CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING HITS CHURCH

SANDUSKY, Ill. -- One of 40 people who suffered carbon monoxide poisoning while attending a church service here Sunday remained hospitalized in Cape Girardeau Monday night.

The victim, Clara Hampton, was reported in fair condition at Southeast Missouri Hospital.

Thirty-nine others, including the Rev. Robert James, pastor of the church, Mount Tabor Missionary Baptist in Sandusky, were treated at Southeast Missouri Hospital and released Sunday afternoon.

About half of those treated at the hospital were children. The victims were given oxygen therapy.

The cause of the accident has been determined and corrective measures are being taken, said James.

"We had the heating checked," he said. "It was a fuel thing. It seems that part of the raw gas wasn't burning and was entering the church through the vents."

He said a little odor was present when he arrived at the 90-year-old church for Sunday school classes about 9:30 a.m.

"There appeared to be some type of smell," said James. "I couldn't determine what it was, but it was a familiar odor, similar to malofine, an insecticide we used to use in a greenhouse."

James, who is retired from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, served there 35 years as a grounds gardener and garden instructor.

"The smell intensified by the time Sunday School was over," said James, who has served as pastor of the church for 17 years. "Some of the people became nauseous, and when some of the children became ill we evacuated the church and called in authorities."

John Brewer, chief of the Olive Branch Community Fire Department, said: "By the time we arrived at the scene, the church had been aired out. We checked the building and recommended that people stay out of it until it was inspected by heating and furnace people."

The Alexander County Ambulance Service also responded. "The people with the ambulance service recommended that we go to the hospital for checkups," said James.

The pastor, who is from Carbondale, was back at the church Monday morning.

"We'll have church Feb. 24," said James. Services are held at the church every two weeks.

The congregation varies between 60 and 70 people, said James. "Some of the congregation didn't attend Sunday school, and we intercepted them before they entered the building for the church service."