The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-12-17
ROBERT DUNCAN
MILNE SUCCUMBS
TO HIS INJURIES
Dies at the Receiving
Hospital.
AN UNSUCCESSFUL OPERATION
MoToRMAN HEATIY ARRESTED
FOR MANSLAUGHTER>

Robert Duncan Milne, the brilliant
writer, died al tho Receiving Hospital
yesterday afternoon as result OF the
injuries ne received when struck by a Nc
Allister street car on Market street, near
Montgomery, Friday night. In the hope
OF saving his life DR.. HeintE performed the
operation OF trephining the skull yester-
day morning, but the fracture was too
severe and At $3.50 o'clock Milne breathed
his last without recovering consciousness.
A few minutes after his death three la
dies called at the hospital to see him aud
were shocked 10 hear OF his death. They
intimated that for the sake OF his fam
lily In Scotland they would see that the
body was decenuy inferred. The body
was removed 10 the Morgue.
About an hour later Philip Heatly. the
motorman OF the car that injured Milne,
surrendered himself at the City Prison
and was booked on a charge OF man
slaughter. He was released on his own
recognizance by Judge Graham. He
claimed that he could not be held re-
sponsible, as he had rung his bell and
had done everything TO stop the car be-
fore 1t struck Milne and knocked him
down.
Mr.. Milne was the son OF the late Rev.
George Gordon Milne. III. A, F. r. S. A,
for iorty years incumbent OF St James
Episcopal Church. Cupar-F1fe and
nephew of Duncan James Kay, Esq, OF
artry Of kirkcudbright, through which
SIDE OF the house. and BY maternal ances-
Try Through the Breadalbane family, he
was lineally descended from King Robert
the Bruce He received his primary edu
cation al Trinity College. Glenalmond,
where be distinguished himself by gaining
nrst the skinner scholarship, which he
held for a period OF three years; second.
the Knox prize for Latin verse, the COM
petition for which is open 10 a number OF
puphc schools IN England and Ireland
ana thirdly, the Buccleuch gold medal as
senior ano captain OF the school. OF the
eleven OF which he was also captain
From Glenalmond Mr.. Milne proceeded
70 oxford, where he further distinguished
himself by taking honors. also rowing in
MS college eight and playing in it's eleven.
AFTER leaving the university he decided 10
visit California, a country then beginning
10 be more talked about than ever and
he afterWard made the Pacific Coast his
residence. In 1874 Mr.. Milne invented and
exhibited IN the Mechanics Fair al san
francisco a working model of a new type
OF rotary steam engine. which was pro
nounced 70 be the wonder Of the fair
While In California Mr. Milne for a
long time gained distinction as a writer of
short stories and verse which appeared in
current periodicals. The character of his
work was well defined by Mrs Gertrude
Atherton. who said:
He has an eXtravagant imagination. but
under IL is a reassurinE and scientific mind.
he takes such premise comet fall
ing Into the sun, and works out a terribly
realistic series Of results, or he Will invent
a drama Tor Saturn which might well have
grown out q that planets conditions. His
style Is so good and 50 convincing that one
is ant % lay down such story the
former. with an anticipation OF nightmare
II comets are hanging about His sense Of
humor and literary taste viii always stop
him the right side OF the grotesque.