Fergus County argus., 1903-08-12
SHOW TRAIN
IS WRECKED
Air Brakes Fall to Work and Second
Section Runs Into First Section
With a Fatal Result.
TwENTY.THREE WE'RE KILLED
Worst Wreck in the History of the
Grand Trunk Llne-Railroad
Men Among the Dead.

Durand, Mich, Aug. 7.-Wallace
Bros circus was wrecked in the
Grand Trunk yards here at 4o'clock
and twenty-three men, mostly employ
es of the circus, including a few of the
performers, were killed outright.
Many more we're injured, some fatal
ly.
The show was travelling in two sec
tions over the Grand Trunk tracks
from Lansing to LaperC, and the acci-
dent. II is said, was caused by the
failure of the second section OF the
train to stop on time. The two Sec
tions were travelling near each other
and the second ran into the first at
full speed. The engine of the second
section and four cars of the first sec
tion were completely demolished.
Much valuable property was destroy
ed.
Some of those killed and few of
those injured were employees attach
ed to the train. These include Train
master J. Mccarthy and A. w. Large,
special agent of the Grand Trunk.
Some of the animals were killed.
The scene in the Grand Trunk
yards after the collision was appal-l-
ing. The wreckage of the engine and
four cars was strewn about and piled
high, while the shrieks of the injured
victims and the believing of the
frightened animals could be heard
above the hiss of escaping steam, and
the excited shouts of the rescuers. u
was some hours before all the injur.
ed were rescued from the wrecked
cars. Some of them were in terrible
agony, and It is feared that seven
more will die. The wreck. accord
ing to the engineer of the second sta
ton, was caused by failure of the
air brakes to work.
One Of the wrecked cars of the sec
ond section was occupied by five ele
plants and several camels. One OF
the elephants and two camels were
killed outright, while the other ami
mails and their trainers escaped. Will
the exception of this car, none of the
menagerie was wrecked, other cars
continuing canvas or wagons, ant
there was comparatively little excite
ment among the wild animals. SooI
as they recovered from the first shocl
the trainers rushed among the cage!
quieting the few beasts that we're ex
cited. The elephants IN the wrecked
car behaved with surprising calmness
and were led out of the wreck without
trouble.
The killed:
JAMES MCCARTHY, trainmaster o
Grand Trunk road between Port Hur
on and Battle Creek.
A. w. LARGE, special officer Grant
Trunk, Battle Creek.
JOHN PURCELL, Peru, Ind, bos'
canvasman.
LAFE LARSON, Cambridge, Ohio
six horse team driver.
G. THOMAS, residence unknown
member of stake and chain gang.
| HARRY ST. CLAIR, residence un
known. reserved seat man.
| JOHN LEARY. Springfield, ILL.,, bos
Of ring stock.
| ANDREW HOWLAi New Yorl
state, canvasman.
| JAMES TOFFELMIRE, Orient, la.
| FRANK THORP, Dundee, Mich
trainmaster of circus train.
| ROBERT RICE, residence unknown
harnessmaker.
| GEORGE SMITH, residence IN
known, blacksmith.
| CHARLES SANDS, Peru, Ind, dri,
er.
JOE WILSON, Pittsburg. Pa.
w. j. MCOY, Columbus, Ohio, car
vasman with side show.
i EDWARD YORK, Terre Haute, Inc
Il, Unknown man, driver of band wat
on.
Unknown man, home said to be |
Indianapolis. rider in circus.
Unknown man, home said to be |
Louisville, KY, four horse driver.
Unknown man, four horse driver
Unknown man. suffocated to dealt
Two unidentified, are also dead q
the hospital.
i The seriously injured are:
James s. Foley. special office
Grand Trunk, Detroit, bruised; Jo
eph F. Benton, New M..ford, Conn
internal injuries; w. II. Roe, Arm
{. strong. ILL.,, internal injuries; Fran
\ Tillock. Rising Sun, Ind, hip disloca
2 ed, badly bruised and internal inju
!, les; Joe Anderson, Evansville, Ind
e John Thompson, Peru, Ind; j. Kin
: Portsmouth. Ohio; C. E. Frisbie, G.
! neva, Ohio; e. j. Connolly. Emmett
q burg. Iowa; w. l.. Cone. Dubuque, Ia
]. j. j. Meadow, Anderson, s. c.; JOSEF
i Patterson. Grand Pacific. H.; C. !
S Parker Hammond. Ind; JOSEF
y Monks. Vassar. Mich; John o. G.
n bert. Bellaire, Ohio; John Collin
@ Des Moines, Iowa; Stephen Bennel
r New York City; George Cloug
lrumbull. Ohio; j. II. Stewart, De
yer. Colo; G. w. Terry, Chicag,
N. Caldwalder Indianapolis, Ind
Marshall Nellis, Chicago; Bert A
y rams, Sandusky. Ohio; Burt McGrat
Connellsville, Ohio; John w. Keon
n Bairdstown. Ohio; George Bartle
q Los Angeles, Cal.
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