The towers housed offices for the stationmaster, yardmaster, car-maintenance crew, electrical crew, and track-maintenance crew. George B. Swan was the yardmaster for the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad. The yardmaster is the railroad employee in charge of the rail yard. Her father worked as a yardmaster for the Old Colony Railroad before becoming a salesman. Proper turning of equipment was the responsibility of the Hanks Yardmaster. The yardmaster shot and killed the African American. The Yardmaster dies on the floor of the brothel.