Moffat County Courier, July 17,1913. Shocking indeed was the news that was phoned To town from the Van Tassel ranch last Thursday afternoon to the effect that Bear river had claimed another victim. This time it was Fred Aiken, only son of Mr. and Mrs. E.A. Aiken. The day before the sad accident occurred Fred had gone to the Van Tassel ranch to work at haying. Thursday afternoon, the hay being unfit to handle, he and John Hoza went to the latter's ranch a short distance up the river. The day was very hot and when returning in the afternoon the boys decided to take a bath in the river near the George Wooley pump house. Fred had never learned to swim and his companion knew little of the art, so they waded around for some time, and concluding they had had enough, started for the shore, Hoza ahead and Fred following. Hoza waded out to his clothes and once looked back and saw Fred coming, but taking a slightly different course toward the shore. When Hoza reached the bank Fred was not in sight and his calls for him were not answered. He ran up and down the bank shouting and looking but without avail. His companion had disappeared and according to Hoza, without a struggle or sound of any kind. Hoza then ran to the Van Tassel home to summon aid. Just how the accident occurred is not known but there are two suppositions. one is that Fred slipped on a flat sloping rock, which forms the river bottom at that place and, it being slippery, he slid off into about ten feet of water. The accompanying shock is supposed to have brought on heart failure, causing instant death. The other is that he was seized with cramp. Hoza says that Fred did not come to the surface as drowning people usually do. When the word reached Craig several men went immediately to the place of the accident and a search was instituted for the body. It was recovered by Tom Mosier in about 10 feet of water. It was about an hour and a half from the time Hoza last saw Fred until his body was taken from the stream. Every possible means of resuscitation was tried. Drs. Clayton and Downs were both in attendance but all efforts to find a spark of life were futile. Funeral services were held at the Christian church Saturday morning, Rev. Norvell officiating, and interment was in the Craig cemetery. The church was packed with people, young and old, to pay their last respects to their young friend and comrade, and although Rev. Norvell's address was particularly consoling, many tears were shed in remembrance of the departed one and in sympathy with those who lost a loved one in the midst of life and health. The pall bearers were: Neil Kimball, George Richardson, Sherman Hyatt, Clyde Hart, Earl Van Tassel and Louis Eberle. Fred Austin Aiken was born at New Castle, Colorado, November 12,1894. He came to Craig from Trinidad nine years ago. He was a young man of exceptional promise, always courteous and obliging and by his manly ways he won the respect of everyone he met. He was the only boy in the family and one in whom his parents and sisters placed great reliance. He had sisters.