This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: NISSEN Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/zk.2ADI/710 Message Board Post: We mentioned briefly last week the death of Peter Nissen at Omaha, but were unable to give any particulars. It was a case of asphyxiation and occurred at the Hendersen Hotel, last Friday morning (18 Jan 1901). P. Christiansen who was reported in a critical condition has recovered. Peter and Chris Nissen accompanied by their brother-in-law P. Christensen went to Omaha on Thursday and registered at he Hendersen Hotel about four o'clock, and were assigned to rooms. Christensen and Peter Nissen were given room No. 43, and Chris Nissen No. 50. They then went away and came back to the hotel at 9 o'clock in the evening. About 9:30 the two younger men expressed a desire to go out and see the town. Chris remained the hotel, while the other went out, and they left their pocketbooks and watches with Chris, retaining only a few dollars each. Chris sat up and waited or his companions several hours but finally went to bed. He got up about 5:30 and came down to breakfast. They had agreed to get up early as they were going to South Omaha to buy some horses. As the other men did not show up, Chris inquired for them and the clerk went up to their room to call them. The night clerk told the reporter of the incident as follows, "The two men returned about 12:30 Friday morning and appeared to be perfectly sober. I showed them to their room. When we got up there I asked them if hey understood the use of gas, and they laughed at me and said they did. I then lighted the gas for them and went down stairs. About daylight C. Nissen, who had occupied room No.50 arose and inquired for the other two. He said he wanted me to call them. I went up and knocked on the door several times; there was no response. Then I got a chair, stood upon it and looked through the transom. I could see there was something wrong from the way the men were lying, and besides I could catch the fumes of gas. I forced the door open. The room was so full of gas that I was nearly choked before I could get a window open, and the gas jet was turned on full force. Both men were undressed, and had gone to bed in their underclothes. Nissen's body was quit cold. He had evidently been dead an hour or two. The other man was breathing with great effort and with intervals of several second between breaths. I called a doctor and notified the coroner at once." Knud Hansen, brother-in-law of the deceased and Hans Hansen of the firm French & Hansen went to Omaha last Friday and brought the body home, arriving Saturday noon. Christensen was taken to the Clarkson hospital and he had so far recovered by Monday that he was able to come to Harlan. He is unable to give any account of the incident. He remembers nothing from the time he and Nissen went to bed till he regained consciousness Saturday afternoon. He said he had felt no discomfort at any time. It seems that he had survived because of the fact he slept under the quilts, though the doctor said if he had remained two minutes longer all would have been over. Mr. Christiansen is deeply affected by the accident. Funeral for Peter Nissen Peter Nissen, who died at the Henderson Hotel in Omaha last Friday from asphyxiation, was buried at Bowman's Grove cemetery Tuesday afternoon, witnessed by an immense crowd of sympathizing friends. The funeral was the largest ever witnessed in Jackson township. The procession from the home to the cemetery was fully a mile and a half in length and there were between 150 and 200 carriages and vehicles in line. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. A. C. Weisman of Bowman's Grove Lutheran church. Short service were held at the home of the deceased's father, John Nissen shortly after noon. The regular funeral sermon was preached at Bowman's Grove church at 3 o'clock p.m. The body was laid in a beautiful satin lined casket draped with black broadcloth and rich silver mountings. The casket was covered with a profusion of flowers, silent tributes of love from many hands. Among the mourners was the betrothed of the young man, Miss Dora Anderson, daughter of Peter Anderson of Copenhagen, who was to have been his bride on that very day. It was a sad and pathetic incident that she should mourn beside his bier instead of standing as bride beside the groom, and the bell that should have proclaimed the wedding joys, now tolled the funeral knell. Of the other mourners were the father and mother, brothers and sisters, an uncle Peter Nissen from Laurel, Cedar county, Nebraska, and many other relatives and friends. It was a hard and trying time for all. Death had come so sudden and unexpected and robbed the home of a son and brother, in the full bloom of manhood and vigor. It is a strange coincident, but the young man seems to have had a premonition of his death. He had told both his father and brother that he did not think he would live long. Peter Nissen was born March 22, 1879 and died January 18, 1901 at the age of 21 years, 9 months, and 26 days. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Nissen, a prominent and well-do-do farmer of Jackson Township. He owns one of the best-improved stock farms in the township. Peter was a young man of excellent habits, industrious and a great favorite among his companions.