William Frederick Erdman
Kentucky Post, Wednesday, 6 January 1904, page 5
MEDAL-The boy hero of Newport Ky. who saved the lives of six firemen responding to an alarm Monday night and then disappeared, has been found. He is William Erdman, 12, of 211 East Southgate Street, a son of Fred Erdman, decorator and paper hanger. Owing to the fellow's modesty, even his playmates knew nothing of his act until they read it in the Post. Then the boy inadvertently dropped a remark disclosing his identity. Ben Graham, one of the firemen, who had been on a search for the boy, heard of him through one of his playmates and set out to find him.
When he located to boy, William admitted he was the one who had given the warning of the approach of the trains that it seemed was almost certain to hurl the firemen to eternity. Chief John J Waters, Assistant Marshall Case Thomasson and the four members of the Ones who were saved by the boy will give him a medal for bravery. Chief Waters will also ask the Fire Commissioners to present him with a medal.
Young Erdman did not seem to realize he had performed a heroic act. He said he was standing in front of a candy store at Fourth and Saratoga Streets, eating candy which he had bought. The sounding of the gong on the ladder truck, coming his way at a rapid gait and the engine bells caused him to realize there was danger. He saw two engines in front of a freight train. Dropping his candy he rushed to the middle of the street and frantically waved both his hands in the air for the firemen to stop. Witnessing the narrow escape he became frightened and rushed home. He lives near where the train passes and is familiar with the signals of trainmen.
Capt. Waters stated the crossing is dangerous and the firemen ordinarily do not pay attention to actions of boys. In this instance the frightened look of young Erdman and his waving of his arms told the story of danger in itself.
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Kentucky Post, Monday, 11 January 1904, page 5
GOLD RING-Freddy (sic) Erdman, the young hero who saved the lives of six firemen in Newport, was Saturday presented with a gold ring by Mrs. W L Boss, to whose home the department was going. Driver Joe Maus had barely time to pull up his horses which were within a few feet of the train when it passed. Had it not been for the boy the department would have gone on and the train would have crashed into the truck.
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Kentucky Post, Monday, 6 February 1905, page 5
COAL-Officer Frank Morton made a raid yesterday on a gang of boys who have been stealing coal from freight cars at Sixth and Saratoga Sts. Frank McWilliams, Andrew King and William Erdman, all members of respectable families in Newport, were caught in the raid and placed in jail. This morning King and Erdman were sent to jail for 10 days. McWilliams was dismissed.
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Kentucky Post, Saturday, 6 February 1915, page 3
COURT-The case of William Erdman arrested on a warrant charging disorderly conduct was continued to Tuesday.
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Kentucky Post, Wednesday, 6 March 1918, page 2
REGISTRANTS-The Newport Selective Service Board gave to the Newport Police Department names of registrants who have not reported for physical examination. The following; William Erdman, 636 Saratoga St.
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Kentucky Post, Saturday, 10 December 1932, page 2
DECLARED DEAD-William Erdman, son of Mrs. Catherine Erdman, who disappeared from Newport Jan 10, 1922, was declared to be dead legally Thursday, when Judge A M Caldwell awarded Mrs. Erdman judgment for $210 and interest against the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. Nothing has been heard of the latter since his disappearance.