The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-01-11
SIIpp,d on Stairway on Day Of
His Golden Wedding,
WENT TO SELL ART TREASURES
Wanted The Money 10 Brighten The Life Of
His Aged Wlis-Wss Owner Of Famous
Collection Of Paintings.

New York, Jan, 1l.-Rcsting IN che tiny
parlor OF the small cottage, OF ss7 Put
nam avenue. Brooklyn is the body of
William H. Owens, at one time one of
Brooklyn's wealthiest citizens, and the
owner OF famous collection OF paint
ingY. Forced By poverty 10 dispose OF the
art treasures which had graced hIs man
sion in Washington avenue. Mr.. Owens
Rad gone to the Brooklyn Institute OF
Arts and Sciences 60 negotiate their sale,
and had slipped on a stair pad and fallen
the entire fight TO the foor below.
To add TO the sadness Of the accident.
Mr.. Owens on Tuesday celebrated his
golden wedding anniversary. and IL was
TO bring in the good news to his wife OF
the sale Of the paintings that he had gone
to the Institute headquarters. in the Y.
NJ. c. a. building in Fulton street. For
nearly an hour after his fan Mr. Owens
lay grosning on the hard floor OF the
building. for the stairway which he had
attempted TO use and down which he fell
is one that seldom Is used.
When discovered IL was found his hip
had been fractured. lie was taken to the
seney hospital where everything was
| done for him that was possible, hut We'd
| nesday night he died
MT. Owens was born SO years ago at
| Belchertown. Mass He was graduated
irOm Williams college, and later came to
| New York To peddle whips. Slowly he
| rose In wealth until finally he became the
! owner OF one or the largest whip manu-
| factories OF the country and was esti-
mated 10 be worth about a quarter OF a
| million dollars
| His home, at .a Washington avenue
| In the heart OF the sristocratic hill Sec
| ton OF Brooklyn. was for years "a laad-
mark He had a large number Of pic
lures. and the owens collection" was
| considered by experts one of the finest
| on this side Of the Atlantic.
In all the collection numbered more
| than 800. and fond was the old man
| of his treasures that, when later In life
| he lost the wealth that had been his. he
clung TO the paintings and guarded them
| with jealous eye.
| Fifteen years ago he failed In business.
| and after that moved from the Washing
| ton avenue house He moved 10 the tiny
| cottage whore his body now rests, and
! lived humbly But even i'm the cramped
| Dutch cottage Mr. Owens crowded as
many of his treasures as pos
! sible though the exisencies OF space
| compelled him 90 ask'an old friend. forra
| or Judge Daley. OF Long Island TO give
! house room TO tho larger cauvases.
/ That Mr.. Owens collection was one Of
/ the finest I'm private ownership in Brook
( lyn. and that IL contained many paint
! iugs valued at thousands Of dollars each,
| was the assertion of former Judge Abram
| H. Daley last night A Murilla, a Rem
| brandt and great battle scene by
| Christopher kortezo are among the most
! prominent pictures left. according 10 Mr..
| Daley.
| At his home. i5l Washington avenue,
Brooklyn, Mr.. DALEY said last night that
| he had cared for n portion OF Mr.. owens
! collection because he and Mr.. Owens had
| been neighbors and friends for many
| years. MIR. DALEY was much affected by
| the news OF his friends death and found
| n impossible TO speak at length about Mr..
| Owens affairs.
Mr.. Owens. he said. had lost his for
| tune through indorsing the notes Of
| friends. IN seeking 10 sustain himself
| he had been forced to sell some of his
| paintings but he had elung enaeiously
| 10 large part Of the collection. II was
| the battle scene by kortsso, who no
years ago was the most famous painter
OF battles I'm the world. that Mr.. Owens
was trying 90 sell to the Brooklyn gall
lery. The painting Is Ave feet by ten. at
Is a magnifcient picture" said the form
or Judge. and worth many thousands OF
dollars. u IS one that should he in a
public gallery"
The funeral services win be held TODAY
In tho Putnam avenue house. tho Rev. T.
Bartholow of the James Methodist Epis-
copal church. officiating. The burial will
he in Greenwood cemetery.