The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-05-06
The Shocking Death of Prof. Di-
mans Daughter.
Providence Journal. April 3o.1

Providence journal, April 3O.1
About GAO o'clock last evening a terrible ac-
cident occurred at the head Of Angel street,
on Benefit, whereby most estimable young
lady of this city was instantly killed. Miss
Maria Stimson Diman, eldest daughter of the
late Prof. j. Lewis Diman, went out horseback
riding about 8 O'Clock in the afternoon, in
company with Mr. Benjamin Barker, men,
Der Of the senior class in Brown University
After riding through the streets on the east
side nearly two hours, they started to return>fo
to Miss Diman's home, No. $50 Angel street.
Upon arriving at the corner of Cook and An
gell streets, the horse ridden by Miss Diman
suddenly started to run. Mr.. Barker at first
thought the lady wanted to race, and had
started her horse purposely, but not caring to
race himself he did not Immediately follow
her. After minute or two he stsfted after
her at slow cantei, and soon became con-
vinced that Miss Diman's horse had become
unmanaseable, and she was unable to control
him. Mr.. Barker, upon realizing the latter
fact, urged his horse forward at rapid rate,
in hope of overtaking Miss Diman before she
reached the brow Of the hill. The horse ridden
by her was the tleetest horse OF the two, so
he gained but little. The top of the hill was
reached, and the horse, with its fair burden
dashed madly down one of the steepest streets
in the city. After he- about 20 feet behind,
came Barker, also galloping at furious rate.
The residents of Angel street, as the two riders
passed by their houses, rushed out and many Of
them were witnesses If the sad catastrophe
just as Miss Dman reached Benefit street, Bar
ker, who had succeeded in overtakng her.
caught hold of her horses bride, but his
horse was going at such speed that he
could not stop, and horse and rider dashed
through the large picket fence, rear OF the
First Baptist Church, aud Jumped into the
churchyard below, distance OF eight feet.
Strange to say neither the horse nor rider re-
ceived any injuries, except from the shock oc-
casioned by the fall
When Mr.. Barker caught hold of the bride
OF MISS Dilnan's horse 1t caused the animal to
turn partly around ana to slip and fall in the
gutter on the west side of Benefit street. oppo-
site Angel. The momentum of the horse
caused him to fall heavily against one of the
large posts which are located in the rear of the
First Baptist church to protect the fence. Miss
Diman was hurled from the animals back and
was thrown violently against another of these
posts. She fell head first, aud struck the post
about two feet from the ground with the right
side OF her neck and right shoulder. Her head
then came Ill contact with the corner of the
curbstone, and a deep cash was cut in the for
ward part of her head. Her upper lip was
laid completely open and her upper teeth
crushed in. There was also number of other
bruises about her face and neck. Messrs. j.
G. B. Woods, Charles w. Lippett, Charles
5. Blodgett who witnessed the acci-
dent, picked up Miss Diman aud con-
veyed her into DR.. Albert E. Harris's
office. She was then dead, and it is thought
was killed instantly.
Ths horse ridden by Miss Diman was
brought on the Fall River boat to this city yes
tsrday, from Tiverton, by Mr.. Barl<er's sister.
and was owned by him, and he also owned the
horse which he rode. The horses, Miss Bar
ker says. have never been used for anything
but saddle horses, and the one ridden by Miss
Diman was very gentle and had been ridden
by her Miss Barker) for more than year. The
horse which MISS Diman rode, in falling
against the post, broke its back in two places
1t was shot by DIR. Burt. Mr.. Barker, strange
to say, was not dismounted by his jump, aud
rode his horse out of the Waterman street en-
trance. He rode up to DR.. Hams office, and
after ascertaining that Miss Diman was dead,
he turned his horse and drove rapidly down
Benefit street. He subsequently returned to
his boarding place, No. 270 Benefit street, and