Death claimed Thomas Aker, or “Red” as he was called, Tuesday evening at 4 o’clock. On last Saturday young Aker, who was about 22 and small in size, tried to jump on a passing freight train for a little ride at Kings Mountain. He lost his grip and was swept under the train and his body fearfully mangled and torn. He was carried to the Gastonia city hospital, and seemed to be doing very well until Tuesday night when complications set in that ended in his death as the day drew to a close.
“Red” lost his parents 10 years ago, and has had a poor chance in growing up. He was not vicious, but he missed parental care and restraint in his upbringing. His end was tragic and pathetic.
Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at the Wesleyan Methodist church, Rev. Marion Connor, the pastor, presiding.
Mr. H. T. Fulton(?), funeral director, had charge of the funeral of “Red” Aker. He embalmed the body for burial.
A serious, curious crowd gathered around the undertaker’s establishment to get a view of the broken body. The poor boy’s sad fate should be a warning to others who try to catch a ride on passing trains—an old custom among many reckless boys about the station.
From the front page of the Cleveland Star, Shelby, N.C., Monday, August 2, 1926
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn97064509/1926-08-02/ed-1/seq-1/
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