Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 August 1908 — FUNERAL OF JOHN YATES. [ARTICLE]

FUNERAL OF JOHN YATES.

The funeral of John Yates, the young man who was run over and so fearfully mangled and killed by the south-bound Louisville train at 11:04 Thursday night, was held at 6:30 Saturday evening from the house, the hour having been dhanged at the suggestion of the undertaker from 5 p. m., which had originally been set and was published in The Democrat, the change being made after The Democrat went to press. The funeral was largely attended, yobably four hundred people following the remains to the cemetery, including the local milita company, of which the boy was a member. The floral offerings were very profuse, the grave being litterally banked with flowers. There are no new developements in particular as to just how the boy met bis death, but it was brought out at the coroner’s inquest Monday, in the testimony of E. Peacock, who was on the mail car of the 11:04 train that night, that a special 60foot mail car was on that night which is built differently from most of these mail cars. Its end doors had a round jam, there Is no platform and nothing for one to hold to except the door knob. He thought he heard a scream about where the boy is supposed to have been first struck, and a slight jolt of the car, although no particular attention was paid to it at the time. He thinks, as do most people now, that John had climbed upon the train when it stoppad intending to ride the “blind baggage” to Monon or Lafayette. He found liltLe to hang onto, and when the train struck the switch he was thrown down between the care.

The verdict will be accidental death. .John was somewhat younger than generally supposed, being but 18 years, 1 month and 1 day old at the time of his tragic death. While sffinVwhat wild and reckless he had a great big heart and was generaly liked by aIL His parents and relatives have the sympathy of the community in' their great sorrow.