The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1902-08-07
A Shocking Ac-
Cident.
Mrs. E. E. Starrett Accident
ally Killed While Out on
a Pleasure Trip.

With this issue We chronicle one of
the saddest and most horrible deaths
that has probably ever occurred in the
history OF Battle Mountain.
Last Saturday afternoon about 1:30
o'clock the news was spread about town
that Mrs. e. e. Starrett, wife of Z. u.
Starrett, had been accidentally shot, and
1t was only a short time until a great
many anxious people had arrived at the
house to learn the particulars. The re-
port proved to be only too true, as the
shot had done its awful work and the
lady had passed away.
Following are the particulars of the
shocking accident:
Mr.. and Mrs. Starrett left town early
last Friday morning for Rock Creek,
which is located about twenty-five miles
north.ea from Battle Mountain, on a
short fishing excursion. expecting to re-
turn Sunday evening. They arrived at
Rock Creek that morning and made
camp, remaining at this place all that
day. The next morning, Saturday, they
decided to move camp to another partic-
ular location on the creek. They reach
ed the new camping grounds a little be-
fore 10 O'Clock that morning and i'm
mediately started to make camp, intend
ing to remain at this place until they
took their departure for home.
Mr.. Starrett tells US that after arriving
at the latter place he got out of the wagon
after which he helped his wife to alight.
Mr.. Starrett then remarked to his vito
that she had better go to a shady place
some feet away and lie down and he
would remove the articles from the
wagon. Mrs. Starrett did not heed the
warning but concluded to help her hus-
band. Mr.. Starrett had removed several
articles from the wagon and was about
to remove the gun, which was resting
with the butt on the foot board and
barrels against the seat. On looking
around he found his wife standing be-
hind him and while in the act Of remov-
ing the gun the muzzle was in an
opposite direction from where his
wife was standing, Mr.. Starrett thinking
that in case the gun was discharged no
harm would come to either OF them, but
in the intervening time his wife had
n.a.ol or1t,rI In fr,nf ~ tha porz11a ~
the gun. While Mr.. Starrett was in the
act OF releasing the gun from the seat,
one OF the hammers caught in some
manner on the seat rail causing
same to be discharged, the whole charge
striking Mrs. Starrett in the back. The
first that Mr.. Starrett knew OF what had
happened was when be heard his wife
say OIL and on Immediately looking
around he found her still standing and
before he could reach her sue sank to
the groupd. Upon reaching her he
asked his wife II she was hurt, but she
could not speak and soon expired.
The horror stricken husband placed
his wife's body carefully in the wagon
and arrived in town about l:30 Saturday
afternoon leaving Rock Creek shortly
after the dreadful accident occurred.
The affair has cast a deep gloom over
our community and tender sympathy
was extended the bereaved and stricken
family, who did not realize that when
their mother left them the morning
previous that God was to take her from
them just when they were at the age to
return, in a measure, by manly aud
womanly devotion, those sweet caresses,
so af~fectionately mingled with advice
and kind words, which in the past never
ceased and in value grew as the years
rolled by.
Death is always sad, but when it en-
tiers a home unwarningly it is doubly so
and hard of realization. But do those
crushed in a sorrow SO deep not realize
that He above does all things for the
best and that we were born to die?
From that Celestial height this loving
wife and fond mother will reach and aid
IN healing the wound which death has
made in the loving hearts OF those who
mourn here below.
Miss Matte Mcintyre, the deceased's
eldest daughter, who taught in the
Lovelock school last year and who has
been teaching the school at Humboldt
House for the past six weeks, was on her
way to Winnemucca Saturday to spend a
few days with friends when she received
a telegram eummoning her home and it
was moi until she reached the door of her
home that she was informed of her
mothers death. 1t was, indeed, a sad
home. coming for the young lady and
the meeting of her dear ones left behind,
was a heart-rending scene.
The deceased leaves a h~eart-brokep
husband, four daughters and one son to
mourn the loss OF a loving wife and
mother. She was aged 81 years and 6
months and vae a native OF the State of