Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 August 1903 — WALLACE SHOW WRECKED. [ARTICLE]

WALLACE SHOW WRECKED.

The Wallace shows met with the worst railroad wreck in the history of the shows at Durand, Mich., early last Friday morning. Twenty-four circus employes were killed and one elephant and two catnels. The wreck was caused by the second section funning into the first section which was standing on a siding. The second section bad been flagged and the danger lights on the rear of the first train could be seen for a long distance by the engineer of the second train had he been attending to business. He claimed that the air brakes refused to work, but an examination of them after the accident showed that they were in perfect condition, and that even had they refused to work the engineer bad plenty of time to stop his train before crashing into the first section. The engine of the second section plowed into the rear cars of the first section carrying death and deetrnction among the employes with which they were loaded and most of whom werff still asleep. The engineer and fireman escaped by jumping. The wreck caused the show to be laid up several days for repairs.