Mystery of the Boy on the Freight Train
Local authorities seek to identify a boy found dead after a fall from a lumber train in Sumner.
County authorities are working to identify the body of a boy about 14 years old who was crushed to death near the railway station in Sumner. The boy was thrown under a moving freight train when a load of lumber he was riding swayed to one side. The initials “A. H.” scratched on the buckle of his belt offer the only clue to his identity.
“The initials “A. H.” scratched on the buckle of his belt, offered the only clue to his identity.”
Young stowaways riding the rails were a common sight during the economic instability of the era. The tragic death of an unidentified child remains a stark reminder of the risks taken by those seeking travel or opportunity via the freight lines.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.