Gaines William Yerkes
Kentucky Post, Monday, 12 June 1944, page 1
KILLED-A Silver Grove man fell from a block of freight cars at the Silver Grove railroad yards last Sunday and was killed instantly when several of the cars passed over his body. The victim, Gaines "Happy" William Yerkes, 39, was seated atop one of the freight cars as it was being pushed over the "hump" a raised section of track used to give the cars momentum in order to switch them to various trains that are being made up, when he apparently lost his footing in manipulating the brake wheel causing it to fall between the cars.
Dr. Leo Sauter, Campbell county coroner, who investigated the tragedy said there were no witnesses to the mishap and that another switchman coming over the same hump saw the body, badly mangled, lying beside the tracks. The body was removed to the John J Radel funeral home, Newport, who are completing arrangements. Mr. Yerkes leaves his wife and two children, 602 Second street, Silver Grove.
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Kentucky Post, Tuesday, 13 June 1944, page 6
SERVICES-Services for Gaines William Yerkes, 602 Second street, Silver Grove, who was killed Sunday when he was struck by a freight train, will be held at 1 pm Wednesday at the Radel funeral home, Newport, Burial will be in Evergreen.
An employee of the Chesapeake & Ohio RR for 21 years, Mr. Yerkes was a member of the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen. He was a member of Garfield Junior Order; Silver Star Council, Daughters of America, Silver Grove and the Hoop De-Doo Club, Newport.