Evening star., 1918-06-23
How Accident Happened.

part way into switch and stalled
! there on account of hot box. The
| fagman went back on the main track
and set fuses as warning of danger
The circus train was in this position
| when the equipment train ploughed
| into the sleepers, reducing them to a
pile of tangled steel and timbers
Fire. engendered by the gas-lighting
| system of the circus train. broke out
| almost Immediately, and when res
| cuers reached the scene the entire
wreckage was in flames.
Clowns. bareback riders, trapeze
performers and acrobats, many of
| them veterans in the circus world.
perished in the first great crash.
Other victims were sufrocated and
burned.
Water Scarcity Hampers Firemen.
Attempts of the Gary fire depart
ment to curb the flames and make
| possible quick access to the impris-
oned victims were unsuccessful be-
cause of the lack of water supply in
that outlying district. Survivors
struggled about the wreck. screaming
for relatives or friends, and only force
prevented two or three men from
| rushing into the blazing wreckage.
Many deeds of heroism and sacri-
flee were done. One woman, scream
ing in agony beneath the burning
tlIiDeTS, saw the names near LnOSe
who were trying to release her. She
shouted. Get away, get away quick
or you'll get burned, too" The res
cuers were unable to release the
woman and her cries were stilled by
the flames
Hours after the crash bodies, charred
black. were stif1 being recovered as
the derricks of wrecking trains
thinned out the pile of debris.
There were numerous pitiful scenes
| at the wreck. and later In the hos
pitfalls. Joe coyle, a clown. wept bit
told how his wife and two babies
| had Joined him only recently, after
| months of absence. and how all three
| had been crushed to death at his
| very side.
'The kiddies had been 80 glad to
| see their daddy" he said. "I wish I
could have died with them"
Wild rumors that several lions had
escaped from the train to the woods
south Of the wreck caused residents
take precautions. Circus authorities
] explained that no wild animals were
on the train. They also discredited
reports that one circus woman, de-
tmented. had evaded the doctors and
raced off into the woods. clad only in
night clothing.
The circus was to have played to-
day at Hammond.
A number of the dead and injured
are negroes employed as razor
NAVARRO. Ohio, June &c w.
Myers, a brother Of Clinton Myers OF
the Myers family, animal trainers,
listed among the missing in the cir
Gus train wreck, received a message
from his brother today that he and
his wife. known as Rosie Hosiland.
| equestrienne. also reported as miss
| ing, are safe.
Former Tragedy Recalled.
FLINT. Mich, June 22-The dis.
| astrous wreck of the Hagenbeck-
| Wallace shows near Gary. Ind. this
| morning recalls a similar mishap
involving the BENJAMIN Wallace cir
Gus at Durand, Mich. fifteen years
| ago. The Benjamin Wallace Shows
form part Of the Hagenbeck-Wal-
lace Company.
In the Durand wreck two sections
Of the circus train collided, killing
twenty-six and injuring fifty persons.
A coincidence is that the Durand
tragedy. like that of today. occurred
at about o'clock in the morning.
Survivors Gather at Hammond.
HAMMOND. Ind. June 22.-Instead
| of the holiday crowds expected, a
weeping and bandaged throng OF
men and women gathered silently
about q red and gilt trimmed ticket
wagon on the Hammond circus
grounds this afternoon.
They were the begrimed survivors
Of the Hagenbeck-Wallace show train
| orI coaktnO 1unrH of a