Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-08-22
RoYENpfN. The ARTIST, KILLED.
Lost His Life while Trying to save a Child
from Being Run Down by rrajn-rhe
Little One Also Killed.

Lost His Life While Trying to save Child
from Being Run Down by rrain-The
Little One Also Killed.
Norristown, Pa Aug. IA. The ia
nous artist, Thomas Hovendcn, met
hero's death near here this evening.
He was killed by Pennsylvania rail
road freight train while trying to res
cue a little girl.
The searihce Of Mr.. Hovenden's life
was useless, because the child that he
attempted to save also met her death
beneath the wheels Of the engine that
ground out the life Of the artist
The accident occurred at grade
crossing on the Trenton Cutoff of the
Pennsylvania railroad, The Chestnut
Hill Trolley Co. Is tracks run up to the
tracks of the railroad at the point
where the accident occurred, but do
not cross them. Trolley passengers leave
the car at the railroad tracks and cross
the latter on foot to take trolley car
on the opposite side. Mr. Hovenden
has summer residence in Plymouth
township, this county, and he was re-
turning home there this evening on a
trolley CAR When it reached its stop
| ping point on the far side Of the rail
road track, the passengers alighted, as
usual, and prepared toscross to the car
on the other side.
THE ARTISTS HEROIC DEED.
Among the passengers besides Mr..
Hovenden were Mrs. Clara PETER and
her 10-years-old daughter Bessie. A
fast freight train was approaching the
crossing as the passengers of the troll
ley car alighted The little girl did
not notice the oncoming train, and she
ran ahead of her mother to cross the
tracks.
The train bore rapidly down, and the
engineer blew his whistle when he saw
the child standing between the rails.
She seemed confused and awaited her
coming death without attempting to
avoid it, Mr.. Hovenden rushed for
ward and snatched Bessie in his arms.
Before he could make the leap that
would have saved them both the pilot
Of the engine struck the immortal
artist and hurled him across the track
with terrible force The engineer
stopped his train, and he and the fire.
man ran TO where Mr.. Hovenden and
, the little girl were lying side by side.
The artist was dead, and the child
died as she was raised from the ground.
The girl victim was carried home in
her mothers arms. Hoveuden was
: picked up and placed upon an improvis.
ed bed. A little boy came running W
J to offer his services to so for doctor
and was Mortified TO see his father.
! 1t was little Thomas Hovenden. The
! remains of the artist were then removed
to the homestead, a short distance
. away. Edward Wing Of Harrisburg,
! has charge Of the engine. He say
that he noticed the trolley car stop anc
y the people get out. He then whistlee
several times by way of extra precau
ton, but was not prepared for the sud
den rush Of the child upon the tracks
/. The great artists home life wal
quiet, the family residing in an unos
, tentatious house similar to those o
4 their farmer neighbors He mingled
i with his neighbors as if he had neve
y known what fame was. For the pas
l3 years the majority of his painting
i, was done at his Plymouth home. a
4 year ago he started large picture
!, which he stopped working on durinl
< the winter, because of an ailment il
"a his head which caused severe aching
% He renewed his labors two weeks ago
\ and only to day remarked to his brother
n in-law, DR.. Corson, how well he wa
!, getting along with it, having secure,
I; all his models. He had not yet give
it name.