A BERLIN HARROR.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 86, 10 April 1912, Page 8

A BERLIN HARROR.

No fewer than 72 of the poorest people in Berlin died in January from what was eventually declared to be the adulteration of cheap drink, or schnapps.

Practically all the victims were dosThey, with others, were in the habit of gathering at night, to the number of about 2700, in the shelter for the homeless, in the Froebclstrasse. They were in as usual one Tuesday evening, many taking with them odds and ends of food which; they had picked up in the markets, or perhaps bought with alms received during the day. During the night the watchman patrolling the dormitories heard groans coming from several of tho beds. It was found that Seventy men had at that time been taken seriously ill. Several of them were already in, a dying state. Doctors were called in, hut fifteen of the men died, some before they could be removed, and .the others while they were being taken in motor ambulances to hospital, <'u Very soon it was found that■cthorc; were ill, and two days later no fewer than fifty deaths had taken place and as many more people were dangerously ill. It was at first declared that the deaths had' been caused by eating poisonous fish, but the doctors who attended the sufferers were less positive. Geheimrat Gaffky, Director or tin Institute of Infectious Diseases, who conducted a post mortem examination on one of the victims, reported that death was not due to an infectious disease, but to bacterial poisoning. . Death ensued within 1 half' an hc.ur of the first symptoms. In some cases, death took place in the street;; am), squares. ■'■■'■". This drink which the people had, procured was found to be largely mixed with methylated spirit. The police found the restaurant where the concoction was sold, and traced the man who supplied it wholesale. Two men,j named Scharmach and Zastrow, were arrested. They are alleged to have made schnapps with methylated spirit. The police discovered two t.tvernkeepers who bought tho schnapps, and their premises situated near the municipal shelter and in Charlotten'burs respectively were closed^