Gail Benson: Unfortunate Endings

UNFORTUNATE ENDINGS
By Gail Benson

A few months ago, I wrote of Dr. Dubler. As usual, I asked if anyone has any additional information about my topic or anything else of interest to the Buena historical community. Thanks to Kathleen Vincents and Kitty Finn’s follow-up research, we find Dr. Dubler in attendance at one of the tragic stories of Buena Vista Township.
An article entitled “Poisonous Toadstools” appeared in the Vineland Evening Journal on July 19, 1905. It reported that mistaking toadstools for mushrooms caused the deaths of two children, ages 2 and 7, and much misery in the family of Joseph Franzoi near Friendship Church, Atlantic County. Alma and Viola Franzoi died, with the baby having eaten only the broth on some bread. Dr. Cunningham had been called to the scene on July18. Father and mother were both seriously ill as well, but he had hopes that the father would survive.
Another article appeared on July 25 – It read “Two More Deaths.” Joseph Franzoi and his wife Albina were dead from eating toadstools. In a rehash of the previous week’s happenings, it mentions that Dr. Dubler of Minatola was called first. When the two children could not be saved, Dr. Cunningham was also called. Father and mother were treated at home until Mr. Franzoi worsened and was sent to the hospital. He died on July 24, and his wife died shortly thereafter.
News of this sad situation was not limited to the Vineland newspapers. On the same day as our first article above, shorter versions of the same information appeared in the Trenton Times and the Philadelphia Inquirer. The only additional information in those articles was that Dr. Cunningham’s first name was George. Guess Vineland folks already knew that.
Philadelphia Inquirer continued with coverage on July 27 noting that the deaths were from muscarine poisoning. Funeral services were conducted in the Landisville Catholic Church, conducted by Rev. Father Gerardo Cristiano. Burial was in Landisville Cemetery. It also mentions two boys, aged 5 and 10 who were the remaining members of the family.
On August 3, 1905, the Inquirer headline read: Real Mushrooms May Have Killed Vineland Family. (See how headlines can be wrong! They lived on Weymouth Road, Buena Vista Township.) It states that since the family was expert in gathering mushrooms, and ate large quantities of them, it is not believed that they mistook toadstools for their fatal meal. The particular fungi that nearly wiped out this entire family grew under a chestnut tree, and also under a locust tree. Dr. Cunningham says that the mushrooms may have been poisoned by the soil in which they grew.
There were two survivors in this family who lived on Weymouth Road. Adolph and Joseph, One of the Inquirer articles above reports the two boys were aged 5 and 10, but later census records and draft registrations would indicate they were more like 6 and 4. Those later records also indicate that both boys were born in Colorado.
From Italy to Colorado to Buena Vista Township, New Jersey. But, that’s another story.

If you have any information for us, you can email buenahistorical@gmail.com or contact us by regular mail at P. O. Box 114, Buena, NJ 08310
Buena Historical Society meets on the third Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Buena Vista Township Municipal Building, Route 40, Buena. One meeting left for the remainder of 2009 - November 18. Please join us. January meeting is our annual business meeting.