The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-06-16
A RIDE TO DEATH
The Wife of United States Minis.
ter PendletOn Killed.
Thrown from Her Carriage in Cen
trail Park, New York.

A frightful accident, caused by runaway
in Central Park, New York, shortly after 5
o'clock P. NJ, days since, resulted in tho
instant death of Mrs, Alice Pendleton, wife of
ex-senator George H. Pendleton, United
States Minister to Germany, and the serious
though not fatal injury of Miss Jane
Frances Pendleton, their Twenty-Five
year old daughter. Mrs. Pendleton,
with her daughter, returned from
Berlin some two months ago, on a visit of
consolation to her son, Frank K. Pendleton,
who recently lost his wife, and they were
stopping at his house in New York. 1t was
their intention to rejoin Mr.. Pendleton
in Berlin in O short time About
| o'clock P M. they entered the
one-horse victoria which they had ordered
from a livery stable in Lexington avenue,
and were driven by Hugh Reilly, the coach
man, to No. 9l3 Sixth avenue. While there
the horse became greatly excited under the
elevated road, but Reilly kept him well in
hand.
From there, after O momentary visit by
Miss Pendleton to Dickers Riding Academy,
| in Fifty-sixth street, they drove into Central
Park by way of the Fifth avenue entrance.
They followed the central drive, and were
just in sight of the Webster statue
hind the Victoria. In an instant
the terrified horse plunged and bolted. The
sudden spring pulled the coachman over the
dashboard and upon his head, but he held
to the reins without flinching. When the
occupants of the lurching carriage saw the
box empty, with one accord they sprang to
the same side of the carriage, and tried to
leap to the grassy slope bordering the read
Miss Pendleton, being the lighter, reached
PpnnlPt0n WI "a,
failed, and fell heavily on the concrete curb,
not five feet from her unconcious daughter.
The horse, dragging the carriage and coach
man, ran into bush, 200 feet further on, and
was then caught by Patrick Conway, the
watering trough boy, who helped the coach
man to his feet The coachman hastened to the
assistance of the ladies' At the same time an
officer of the mounted park police, att q tied
by the outcry, arrived on the scene. He in
stantly put into practice the rules taught by
the Society for First Aid to the Injured He
attempted to renew respiration in the elder
lady, but, touching her cheek, he found it
cold. Then he turned to Miss Pendleton, and
after few movements of the arms, restored
her to consciousness.
An ambulance had been meanwhile or
dered from the Presbyterian Hospital, and
Park wagon from the arsenal. Miss Pendle-
ton, who was severely bruised and only semi
conscious was removed to the hospital. Mrs.
Pendleton, who had an ugly cash, three
inches long, two inches above the nape of the
neck, was dead, and was taken to the arsenal.
A coroner was summoned, jury impaneled,
and a verdict in accordance with tie facts
given above was rendered. The news of tbe
sad calamity was cabled ut o'clock to Min
iSter Pendleton at Berlin.
Mrs. Pendleton was, before marriage, Miss
Alice Key, daughter of Francis S. Key, the
world-famous author of the "Star Spanplel
Banner" She was the niece of Roger B.
Taney, once Chief Justice of the United
States. She was married to Mr.. Pendleton
in 1916, and at the time of her death was u
years of age.
Mrs. Pendleton was esteemed in society in
Cincinnati and at the National Capital as
lady of rare culture and lovable qualities.
Philip Barton Key. once citizen of national
prominence and Attorney General of the
United States, was her brother. He was
killed by General Sickles. Mrs. Pendleton
leaves three grown children.