“Gum” West Makes the
Last Home Run
In the death of Milton West, Elizabeth City has lost one of
its most interesting, most entertaining and most lovable characters. Gum west,
as he was best known, was as much a part of Elizabeth City as the post office,
the Alkrama Theatre or The Apothecary Shop. He was the town’s most ardent base
ball fan and any one who didn’t believe in Gum’s idols had only to start an
argument. Argument was Gum’s long suit and therein he excelled. Tho hampered by
a grotesque impediment of speech, he never lost his head, never lost his temper
and never made an enemy. In his work Gum West was painfully precise,
punctilious and efficient. If he worked by the hour he never required a
time-piece to record his hours and he could always anticipate the noon whistle
to a minute without taking his eyes off his job. He worked for John L. Wells
job printer on Water Street for many years and no print shop every had a more
faithful employe.
Milton West’s last thought was of his job in the printing
office. His mother went to his room about 4:30 o’clock Saturday afternoon and
found the boy standing by his bed going thru the motions incident to feeding a
printing press. Death was calling him and he mistook the angel’s whisper for
the call of the press. When his mother found him he was bending forward as if
intent upon a job that called for immediate delivery. His hands were moving to
and fro as they had moved millions of times inputting sheets of paper into the
flying presses and taking them out again. “Son, lie down,” said the mother.
Milton dropped to the bed, his head fell back, his heart ceased its beat, his
soul had taken flight away from the noise of the presses, the smell of the ink
and the other petty cares of life. Wherever the faithful are gathered after
this mundane existence, there Gum West will be found.
Milton West died Saturday afternoon, Feb. 28, at the age of
28 years. He had an attack of Influenza which developed into pneumonia. He was
a son of the late Emariah West and is survived by his mother, Mrs. Ada West; by
six sisters, Mrs. J.B. Doles and Mrs. T. Zirkle of Dendron, Virginia, Mrs.
Frank Upton, Misses Ida and Inez West of Elizabeth City, and Miss Annie West of
Norfolk; and by two brothers, Lee West of Norfolk and Sam West, whose where
abouts are unknown to his family.
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