The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-06-22
A WRECK NEAR MILLEN.
Engineer Starr Crushed Under a Coal
Heap and Fatally Injured.

The Switch of a Spur Track Turned
by Some Malicious Villain-The
Motive Of the Criminal Unknown.
Thought to Have Fired a House, and
Bloodhounds Are on His Trail
Engineer Starr the ONLY One Injured.
Several Cars Wrecked.
A dastardly act, committed by some
unknown party, was the cause yesterday
of one Of the worst wrecks the Augusta
and Savannah branch Of the Central rail
road has had in years.
AS a result of the accident, Engineer
w. c. Starr was fatally injured, and it
was the opinion of DR.. w H. Elliott, who
returned from Millen last night, that he
would not live until this morning.
The accident was caused by the turn
ing of a switch about two miles
from Millen, at what is known
as Willis Switch. The train
left Augusta Wednesday night about
o'clock, and passed over the switch about
II o'clock At that time the switch was
all right Between IL o'clock Wednesday
night and 8:15 yesterday morning the
switch was thrown out by some party,
for what purpose is not known, as no at
tempt was made to rob the train, and, so
far as is known, none of the train crew,
all of whom have been on the road for
years, have ever created any enmity in
that section.
THE NEWS RECEIVED HERE.
The news of the wreck reached the city
early yesterday forenoon. 1t was re-
ported then that Engineer Starts injuries
IL l..
through the day. DR. Elliott left for the
scene of the wreck on the 8 o'clock train
Capt. w. w. Starr left for N1illen at 80
o'clock on a fast freight.
The wrecked train, a combination
freight and passenger, with eighteen
freight cars, baggage car, two coaches
and the Augusta sleeper, left Millen yes
terday morning in charge of Conductor
Willis, with Elem Starr as engineer, and
jeff Rehner as fireman. 1t ran through
the open switch on to a spur track, and
after running the length of the short
track, plunged off in the soft dirt, the
freight cars being iammed over the en-
CINE, which had half buried itself in the
earth at the end of the track.
Engineer Starr saw the instant he
struck the switch that his engine had
left the main line. He blew for brakes
and put on air brakes, but as the train
was composed Of a long line of cars, and
Ine lengJn OF Ghe track was only aOoQG
$50 feet the brakes did not check its
speed until the end of the track was
reached.
Fireman Rehner leaped from the en-
CINE as it left the track and was unhurt,
except from the shaking up of the leap
and slight ankle sprain.
TRIED TO STOP THE TRAIN.
Mr.. Starr attempted to reverse his en-
CINE, but only partially succeeded when
he was thrown from his box nearly
twenty feet and was covered by coal from
a car which went to pieces against the
engine. His thigh is broken and he also
received internal injuries the extent of
which was not determined. He was
taken from under the pile of coal in an
unconscious condition in which state he
remained during yesterday and last night.
Seven cars were demolished in the
wreck, but no one else on the train was
injured. The wreck was caused by some
one breaking the lock to the switch with
a coupling pin The broken lock and pin
were found just after the wreck near the
switch, together with tracks of the per-
petrator of the deed.
MIR. Starr was attended by DR.. Elliott
at the Millen hotel His wife arrived
from Augusta shortly after the accident
and Capt w. w. Starr arrived last night.
His recovery is hoped for, but the physi
clans say the chances are against him.
MI. starr mas Deen vain tne ROAD twenty
four years and was one of the ablest and
most faithful men in its service
INCENDIARIsM TOO.
The storehouse of George Lewis, at
Lawtonville, Just a mile from the scene of
the wreck was burned by an incendiary a
few hours before the wreck occurred,
says Millen dispatch to the MORNING
News, and it is the general opinion that
both crimes were committed by the same
party or parties. Mr.. Lewis lost a new
storehouse and a stock of goods valued at
$4,000, upon which was an insurance of
Sl,100.
Efforts were made to put hounds on the
trail of the burners, but as considerable
rain fell yesterday, it is very doubtful if
they will be successful. Much indigna-
ton is expressed and should the right
parties be found, Millen special says,
there is little doubt that their punish
mont would follow quickly.