The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1903-09-03
FATALLY SHOT.
Was Crawling Under Porch to
End Life of Suffering Animal
When Foot Slipped and
Pistol Exploded.
Formerly at Normal School.

There was profound sorrow among
the many friends of Prof. w. II.
Deitwiler when on Tuesday morning
it was learned that he had met his
death by an accident. He was a
member of the Normal faculty tor
several years, he resigned two years
ago to accept a position in Phila-
delphia. The following from the
Philadelphia inquirer of Tuesday,
gives the details of his death.
."Death in a strange and unex-
pected guise came to Professor War
rem II. Detwiler, of the Northeast
Manual Training School, OH Mon
day. While attempting to shoot a
sick cat at the residence Of his faith
er-in-law, James Van Horn, at Hat
boro, the revolver was accidentally
discharged, killing him almost in
stantly.
No intimation was given to his
wife and family of the terrible cal.
amity that had befallen them until
nearly all hour after the accident
had occurred, when his body was
found under the porch of the house.
Mrs. Detwiler was Frustrated by
the awful shock. Word was sent
to the city for medical aid, but when
a physician reached the place it was
found that the professor was already
dead.
With his wife and two children
Professor Detwiler had been spend
ing the summer at the residence OF
his father-in-law, who is cashier Of
the Uatboro National Bank.
Preparations were being made to
return to the city in a few days, as
it was necessary for the professor
to again resume his duties at the
Manual Training School.
A neighbor called at the Van
Horn residence yesterday and re-
quested Professor Detwiler to kill a
sick cat that had been in misery for
some time. He Immediately re-
sponded, and securing a revolver,
went in search of the cat He
found the animal suffering in great
agony under the porch of the house.
His pity was aroused and without
waiting to coax the feline from its
hiding place the professor fell on
his hands and knees and started to
crawl under the porch.
His foot caught in twig and as
he fell forward on his face he un-
consciously twitched the forehnger
holding the trigger of the revolver.
The weapon was discharged, the
bullet crashing through his brain.
Believing that he had put the sick
animal out of its misery no one paid
any attention to the pistol shot.
When Professor Detwiler did not
return, however, search was in
stituted end his body was found un-
der the porch. Word was immedi-
ately sent to the University of Penn
sylvania. Professor Wood, of the
University Hospital, hurried to Hat
boro and performed an operation in
the hope of saving the professor S
life. but nothing could be done.
Professor Detwiller who was but
IS years old had achieved quite a
noteworthy reputation in the edu-
cational world. Prior to his occu-
Fancy of the chair of history and
economics at the Northeast Manual
Training School he was member
of the faculty Of the Bloomsburg
State Normal School, at Blooms
burg, Pa. He was at one time
principal of the Hatboro Public
School" "
Later information by letters re-
ceived here, corrects some mac
curacies in the foregoing, Prof.
Detwiler had not gone under the
porch but was endeavoring to get
a shot at the cat in the yard when
he slipped and fell, and the pistol
was discharged. He was at once
removed to the house and a surgeon
summoned who performed an opera
tion, but the injured man never re-
gained consciousness, and expired
at five o'clock in the afternoon
He was a graduate of the West
Chester Normal School, and of
Haveriord College, and while con-
nected with our Normal School he
was considered one of the most
valuable men of the Faculty.
The funeral services will be held
to-day at the residence of his father
in, law in Hatboro. Rev. Or. Hem
ingway will conduct the services.
DIR. ]. p. Welsh, Profs. Cope, Den
mis-, and Mrs. Sutliff went down to
Hatboro yesterday.