Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-04-30
KILLED By 4AB 4RAB..
ANOTHER FATAL ACCIDENT ON
THE UNION PACIFIC.
Robert Miller, Aged IL Years, Run
Over and Killed by the East Bound
Passenger Train = No Blame Il
Attached to the Engineer.

One Of those sad accidents which
occasionally take place even on the
best regulated railroads and for which
no one is responsible took place We'd
nesday. 1t was nearly duplicate Of
the accident at Sand Springs few
years ago and like it child was the
victim.
As the eastbound Union Pacific
train was about two miles east Of the
city Wednesday it run over and
killed Robert Miller, a 12-year-old
boy, living at Twelfth and Olive,
who was herding cattle on the right
Of way. just how the accident hap
pened cannot be learned until the
engineer and fireman OF the train re-
turn and give their testimony
before the coronor's jury. They
alone saw the fearful accident.
The train was stopped and backed
up. The body was found about six
feet from the track on the edge Of the
grade.
From what can be learned the facts
are as follows: Robert has for the
past two weeks been taking cattle,
owned by the neighbors, east Of town
and herding them on the Union Pa
cifc right Of way. As usual he took
the herd this morning and started.
This was the last seen Of him alive.
From the appearance Of the track it is
not possible that he was ever under
the wheels of the engine but was
struck by the cowcatcher and from
there picked up by the piston rod and
pounded on the ends Of the ties for a
distance Of about thirty feet. The
first evidence of the disaster is sick
ening mass Of brains and blood, fol-
lowed a few feet further down by
blood and pieces Of muscle.
This is repeated every few feet for
quite distance and is mostly on the
north rail Of the track.
There is a fearful cash in his head
into which three fingers might be in
serted, and the body isnearly severed
at the waist, allowing the intestines
and other internal organs to be ex-
posed. Besides there are bruises all
over the body which show the treat
ment he received.
Robert Miller has been living for
sometime with the family Of Thomas
Dill, at Twelfth and Olive. His
father is Freeman Miller and lives at
Dallas, Texas. His mother has been
in the asylum at Topeka for some
time. He also has sister in Salina,
brother in Jewell county and a
younger brother in Russell county.
Mr.. Dill has lived here for about
six weeks, having moved here from
Solomon and has been teaming about
the city. He was seen by the RE-
FLECToR and said:
~ cannot understand how the acct
dent occurred. Robert was anxious
to make mony and gathered up a few
cows in the neighborhood which he
herded on the right of way. That
morning he started out as usual
about 5 o'clock. spoke to him Sun
day and told him to be careful about
the trains and he said he always
drove the cows away and went to the
other side of the hedge when trains
approach. | have not The least idea
how it happened"
The porter was also seen. He said;
"No one but the engineer and fireman
can tell the cause Of the accident. |
was the first one off the train and no
one was in sight, it being consider
able distance from any house. |
spoke to Crane, the engineer, but he
had no time to explain anything"
The porter was left behind and came
to the city where coroner J. M. Shep-
herd was notified. He went to the
scene Of the disaster and summoned
the following jury: A. Lightner, j.