The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1909-08-13
GEORGE VAN DYKES DEATH

Al plunge over pdnh ~
seventy-five feet high, into the
Connecticut river, early sunday,
of an automobile in which George
Van Dyke, aged Ga, OF Lancaster
N. H., one of the best known lum-
bermen in New England, and MS
chauffeur, Frederick B. Hodgdon,
aged 80, of North Stratford, N. ID.
were riding, resulted 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 Eng
landn had been in Turner's Falls,
Mass, the past few days watching
the work of running logs 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 late
hour last night Mr.. Van Dyke and
his chauffeur remained with the
Ioegers, and at 4 O'Clock that
morning they were out again, Mr..
Van Dyke giving his men instruc-
tions. In order to get better
view of the work Mr.. Vna Dyke
had his automobile driven to the
top of a high bank on the river
side shore, just opposite there.
The bank is of solid rock and in
clines abruptly to the waters edge.
After watching the men at work
below for a short time, Mr.. Van
Dyke told the chauffeur to return
to camp. In doing 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, as intended, the automo-
bile started forward and plunged
directly over the bank to the rocks
below. Mr.. Van Dyke attempted to
Jump out of the car before it went
over but could not do SO quickly
enough, and he fell headlong to
the bottom. His right arm was
broken, his lungs and several ribs
were crushed and he received in
ternal injuries.
Hodgdon was thrown out of the
front of the machine and it landed
directly on top of him. He was
conscious when picked up, how
ever and talked to those who
carried him to the shore. The ac-
cident happened shortly after 8
o'clock, just as Mr.. Van Dyke was
about to return to his place of
abode. Both men were immedi-
ately taken to the Farren hospital
at Montague City, where Hodgdon
died within a few minutes. Mr..
Van Dyke remained alive until 6
O'Clock in the evening.
George Van Dyke was born in
Stanbridge, Que, Feb. q, 1916, son
of Mr.. and Mrs. George Van Dyke.
His father was a native of High
gate, VT. At the age of 10 George
went into the lumber business
as a logger in the woods. He
saved his earnings and in 1872
became manager of a saw mill. He
invested in timber and sold out his
property in 1856 to the Connecticut
River Lumber Company. In 1897
he organized the Connecticut VAL
ley Lumber Company, taking over
the entire property of several
other companies in the. Connecti-
cut Valley. He renamed president
of the company up to the time OF
his death. He also owned the
Moose River Lumber Company in
Lowelltown, Me-, and was presl-
dent of the Brompton Paper Com
pany of Brompton, Que. Mr.. van
Dyke formerly lived in Boston, but
several years ago transferred his
residence to Lancaster. He is sur
vived by two brothers, Thomas 81,
Van Dyke of East Here ford, Que,
and Philo Van Dyke of Mclndoes,
VT, and two sisters, Eva Van Dyke
of Lancaster and Mrs. Horace
Vancere of Canaan, Vt. Mr.. Van
Dyke was unmarried.
He was president and director
of the Upper Coos Railroad, direc--
tor of the Colebrook National
Bank, which he organized, and
president and trustee of the Cole
brook Savings Bank, which he was
also instrumental in forming.
His large interest kept him away
from the town much of the time,
but he maintained fine residence.
He was reconed multi-millionaire
some placing his wealth at about
S20,000,O00. His mother died here
some years ago at the age Of 50