The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-06-03
WRECK OF A CIRCUS TRAIN.
Men and Animals Mixed in the De-
bris of the Cars.

TYRONE, Pa, May SO.-The eireus and
menagerie train of Wslter L. Main was
wrecked this morning on the Tyrone amp
ClearGeld railroad. The show exhibited at
Houtzdale yesterday and was en- route to
Lewiston. The train carrying the whole out
fit left Houtzdale at clock in the morn
| ing.
1t consisted of fifteen cars, and came down
the mountain slowly. There is an exception
ally heavy grade at McCann's Crossing where
the accident occurred. A short distance
north of this place the cars in which the
eames and elephants were stalled broke
down and the engine pulled ont a drawhehd
on the disabled cars. The locomotive be-
came detached, and the next moment the
train running wild, endangering the
| lives Of the passengers and the brutes.
The cars rushed down the grade at
| frightfnl speed, increasing every moment.
Above the rattle of the runaway train arose
the cries and roars of the animals. They
were frantic with fear. The flying train
struck sharp curve, the cars leaped clear
off the roadbed, and with a tremendous crash
| the wreck was complete.
A few men tumbed out comparatively I'M
hurt and in the possession o. their faculties,
but the scene was appalling.
Three sleepers used for travelling coaches
| by the performers and leading members OF
the organization remained on the rails
Every other car, cage, and wagon was utterly
demolished and mixed up in tangle. The
screams of the wounded men, the hideous
cries of the injured and terror crazed animals
arose in chorus into the night.
From the menagerie section the lions, IT,
gers, leopards, hyenas, wildcats, wolves, and
other animals were liberated and soon scat
tered to the cover of the woods. There were
IFS persons with the circus and l73 horses.
The bodies of the dead men and those Sc
verely wounded were first taken out of the
wreck.
The dead were brought to Tyrone and the
injured sent to the Altoona Hospital.
| The dead are Frank L. Ryan, treasurer
and ticket seller of the company from In
dianapolis; j. Strayer, Hontzdale, Pa.
| VIM. Mutterly, East Liberty, Pa; William
| Haverly, Tyrone; and two bodies not yet
identified.
The injured at the Altoona Hospital are
| w. OiBrannan, Chambersburg, Pa, wounds
of scalp and face; David Jones, Harrisburg,
fracture of right thigh Frank Morse, Roches-
ter N. Y, head and scalp wounds; William
| Evans, Williamsport, Pa, laceration of right
leg and probable internal injuries, condition
critical; William L. Patched, Dubois, Pa,
conclusion of left knee James Haney, AL
berton, Pa, Commissions of right shoulder and
scalp wounds and light ear nearly torn off !;
Louis Champaign, Rochester, N. Y, fatal
internal injuries, unconscious, and sinking
rapidly.
Those whose wounds have been dressed,
and who have left, are John Chambers,
colored, Mercersville, Pa, hands bitten by n
lions Arthur Richards, Butler county, Pa,
face acerated George Corten, Holidays
burg, Pa, confusion of the chest, and Frank
Barrett, Tarentum, Pa, left arm and hand
injured.
When the news of the wreck reached here
a relief party with physicians and surgeons
was promptly organized and sent by special
train to the scene As soon as the injured
and killed were cared for the living started
out to capture the escaped animals. The
elephants made little trouble, but the mem
bers of the big cat family were out for liberty
or blood. In the capture of some Of the
smaller brutes, several of the employees had
their clothing nearly stripped Oft, and were
clawed and bitten.
Several of the larger animals refused to be
taken alive, and having tasted the fruits OF
freedom and of some OF the farmers live
stock in that vicinity, had to be killed.
Tonight at last reports the hunt was still
in progress for leopard and hyena, the for
mer being badly injured in fight with other
animals over farmers calf they had killed.
One of the tigers killed a valuable Jersey
COW under the owners eyes. man named
Thomas, who put two rife bullets into the
tiger, which died from their effects soon af-
terward.
The entire hunting population of the sur
rounding country turned out for the chase,
armed with Winchester shotguns, revolvers,
and even Floberts. In several instances the
recaptured animals were tethered securely to
the trees, while the hunters kept up their
pursuit.
Two injured sacred oxen were killed to
put them out Of their misery.
Three lions escaped one was captured i'm
mediately, another was lassoed and tied to a
tree. The other lion is at large, but is the
quietest of the three.
A tiger, water buffalo, hyena, bear, alliga
tors, and large collection of snakes got
away, but were captured. The elephants
and camels were uninjured. A black pan
Their, silver tiger, a lot of monkeys, and valu-
able birds are at large.
Almost every ring horse was killed The
total number of horses killed is forty-nine,
with all the others cut and bruised.