The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-08-09
George Van Dyke Dies With
His Chauffeur
.F.B. HODGDON OF STAFFORD
Hodgdon May Have Touched the Wrong
Machine Went over Cliff.
Van Dyke. Known as Lumber
King Of New England.

Turner's Fails, Me-, Aug 9--A plunge
over q bank Of rock, seventy-hye feet
high into the connecticut river, early
yesterday, Of an automobile in which
George Van Dyke, aged 81, Of Iancas-
ter, N. H., one Of the best known lum.
bermen in New England, and his chauf-
feur, Frederick B. Hodgdon, aged 80,
Of North Stratford, VT, were riding, re-
suited fatally for the two men, both
dying at the hospital from the injuries
which they received.
Mr. Van Dyke, who was known as
"The Lumber King Of New England, .
had been in this vicinity the past few
days watching the work Of running loga
down the river, which is very low at
present on account OF the long drouth
Big gangs OF men have been at work
day and night in an effort to get the
river cleared. Up to a late hour last
night Mr.. Van Dyke and bis chauffeur
remained with the loggers, and at A
o'clock yesterday morning they were
out again. Mr. Van Dyke giving his
men instructions. In order to get bet
Ter view of the work Mr.. Van Dyke and
his automobile driven to the TOP of q
high hank on the riverside shore, lust
opposite here. The bank is Of solid rock
and inclines abruptly to the waters
edge.
After watching the men at work be-
low for a short time, Mr. Van Dyke told
the chauffeur to return to camp. Ia do
ing so, it Is thought the young man
touched the wrong lever on The machine
and instead Of backing away from the
edge of the bank, "a intended, the auto
mobile started forward and plunged di-
gectly over the bank to the rocks below.
MI. Van Dyke attempted to Jump out
pf the car before it went over but could
MI do 20 quickly enough, and he fell
headlong to the bottom, his lungs and
several ribs we're crushed and he receiV-
AZ Internal injuries.
Hodgdon was thrown out Of the front /
of &c machine and It landed directly on
tap of him He was conscious when
picked up, however, and talked to the
men who carried him to the shore The
accident happened shortly after O'Clock I
irst as Mr., Van Dyke was about to Re-
turn 10 his place of abode here. Both
fmen were imnediately taken to the
FaYren hospital at Montagnt City,
where Hodgdon died within a few min
utes. Mr.. Van Dyke remained alive IN
III o'clock last evening.
George Van Dyke was born in stan
bridge. One, Feb. 81, 1916, son Of Mr. I
and Mrs. George Van Dyke. His father I
ms native Of Highgste. VT At the I
aee Of 1s George went into the lumber
business ali logger in the woods He
saved his earnings and in 1872 became
manager Of a saw mill. He invested in
tinber and sold ont his property in 1886
Al The Connecticut River Lumber com
many. IN 1897 he organized the C0nnee I
aivut Valley Lumber company, taking /
aver the entire property Of several other
companies in fine Connecticut valley. He
remained president Of the company up
~ the time Of his death He also owned
fhe Moose River Lumber company ~ 4
I,owelltown, Me-, and wa president of
the Brompton Paper company Of Bromp
ton. Que Mr.. Van Dyke formerly hvad
IN Boston, bat several years ago trans
ferred his residence to Lancaster He
Is survived BY two brothers Thomas Fl
Van Dyke Of East Hereford Que, and
Philo Van Dyke OF McIndoes, VT, and
by two sisters, Eva Van Dyke Of Lam
caster and Mrs. Horace Vancre Of
Canaan, VT. Mr.. Van Dyke was i'm
married.
Frederick b. Hadgdon had been en-
ployed as chauffeur for Mr. Van Dyke
for some time. He leaves q wife and
mother.