STORIES

My great-grandfather, Edward Dote Tucker, born October 9, 1874, was married to my great-grandmother, Edna Alexander Jones Cates Tucker. Dote, or “Dode” as he was called, was killed on December 7, 1909, when he was run over by a train. One newspaper reported that his body was badly crushed and mangled and his “left arm and leg completely severed.” My Aunt Irene McGullion, Dote’s grandaughter, who loved to take a good story and make it even better, told me “his body was collected in a bushel basket.” The following excerpts are from a report in the Shreveport Times on December 8, 1909:

“ LIFE OF E.D. TUCKER CRUSHED OUT.

E.D. Tucker, aged about 40 years [he was actually 35], employed by the Kansas City Southern Railway as a car repairer, was killed by a freight car yesterday morning between 6:50 and 7:15… While there are no eyewitnesses, it is thought Tucker was killed while crawling under a string of cars in a hurry to get to his work.

…The last to see the dead man was a workman who said that he and Tucker were going to the shops, and he crawled over the string of cars while Tucker went underneath. The workman continued on his way and did not look back, and was not aware that Tucker had lost his life until later in the day.

The night switching crew shoved a string of cars on the track on which Tucker’s body was found, and it is thought that Tucker was going underneath the cars, heard the cars bumping on the track, and tried to get out from underneath the wheels and was caught and killed.

‘Dode’ Tucker was well known in Shreveport and his wife was widely connected throughout this area. He is survived by his wife and eight children, two being step-children [they actually had ten children, including three step-children]. Notice of his death was sent to his family but no reply was received late last evening. The funeral arrangements will be announced as soon as Mrs. Tucker reaches the city today.”