The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1899-08-18


Henry B. Hodge of Bethel, was fatally
1 jured at noon Friday, in a runawayIac-
cident on Maple avenue, in Danbury.
He was taken to the hospital, where he
died few minutes after his arrival. The
accident was witnessed by scores Of peo-
pie who saw the unfortunate man drag
Ged along by a maddened horse and were
powerless TO give him assistance, and
saw him finally dashed headforemoet
against tree and fall to the road, I'M
conscious and dying. Mr. Hodge was
we'll known to the majority of the people
in Danbury. He owned a farm near
Bethel, on which ne raised garden pro-
duce which he marketed in this city.
He had been coming here for years with
vegetables and wa known better than
anything else for the vinegar which he
made and retailed here.
He left his home Friday morning, as
was his usual custom, and came to this
city with load OF vegetables which he
expected to dispose OF to his customers.
When the noon whistles BILE " he found
himself in the vicinity of White street
and Maple avenue. So he turned into
the latter thorougbfare and stopped
about midway between White street and
the railway crossing, for the purpose Of
ASAsCs AAC pAOSoA GA d bdIAC4
and putting the feed ON top of it, placed
1t where the horse could reach It's meal
easily. Mr. Hodge left the ANIMAL and
went back to the wagon. People who
saw him a moment before the beginning
of the accident say that he stepped be-
tween the wheels and began to arrange
che vegetables in the vehicle. The horse
was eager to get its fodder and over
turned the barrel. The animal became
frightened and 4prang forward so aud.
denly that Mr. Hodge had no opportunity
to escape from his perilous position.
The animal dashed toward the railroad
crossing and Mr. Hodge chung to the
| wagon and endeavored TO keep pace with
it in order to save himself from being
dragged beneath the wheels.
Several persons made futile attem pts
to stop the runa way, but to no purpose,
and the animal dashed across the track
with the man still prisoner between the
! wheels. The employees Of the Turner
| Machine Co.'s factory saw the runaway
coming up the street, and several of
Mr. Hodges life.
In front Of the residence of James
Durbin, at No. SO, the horse changed its
course slightly and swerved towards the
| sidewalk. The wagon struck tree and
Mr. Hodge was hurled headformost
against the tree and dropped down be-
tween the wheels. The wagon passed
over his body and he fell against the
curb. The horse broke away from the
wagon and ran ashort distance up the
street, where it was captured.
Mr. Hodge lay stunned and bleeding
where he had fallen. Men from the ma
chine shop and from the neighboriDg
houses picked him up and carried him to
the shop. inexperienced in such things
as those who gathered about were they
saw at glance that the man was seri-
ously hurt. Many Of them believed that
he was dying.
A telephone message was sent for the
ambulance. Charles A. Schoonover, an
| employe of the factory, hurried to his
home at 4S Balmforth avenue, and sum-
moned his brother, DR. W. G. Schoon-
over, of New York city, house surgeon
of the Harlem hospital, who is visiting
him.
DR. Sehoonover saw at q glance that
the man was In critical condition and
he advised bis immediate removal to the
hospital, and accompanied him there.
DR. Brown followed the ambulance to the
hospital.
| The injured man expired about 10 min
utes after one, q few minutes after he
reached the hospital. He did not regain
consciousness. The doctors found that
his skull was fractured and his arm bro
ken. A piece of flesh was gouged from
his right eye. Several pieces OF bark
from the cree were imbedded In his face.
| Mr. Hodge was about 60 years old. He
lived near Hurlburt's mill, in PIumtrees
district, few miles beyond Bethel. He
leaves wife and family. Two dauRh-
teri, Mrs g. j. Wheeler, wife OF the Elm
street shoe dealer, and Miss Jennie
Wheeler, reside in this city, Danbury
News.
| Frank Scho0nmaker, foreman I'll
Clark's box shop, Ia iii with rheumatism.
| MIR and Mrs w. J. Eastman have new
son, born last week Tuesday.
Miss Mary wv. Shepard and Mrs Mar
garet Taylor are taking trip through
Maine.
Miss Anna Burr of Norwalk IL the
guest OF MIR and Mrs Frank w. Mscken.
zie.
Miss Nellie Benedict and Master Har-
old Senior have been visiting week in
Montgomery, N. Y.
MIR and Mrs CHI. Prudential are at
Compo Beach.
Mrs Horace Hickok, Jr., Of Elm street,
ID visiting her parents, Mr. and Mrs
| Charles Geer, of MIddleEown.
Misa Ethel Williams of South m oFwalg
10 visiting her sister, Mrs George H0yt.
Mr and Mrs Richard BOY 01 South