexander, living north of Roll, and did not state particulars. A later message attributed Mrs. Alspach's death and her husband's dangerous illness to an affliction termed paralysis of the throat. Mr. Alspach at that time was "living but condition serious."
It was added that at the time the diagnosis was not completed and that more positive information might be available later.
Mystery Develops.
A third message described the circustances[sic] of the mysterious malady more fully. This message reads as follows:
"Mrs. Mary E. Alspach, 56, Borger, Texas, died at the Amarillo hospital today of a mysterious sickness. Her husband, A. B. Alspach, general supervisor of production of the Prairie Oil and Gas company, is believed slowly dying from the same malady. Autopsy being conducted by local physicians to determine the cause of Mrs. Alspach's death. Autopsy was ordered when Alspach became suddenly ill while at his wife's bedside, about two hours before her death. Hospital attendants express the
opinion that the malady is slow poisoning, possibly arsenic. Hospital authorities said both of the Alspachs registered fast pulses but no temperature. Mrs. Alspach remained conscious until shortly before her death. She became ill Sunday and was brought overladn by ambulance, 50 miles at 3 a. m. Monday to the Amarillo hospital. Chemical analysis of Mrs. Alspach's viscera will be available in 24 hours. Possibly too late then to save Alspach's life."
Mr. and Mrs. Alspach formerly lived on the Alspach farm about three miles north of Roll. They left their residence there about 15 years ago for Oklahoma and Wyoming where they lived for several years, later moving to Texas about five years ago.
Mr. Alspach is well known around Roll and in Wells county where he was a farm field attendant for the Standard Oil Company.
Mrs. Minnie Card-Alspach was the daugther of Mr. and Mrs. J. Card, who resided one and a half mile north of the Asbury Chapel in Wells county. She is survived by two sisters, Mrs. John Hyde, who is living in Virginia, and Nellie Card, who is now married and living in South Dakota.
The death message was a shock to Abbott Alexander and Miss Clara Alexander who were close friends to Mr. and Mrs. Alspach. Miss Alexander visited the Alspachs in Texas about a year ago. Mr. and Mrs. Alspach visited with friends and relatives in Wells County about two years ago.
Mr. Alspach has several relatives in Blackford county and Wells county. Dan Alspach, of Roll, is a cousin, Dr. J. R. Harold, of Roll, is an uncle, A. T. Hearld, residing south of Roll, is a cousin. He has been associated with the Prairie Oil and Gas Company as superintendent in Texas during the past five years. Mrs. Malisa Runkle, of Montpelier, is an aunt of Mr. Alspach, and Mrs. Mildred Reynolds is a second cousin.
The body of Mrs. Alspach will probably be brought back to Warren for burial in the Woodlawn cemetery where Mrs. Alspach's parents were laid to rest.
ASA ALSPACH ALSO IS DEAD OF POISONING
----------------------
VICTIM OF SAME POISON FROM CANNED FOOD THAT KILLED HIS WIFE.
----------------------
AMARILLO, Texas, Oct. 22 -- (UP) -- Food poisoning caused by eating home canned food took its second victim wit the death today of Asa b. Alspach, superintendent of production of the Prairie Oil & Gas company, of Borger.
He was stricken as he sat at the bedside of his wife, who died of the poisoning. Doctors were unable to check the poisoning. After an autopsy on te body of Mrs. Alspach doctors diagnosed the disease as botulism.
Neighbors of the Alspach family in Borger ave been warned by physicians, who feared that some of the food might have been eaten by others.
The Alspachs formerly lived in Blackford, Wells and Huntington counties, in Indiana.
Previous to going to the western oil fields Mr. and Mrs. Alspach lived in jackson township, Wells county. He was interested in the oil industry while a resident of Indiana.
Article Wednesday, October 21, 1931, page 1, "The Amarillo Globe", Amarillo, Potter Co, Texas Hope Is Waning For Victim of Strange Malady
The second victim of a mysterious poisoning malady which physicians fear may be botulism, a rare disease possessing a high mortality rate, lies near death at Northwest Texas Hospital. Attendants say he is gradually growing weaker and slight chance is seen for his recovery.
The victim is A.B. Alspach, 60 year old official of the Prairie Oil and Gas Company at Borger. The disease, which is slowly tightening its grip upon his system, yesterday proved fatal to his wife, Mrs Mary E. Alspach, 56, following a sudden attack of the malady at the family home in Borger. An autopsy was performed yesterday on Mrs Alspach's body by seven Amarillo and Borger physicians, and a report on the chemical analysis will be known tonight, Terrell laboratory officials said. Although we believe the malady to be botulism, said Dr. R. A. Duncan, one of the attending physicians, we cannot be positive of the diagnosis
until the laboratory has announced its findings. We have an anti-toxin ready to administer if our present diagnosis is correct, but it may be too late now. If the illness is caused by botulism, it was probably caused from eating home canned foods, the physician said. Neighbors of the Alspachs in Borger have been warned, doctors fearing that some of the food might have been eaten by others. At the Northwest Texas Hospital attendants said that Alspach's tongue was swollen and paralyzed as were the throat organs. He was conscious at 1 o'clock, but considerably weaker, it was said.
According to Dr Draper of Borger, the botulism germ, bacillus botulinus, more often appears in meats but it can be found in water. The germ was definitely isolated in 1896 by a German scientist and was identified as the cause of many deaths resulting from persons eating sausages. Before being stricken with the malady, Alspach told local health authorities that he and his wife had eaten imported sausage for Sunday dinner. Botulism attacks the motor cells of the body, causing paralysis, swelling, and causes the victims to see double. In the case of both Alspach's it attacked the muscles of the tongue and neck. When Mrs. Alspach first became ill, physicians of Borger and Amarillo were mystified at the rare and dangerous symptoms. When she became violently ill she was rushed to the Northwest Texas Hospital in an ambulance. She succumbed at 7 o'clock yesterday morning. Mr Alspach was stricken just a short time before his wife's death.
The Alspach's had no children. Both were prominent citizens of Borger and were widely known in oil circles of the Southwest. J.A. Alspach, of Kieffer, Okla., a brother of the stricken man, arrived in Amarillo today. Mrs Alspach is survived by two sisters, Mrs John Hyde, of Ohio, and Mrs Nelly Porter, of South Dakota. No funeral arrangement have been made. The body is in charge of the Griggs chapel.
Obit Thursday, Oct 22, 1931, "The Amarillo Globe", Amarillo, Potter Co, Texas
A.B. Alspach Dies Today At City Hospital
Much of the same info as stated in article above...............plus...
Surviving Mr Alspach are three brothers, John A. Alspach, of Kiefer, Okla., Clyde Alspach, of Avant, Okla., and Floyd Alspach, of Dupo, Illinois. Mrs Alspach is survived by two sisters, Mrs. O.E. Harper, of Hot Springs, SD, and Mrs John Hyde, of Wayne, WV. C.N. Ochitree, of 2115 Van Buren Street, is a cousin of Mr Alspach. Bodies were both sent toWarren, Indiana, the old home place, for services and burial. Burial at Woodlawn Cemetery, Warren, Indiana.
Asa Alspach
----------------
BOTULISM IS DEATH CAUSE MRS. ALSPACH
----------------
FATAL BOTULISM POISON IS TRACED TO SPOILED HOME CANNED VEGETABLES.
-----------------
AMARILLO, Texas, Oct. 21 -- (UP) --- Physicians held little hope today for recovery of A. R.[sic] Alspach, 60, production supervisor of the Prairie Oil and Gas company at Border.
Alspach was stricken with botulism, which caused the death of his wife Tuesday.
The illness was traced to home canned vegetables not properly sterilized, physician said. The husband was stricken at the besides of his wife.
Should other cases develop a supply of anti-toxin will be brought here by airplane.
Alspach's condition was such that physcians regarded it as hopeless to attempt to administer the anti-toxin.
---------------
An autopsy on the body of Mrs. Asa Alspach, former Wells county woman, who died of a mysterious malady early Tuesday morning at a hospital at Amarillo, Texas, is expected to disclose the nature of the illness that caused her death and confined her husband to the same hospital critically ill suffering from the same symptoms that caused her death.
The first death message was received by Abbott Alexander, living north of Roll, and did not state particulars. A later message attributed Mrs. Alspach's death and her husband's dangerous illness to an affliction termed paralysis of the throat. Mr. Alspach at that time was "living but condition serious."
It was added that at the time the diagnosis was not completed and that more positive information might be available later.
Mystery Develops.
A third message described the circustances[sic] of the mysterious malady more fully. This message reads as follows:
"Mrs. Mary E. Alspach, 56, Borger, Texas, died at the Amarillo hospital today of a mysterious sickness. Her husband, A. B. Alspach, general supervisor of production of the Prairie Oil and Gas company, is believed slowly dying from the same malady. Autopsy being conducted by local physicians to determine the cause of Mrs. Alspach's death. Autopsy was ordered when Alspach became suddenly ill while at his wife's bedside, about two hours before her death. Hospital attendants express the
opinion that the malady is slow poisoning, possibly arsenic. Hospital authorities said both of the Alspachs registered fast pulses but no temperature. Mrs. Alspach remained conscious until shortly before her death. She became ill Sunday and was brought overladn by ambulance, 50 miles at 3 a. m. Monday to the Amarillo hospital. Chemical analysis of Mrs. Alspach's viscera will be available in 24 hours. Possibly too late then to save Alspach's life."
Mr. and Mrs. Alspach formerly lived on the Alspach farm about three miles north of Roll. They left their residence there about 15 years ago for Oklahoma and Wyoming where they lived for several years, later moving to Texas about five years ago.
Mr. Alspach is well known around Roll and in Wells county where he was a farm field attendant for the Standard Oil Company.
Mrs. Minnie Card-Alspach was the daugther of Mr. and Mrs. J. Card, who resided one and a half mile north of the Asbury Chapel in Wells county. She is survived by two sisters, Mrs. John Hyde, who is living in Virginia, and Nellie Card, who is now married and living in South Dakota.
The death message was a shock to Abbott Alexander and Miss Clara Alexander who were close friends to Mr. and Mrs. Alspach. Miss Alexander visited the Alspachs in Texas about a year ago. Mr. and Mrs. Alspach visited with friends and relatives in Wells County about two years ago.
Mr. Alspach has several relatives in Blackford county and Wells county. Dan Alspach, of Roll, is a cousin, Dr. J. R. Harold, of Roll, is an uncle, A. T. Hearld, residing south of Roll, is a cousin. He has been associated with the Prairie Oil and Gas Company as superintendent in Texas during the past five years. Mrs. Malisa Runkle, of Montpelier, is an aunt of Mr. Alspach, and Mrs. Mildred Reynolds is a second cousin.
The body of Mrs. Alspach will probably be brought back to Warren for burial in the Woodlawn cemetery where Mrs. Alspach's parents were laid to rest.
ASA ALSPACH ALSO IS DEAD OF POISONING
----------------------
VICTIM OF SAME POISON FROM CANNED FOOD THAT KILLED HIS WIFE.
----------------------
AMARILLO, Texas, Oct. 22 -- (UP) -- Food poisoning caused by eating home canned food took its second victim wit the death today of Asa b. Alspach, superintendent of production of the Prairie Oil & Gas company, of Borger.
He was stricken as he sat at the bedside of his wife, who died of the poisoning. Doctors were unable to check the poisoning. After an autopsy on te body of Mrs. Alspach doctors diagnosed the disease as botulism.
Neighbors of the Alspach family in Borger ave been warned by physicians, who feared that some of the food might have been eaten by others.
The Alspachs formerly lived in Blackford, Wells and Huntington counties, in Indiana.
Previous to going to the western oil fields Mr. and Mrs. Alspach lived in jackson township, Wells county. He was interested in the oil industry while a resident of Indiana.
Article Wednesday, October 21, 1931, page 1, "The Amarillo Globe", Amarillo, Potter Co, Texas Hope Is Waning For Victim of Strange Malady
The second victim of a mysterious poisoning malady which physicians fear may be botulism, a rare disease possessing a high mortality rate, lies near death at Northwest Texas Hospital. Attendants say he is gradually growing weaker and slight chance is seen for his recovery.
The victim is A.B. Alspach, 60 year old official of the Prairie Oil and Gas Company at Borger. The disease, which is slowly tightening its grip upon his system, yesterday proved fatal to his wife, Mrs Mary E. Alspach, 56, following a sudden attack of the malady at the family home in Borger. An autopsy was performed yesterday on Mrs Alspach's body by seven Amarillo and Borger physicians, and a report on the chemical analysis will be known tonight, Terrell laboratory officials said. Although we believe the malady to be botulism, said Dr. R. A. Duncan, one of the attending physicians, we cannot be positive of the diagnosis
until the laboratory has announced its findings. We have an anti-toxin ready to administer if our present diagnosis is correct, but it may be too late now. If the illness is caused by botulism, it was probably caused from eating home canned foods, the physician said. Neighbors of the Alspachs in Borger have been warned, doctors fearing that some of the food might have been eaten by others. At the Northwest Texas Hospital attendants said that Alspach's tongue was swollen and paralyzed as were the throat organs. He was conscious at 1 o'clock, but considerably weaker, it was said.
According to Dr Draper of Borger, the botulism germ, bacillus botulinus, more often appears in meats but it can be found in water. The germ was definitely isolated in 1896 by a German scientist and was identified as the cause of many deaths resulting from persons eating sausages. Before being stricken with the malady, Alspach told local health authorities that he and his wife had eaten imported sausage for Sunday dinner. Botulism attacks the motor cells of the body, causing paralysis, swelling, and causes the victims to see double. In the case of both Alspach's it attacked the muscles of the tongue and neck. When Mrs. Alspach first became ill, physicians of Borger and Amarillo were mystified at the rare and dangerous symptoms. When she became violently ill she was rushed to the Northwest Texas Hospital in an ambulance. She succumbed at 7 o'clock yesterday morning. Mr Alspach was stricken just a short time before his wife's death.
The Alspach's had no children. Both were prominent citizens of Borger and were widely known in oil circles of the Southwest. J.A. Alspach, of Kieffer, Okla., a brother of the stricken man, arrived in Amarillo today. Mrs Alspach is survived by two sisters, Mrs John Hyde, of Ohio, and Mrs Nelly Porter, of South Dakota. No funeral arrangement have been made. The body is in charge of the Griggs chapel.
Obit Thursday, Oct 22, 1931, "The Amarillo Globe", Amarillo, Potter Co, Texas
A.B. Alspach Dies Today At City Hospital
Much of the same info as stated in article above...............plus...
Surviving Mr Alspach are three brothers, John A. Alspach, of Kiefer, Okla., Clyde Alspach, of Avant, Okla., and Floyd Alspach, of Dupo, Illinois. Mrs Alspach is survived by two sisters, Mrs. O.E. Harper, of Hot Springs, SD, and Mrs John Hyde, of Wayne, WV. C.N. Ochitree, of 2115 Van Buren Street, is a cousin of Mr Alspach. Bodies were both sent toWarren, Indiana, the old home place, for services and burial. Burial at Woodlawn Cemetery, Warren, Indiana.
Married Mary E. "Minnie" Card (1870-1931)
Asa Alspach
----------------
BOTULISM IS DEATH CAUSE MRS. ALSPACH
----------------
FATAL BOTULISM POISON IS TRACED TO SPOILED HOME CANNED VEGETABLES.
-----------------
AMARILLO, Texas, Oct. 21 -- (UP) --- Physicians held little hope today for recovery of A. R.[sic] Alspach, 60, production supervisor of the Prairie Oil and Gas company at Border.
Alspach was stricken with botulism, which caused the death of his wife Tuesday.
The illness was traced to home canned vegetables not properly sterilized, physician said. The husband was stricken at the besides of his wife.
Should other cases develop a supply of anti-toxin will be brought here by airplane.
Alspach's condition was such that physcians regarded it as hopeless to attempt to administer the anti-toxin.
---------------
An autopsy on the body of Mrs. Asa Alspach, former Wells county woman, who died of a mysterious malady early Tuesday morning at a hospital at Amarillo, Texas, is expected to disclose the nature of the illness that caused her death and confined her husband to the same hospital critically ill suffering from the same symptoms that caused her death.
The first death message was received by Abbott Alexander, living north of Roll, and did not state particulars. A later message attributed Mrs. Alspach's death and her husband's dangerous illness to an affliction termed paralysis of the throat. Mr. Alspach at that time was "living but condition serious."
It was added that at the time the diagnosis was not completed and that more positive information might be available later.
Mystery Develops.
A third message described the circustances[sic] of the mysterious malady more fully. This message reads as follows:
"Mrs. Mary E. Alspach, 56, Borger, Texas, died at the Amarillo hospital today of a mysterious sickness. Her husband, A. B. Alspach, general supervisor of production of the Prairie Oil and Gas company, is believed slowly dying from the same malady. Autopsy being conducted by local physicians to determine the cause of Mrs. Alspach's death. Autopsy was ordered when Alspach became suddenly ill while at his wife's bedside, about two hours before her death. Hospital attendants express the
opinion that the malady is slow poisoning, possibly arsenic. Hospital authorities said both of the Alspachs registered fast pulses but no temperature. Mrs. Alspach remained conscious until shortly before her death. She became ill Sunday and was brought overladn by ambulance, 50 miles at 3 a. m. Monday to the Amarillo hospital. Chemical analysis of Mrs. Alspach's viscera will be available in 24 hours. Possibly too late then to save Alspach's life."
Mr. and Mrs. Alspach formerly lived on the Alspach farm about three miles north of Roll. They left their residence there about 15 years ago for Oklahoma and Wyoming where they lived for several years, later moving to Texas about five years ago.
Mr. Alspach is well known around Roll and in Wells county where he was a farm field attendant for the Standard Oil Company.
Mrs. Minnie Card-Alspach was the daugther of Mr. and Mrs. J. Card, who resided one and a half mile north of the Asbury Chapel in Wells county. She is survived by two sisters, Mrs. John Hyde, who is living in Virginia, and Nellie Card, who is now married and living in South Dakota.
The death message was a shock to Abbott Alexander and Miss Clara Alexander who were close friends to Mr. and Mrs. Alspach. Miss Alexander visited the Alspachs in Texas about a year ago. Mr. and Mrs. Alspach visited with friends and relatives in Wells County about two years ago.
Mr. Alspach has several relatives in Blackford county and Wells county. Dan Alspach, of Roll, is a cousin, Dr. J. R. Harold, of Roll, is an uncle, A. T. Hearld, residing south of Roll, is a cousin. He has been associated with the Prairie Oil and Gas Company as superintendent in Texas during the past five years. Mrs. Malisa Runkle, of Montpelier, is an aunt of Mr. Alspach, and Mrs. Mildred Reynolds is a second cousin.
The body of Mrs. Alspach will probably be brought back to Warren for burial in the Woodlawn cemetery where Mrs. Alspach's parents were laid to rest.
ASA ALSPACH ALSO IS DEAD OF POISONING
----------------------
VICTIM OF SAME POISON FROM CANNED FOOD THAT KILLED HIS WIFE.
----------------------
AMARILLO, Texas, Oct. 22 -- (UP) -- Food poisoning caused by eating home canned food took its second victim wit the death today of Asa b. Alspach, superintendent of production of the Prairie Oil & Gas company, of Borger.
He was stricken as he sat at the bedside of his wife, who died of the poisoning. Doctors were unable to check the poisoning. After an autopsy on te body of Mrs. Alspach doctors diagnosed the disease as botulism.
Neighbors of the Alspach family in Borger ave been warned by physicians, who feared that some of the food might have been eaten by others.
The Alspachs formerly lived in Blackford, Wells and Huntington counties, in Indiana.
Previous to going to the western oil fields Mr. and Mrs. Alspach lived in jackson township, Wells county. He was interested in the oil industry while a resident of Indiana.
Article Wednesday, October 21, 1931, page 1, "The Amarillo Globe", Amarillo, Potter Co, Texas Hope Is Waning For Victim of Strange Malady
The second victim of a mysterious poisoning malady which physicians fear may be botulism, a rare disease possessing a high mortality rate, lies near death at Northwest Texas Hospital. Attendants say he is gradually growing weaker and slight chance is seen for his recovery.
The victim is A.B. Alspach, 60 year old official of the Prairie Oil and Gas Company at Borger. The disease, which is slowly tightening its grip upon his system, yesterday proved fatal to his wife, Mrs Mary E. Alspach, 56, following a sudden attack of the malady at the family home in Borger. An autopsy was performed yesterday on Mrs Alspach's body by seven Amarillo and Borger physicians, and a report on the chemical analysis will be known tonight, Terrell laboratory officials said. Although we believe the malady to be botulism, said Dr. R. A. Duncan, one of the attending physicians, we cannot be positive of the diagnosis
until the laboratory has announced its findings. We have an anti-toxin ready to administer if our present diagnosis is correct, but it may be too late now. If the illness is caused by botulism, it was probably caused from eating home canned foods, the physician said. Neighbors of the Alspachs in Borger have been warned, doctors fearing that some of the food might have been eaten by others. At the Northwest Texas Hospital attendants said that Alspach's tongue was swollen and paralyzed as were the throat organs. He was conscious at 1 o'clock, but considerably weaker, it was said.
According to Dr Draper of Borger, the botulism germ, bacillus botulinus, more often appears in meats but it can be found in water. The germ was definitely isolated in 1896 by a German scientist and was identified as the cause of many deaths resulting from persons eating sausages. Before being stricken with the malady, Alspach told local health authorities that he and his wife had eaten imported sausage for Sunday dinner. Botulism attacks the motor cells of the body, causing paralysis, swelling, and causes the victims to see double. In the case of both Alspach's it attacked the muscles of the tongue and neck. When Mrs. Alspach first became ill, physicians of Borger and Amarillo were mystified at the rare and dangerous symptoms. When she became violently ill she was rushed to the Northwest Texas Hospital in an ambulance. She succumbed at 7 o'clock yesterday morning. Mr Alspach was stricken just a short time before his wife's death.
The Alspach's had no children. Both were prominent citizens of Borger and were widely known in oil circles of the Southwest. J.A. Alspach, of Kieffer, Okla., a brother of the stricken man, arrived in Amarillo today. Mrs Alspach is survived by two sisters, Mrs John Hyde, of Ohio, and Mrs Nelly Porter, of South Dakota. No funeral arrangement have been made. The body is in charge of the Griggs chapel.
Obit Thursday, Oct 22, 1931, "The Amarillo Globe", Amarillo, Potter Co, Texas
A.B. Alspach Dies Today At City Hospital
Much of the same info as stated in article above...............plus...
Surviving Mr Alspach are three brothers, John A. Alspach, of Kiefer, Okla., Clyde Alspach, of Avant, Okla., and Floyd Alspach, of Dupo, Illinois. Mrs Alspach is survived by two sisters, Mrs. O.E. Harper, of Hot Springs, SD, and Mrs John Hyde, of Wayne, WV. C.N. Ochitree, of 2115 Van Buren Street, is a cousin of Mr Alspach. Bodies were both sent toWarren, Indiana, the old home place, for services and burial. Burial at Woodlawn Cemetery, Warren, Indiana.
Asa Alspach
----------------
BOTULISM IS DEATH CAUSE MRS. ALSPACH
----------------
FATAL BOTULISM POISON IS TRACED TO SPOILED HOME CANNED VEGETABLES.
-----------------
AMARILLO, Texas, Oct. 21 -- (UP) --- Physicians held little hope today for recovery of A. R.[sic] Alspach, 60, production supervisor of the Prairie Oil and Gas company at Border.
Alspach was stricken with botulism, which caused the death of his wife Tuesday.
The illness was traced to home canned vegetables not properly sterilized, physician said. The husband was stricken at the besides of his wife.
Should other cases develop a supply of anti-toxin will be brought here by airplane.
Alspach's condition was such that physcians regarded it as hopeless to attempt to administer the anti-toxin.
---------------
An autopsy on the body of Mrs. Asa Alspach, former Wells county woman, who died of a mysterious malady early Tuesday morning at a hospital at Amarillo, Texas, is expected to disclose the nature of the illness that caused her death and confined her husband to the same hospital critically ill suffering from the same symptoms that caused her death.
The first death message was received by Abbott Alexander, living north of Roll, and did not state particulars. A later message attributed Mrs. Alspach's death and her husband's dangerous illness to an affliction termed paralysis of the throat. Mr. Alspach at that time was "living but condition serious."
It was added that at the time the diagnosis was not completed and that more positive information might be available later.
Mystery Develops.
A third message described the circustances[sic] of the mysterious malady more fully. This message reads as follows:
"Mrs. Mary E. Alspach, 56, Borger, Texas, died at the Amarillo hospital today of a mysterious sickness. Her husband, A. B. Alspach, general supervisor of production of the Prairie Oil and Gas company, is believed slowly dying from the same malady. Autopsy being conducted by local physicians to determine the cause of Mrs. Alspach's death. Autopsy was ordered when Alspach became suddenly ill while at his wife's bedside, about two hours before her death. Hospital attendants express the
opinion that the malady is slow poisoning, possibly arsenic. Hospital authorities said both of the Alspachs registered fast pulses but no temperature. Mrs. Alspach remained conscious until shortly before her death. She became ill Sunday and was brought overladn by ambulance, 50 miles at 3 a. m. Monday to the Amarillo hospital. Chemical analysis of Mrs. Alspach's viscera will be available in 24 hours. Possibly too late then to save Alspach's life."
Mr. and Mrs. Alspach formerly lived on the Alspach farm about three miles north of Roll. They left their residence there about 15 years ago for Oklahoma and Wyoming where they lived for several years, later moving to Texas about five years ago.
Mr. Alspach is well known around Roll and in Wells county where he was a farm field attendant for the Standard Oil Company.
Mrs. Minnie Card-Alspach was the daugther of Mr. and Mrs. J. Card, who resided one and a half mile north of the Asbury Chapel in Wells county. She is survived by two sisters, Mrs. John Hyde, who is living in Virginia, and Nellie Card, who is now married and living in South Dakota.
The death message was a shock to Abbott Alexander and Miss Clara Alexander who were close friends to Mr. and Mrs. Alspach. Miss Alexander visited the Alspachs in Texas about a year ago. Mr. and Mrs. Alspach visited with friends and relatives in Wells County about two years ago.
Mr. Alspach has several relatives in Blackford county and Wells county. Dan Alspach, of Roll, is a cousin, Dr. J. R. Harold, of Roll, is an uncle, A. T. Hearld, residing south of Roll, is a cousin. He has been associated with the Prairie Oil and Gas Company as superintendent in Texas during the past five years. Mrs. Malisa Runkle, of Montpelier, is an aunt of Mr. Alspach, and Mrs. Mildred Reynolds is a second cousin.
The body of Mrs. Alspach will probably be brought back to Warren for burial in the Woodlawn cemetery where Mrs. Alspach's parents were laid to rest.
ASA ALSPACH ALSO IS DEAD OF POISONING
----------------------
VICTIM OF SAME POISON FROM CANNED FOOD THAT KILLED HIS WIFE.
----------------------
AMARILLO, Texas, Oct. 22 -- (UP) -- Food poisoning caused by eating home canned food took its second victim wit the death today of Asa b. Alspach, superintendent of production of the Prairie Oil & Gas company, of Borger.
He was stricken as he sat at the bedside of his wife, who died of the poisoning. Doctors were unable to check the poisoning. After an autopsy on te body of Mrs. Alspach doctors diagnosed the disease as botulism.
Neighbors of the Alspach family in Borger ave been warned by physicians, who feared that some of the food might have been eaten by others.
The Alspachs formerly lived in Blackford, Wells and Huntington counties, in Indiana.
Previous to going to the western oil fields Mr. and Mrs. Alspach lived in jackson township, Wells county. He was interested in the oil industry while a resident of Indiana.
Article Wednesday, October 21, 1931, page 1, "The Amarillo Globe", Amarillo, Potter Co, Texas Hope Is Waning For Victim of Strange Malady
The second victim of a mysterious poisoning malady which physicians fear may be botulism, a rare disease possessing a high mortality rate, lies near death at Northwest Texas Hospital. Attendants say he is gradually growing weaker and slight chance is seen for his recovery.
The victim is A.B. Alspach, 60 year old official of the Prairie Oil and Gas Company at Borger. The disease, which is slowly tightening its grip upon his system, yesterday proved fatal to his wife, Mrs Mary E. Alspach, 56, following a sudden attack of the malady at the family home in Borger. An autopsy was performed yesterday on Mrs Alspach's body by seven Amarillo and Borger physicians, and a report on the chemical analysis will be known tonight, Terrell laboratory officials said. Although we believe the malady to be botulism, said Dr. R. A. Duncan, one of the attending physicians, we cannot be positive of the diagnosis
until the laboratory has announced its findings. We have an anti-toxin ready to administer if our present diagnosis is correct, but it may be too late now. If the illness is caused by botulism, it was probably caused from eating home canned foods, the physician said. Neighbors of the Alspachs in Borger have been warned, doctors fearing that some of the food might have been eaten by others. At the Northwest Texas Hospital attendants said that Alspach's tongue was swollen and paralyzed as were the throat organs. He was conscious at 1 o'clock, but considerably weaker, it was said.
According to Dr Draper of Borger, the botulism germ, bacillus botulinus, more often appears in meats but it can be found in water. The germ was definitely isolated in 1896 by a German scientist and was identified as the cause of many deaths resulting from persons eating sausages. Before being stricken with the malady, Alspach told local health authorities that he and his wife had eaten imported sausage for Sunday dinner. Botulism attacks the motor cells of the body, causing paralysis, swelling, and causes the victims to see double. In the case of both Alspach's it attacked the muscles of the tongue and neck. When Mrs. Alspach first became ill, physicians of Borger and Amarillo were mystified at the rare and dangerous symptoms. When she became violently ill she was rushed to the Northwest Texas Hospital in an ambulance. She succumbed at 7 o'clock yesterday morning. Mr Alspach was stricken just a short time before his wife's death.
The Alspach's had no children. Both were prominent citizens of Borger and were widely known in oil circles of the Southwest. J.A. Alspach, of Kieffer, Okla., a brother of the stricken man, arrived in Amarillo today. Mrs Alspach is survived by two sisters, Mrs John Hyde, of Ohio, and Mrs Nelly Porter, of South Dakota. No funeral arrangement have been made. The body is in charge of the Griggs chapel.
Obit Thursday, Oct 22, 1931, "The Amarillo Globe", Amarillo, Potter Co, Texas
A.B. Alspach Dies Today At City Hospital
Much of the same info as stated in article above...............plus...
Surviving Mr Alspach are three brothers, John A. Alspach, of Kiefer, Okla., Clyde Alspach, of Avant, Okla., and Floyd Alspach, of Dupo, Illinois. Mrs Alspach is survived by two sisters, Mrs. O.E. Harper, of Hot Springs, SD, and Mrs John Hyde, of Wayne, WV. C.N. Ochitree, of 2115 Van Buren Street, is a cousin of Mr Alspach. Bodies were both sent toWarren, Indiana, the old home place, for services and burial. Burial at Woodlawn Cemetery, Warren, Indiana.
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