Albert L. Kepler

Albert L. Kepler, 30, electrician, died attempting to save Thomas E. McCutcheon, 52, and William J. Smith, 37, millwrights, from suffocation, Akron, Ohio, September 26, 1950, McCutcheon and Smith were overcome in a compartment of a storage tank 30 feet in diameter and 40 feet deep by carbon monoxide gas seeping from an adjacent compartment in which an abrasive had ignited accidentally and was smoldering. Kepler accompanied by Joseph A. Mariola ran 300 feet on a roof and along a ramp to a manhole opening at the top of the compartment. With a rope tied around him and held by Mariola, Kepler entered the tank and descended a ladder to the base of the compartment. He walked three feet to McCutcheon and Smith, who lay inert, and bending over them removed the rope. Kepler was affected by the gas and began to moan and gasp. William C. Lane with several other men arrived, and Lane immediately descended the ladder with a rope secured to him. Lane was partially overcome at the base and removed the rope. He walked slowly to Kepler, who had been unable to lift either of the men and was semiconscious. Lane pulled Kepler in a standing position to the ladder. Mariola with a rope tied to him descended from the manhole to within reach of Kepler, who was inert and had slumped against the ladder, but became partially overcome and was unable to take hold of him. Lane suddenly released Kepler and fell backward unconscious to the floor of the compartment. Mariola ascended to the opening and climbed outside. Donning a smoke-mask which be knew was ineffective against gases, be returned to the ladder and descended 21 feet toward Kepler and Lane but became affected by the gas and could progress no farther. He climbed with difficulty to near the opening and was pulled from the tank in a semiconscious condition. Firemen wearing gas-masks removed Kepler and the others from the tank. McCutcheon, Smith, and Kepler were pronounced dead of suffocation.