Your mention of the number who died reminded me of some history I've wanted to forget. The MGM Grand fire killed 85 people, including my father. I've avoided virtually all material related to that event, at first because I didn't want to know and later because those who tell the story like to sensationalize it. I like your presentation style and I would be grateful if you could help us remember that bit of history.
Mike uncle and some family members had gone to the MGM hotel to visit a family member that worked there and stay at that location, when the fire started that relative that was working there ran to rescue them, my uncle was already unconscious and was fortunately rescued. I am very sorry for your loss. I consider myself fortunate to still have my uncle around he is a great person and has led a very beautiful life and will continue to do so and be thankful to God.
A 1953 movie, "The Greatest Show on Earth", with Cornel Wilde, Charlton Heston, Betty Hutton and James Stewart, included a train wreck scene. It was terrifying; I still remember it. My mother took me to see it; I was five. Many animals had been released from their cages by the impact, and the lions in particular posed a danger to the injured, disoriented circus people. This sequence definitely builds on some of the incidents you describe. BTW, it's HAH-gen-beck, not HAG-en-beck. Carl Hagenbeck was from Hamburg, where Hagenbeck's Zoo is still a major attraction. He's the one who did away with cages and pioneered large landscapes for the animals, who were separated from the visitors (and each other) by moats and ditches.
Hey History Guy, love your channel and enjoy listening to your presentations of history. This particular episode though I found to be lacking information. I found it lacking due in part that not only did you fail to include the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus in your segment, but did not include the intensity of their Circus Train. They too owned their own train cars and coaches for transport to venues throughout American cities. Like you mentioned, there is no more Barnum and Bailey Circus. They too had a fateful day that while traveling to their next destination, they had a major more recent history of a train crash. Many of the circus performers and some animals died in this wreck. The damaged cars were brought to a salvage yard in Mulberry, Florida. There were many pictures taken of the wreck which have public access. Even though the last Barnum and Bailey Circus Train ran in 2017, they now maintain and preserve the railcars in Wisconsin, and Sarasota Florida. They also have a museum of the circus with displays and items from their beginnings to the last day. In Sarasota, Florida the Barnum and Bailey Circus has the University in which performers still put on shows at part of their original training ring. I miss watching them from the time I was a young boy, and their long trains they used to bring it to my town. They too said, " The show must go on". That was until PETA continued to pursue actions to pressure the circus to quit harmful abuses to the circus animals. Thank you for having this channel and presenting history like you do.
I was born and raised in Hammond, my grampa was a rail worker from about 1910 until around 1960. This is the first time I've heard about this tragedy; it truely was a forgotten bit of history until you revived it and educated us all. Keep it up history guy!
I was 5 years old in 1962 when my father took me to see Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus. The circus still made their grand parade from the train stock yard through town to the open field two blocks within walking distance from my house. By the late 60s, Ringling Bros skipped many of the small towns like mine due to expenses. My father had predicted the circus would one day eventually come to a sad end because people would rather sit at home and watch TV. He wasn't wrong. Also to disappear would be fireman's carnivals and county fairs. Rather sad living in an age to see it all fizzle away ... generations will never know that wonderous experience of live entertainment and thrill shows.
I live in the near western suburbs of Chicago very close to the cemetery where the Showman's Rest is located. The elephants on the entrance to the plot are a local landmark that can be seen from a nearby busy thoroughfare. An urban legend erroneously purports that the circus animals, including the elephants, were buried along with the dead and that the trumpeting of the ghosts of elephants and roars of phantom lions can be heard on dark and misty nights. This last detail of the myth may be somewhat supported by the fact that Brookfield Zoo is only a mile to the west of the cemetery and the roars of lions do indeed carry that far under the right conditions.
Scallywags all ! The sheriff still holds the lug nuts to the wagons , trading damages for drunk roustabouts , strange skrimshaw embossed on the skim , close the windows lock the doors , brace for a fleecing by the circus grlz
I had a friend back in the 80s who fought motorcycle helmet laws tooth and nail. Went to court multiple times, steadfastly refused to wear a helmet. Didn't like government infringement on his freedom. He died in a motorcycle accident. Massive head injuries. R.I.P. Cliff
This cemetery is located SW of the intersection of Cermak Ave./22nd St. and Harlem Ave./IL 43. I think the town is North Riverside in Cook County. If you take the first left inside the cemetery, you will encounter "Showman's Rest". I was struck with all the headstones without any names, and with the same date of demise. Brings some coins if you visit, and leave them on the graves. It is a tradition for showmen.
This is an excellent series of little known historical events. I would like to suggest two other rail accidents that were among the deadliest of their time: the "Angola Horror" of 1867, which nearly claimed then burgeoning oil executive John D Rockefeller, who missed the train by a matter of minutes. The other is the Ashtabula train disaster of December 29, 1876- the deadliest passenger train accident in America until the "Great Train Wreck" of 1918.
An amazing, but tragic history. Seems like it takes tragic events like this, to wake people up, in order to implement better safety standards. You make history come to life! Wish my history teacher in school were as good as you, then I would have been a much better student. Job well done, thanks much!
This is so sad on many levels. I remember being stuck waiting for a train....it turned out to be the circus train on its way out of Austin, Texas. It was fun just to see those people waving to us. Anything related to the circus was a happy thing for me. To have a train full of joy-bringers end up in such a terrible accident....hurts my heart.💔 Wonderful video all the same. I especially like this type....small events here and there that I had no idea ever occurred. It's why I love your channel. 👍❤️🤗 BUNGA! BUNGA!
I was a little boy when the students of my class at Warrington Elementary School attended a performance of Ringling Brothers Barnum and Baily Circus. It was a most memorable event I shall never forget. It was actually the last year in which Ringling Brothers would perform under the "big top." The following year; a fire had struck the the large tent. I was saddened that my little brother was not able to see the circus. We were seated at the far end of the Big Top and could watch the clowns prepare for the performance. They had dressing rooms beneath the bleachers from where we sat. When they emerged on stage; they stopped to visit and greet us for a few brief moments before performing. I suppose being in attendance on that special day was an historic event. After 1956 the circus no longer exhibited under their own portable "big top".
We used to live near this cemetery. It is close enough to the Brookfield Zoo that if the wind is right, you can hear lions roaring. Thanks for this story.
The most jammed packed 11 minutes anywhere.! The coming of the railroad here along the White River in N. Arkansas in the late 1800's changed everything. It was like the first super highway for folks. And yep, there have been a number of deaths associated with the railroad over the years. Oh...I, too, like your new opening.
I absolutely love your videos! I love history as well. I am learning so much history that I have never known of. Thank you for paying tribute to people that many may have never known about if it wasn’t for your videos.
Another excellent video delving into forgotten history. Speaking of forgotten: while watching, I noticed the ad on the entrance tent in one photo for "America's Doll Lady." I could not read the name, the last name looked like 'Doctanna', maybe. Anyway, I tried searching google, e.g. linking wallace circus with the phrase America's Doll Lady. Have not been able to find anything. Sideshow "freak" acts and shows were an integral part of circuses in the nineteenth and deep into the twentieth century. It deserves a whole segment by you, if you have not already done one. Those were real people, whose misfortunes of birth which might have otherwise confined them to loneliness and poverty, allowed them to lead public and paid lives, as objects of what I am sure was sometimes not so pleasant attention, but it was another almost forgotten subculture of American history that should not be forgotten. I am 72, retired, and enjoying consuming great quality history and science videos on TH-cam. Yours are among the best. Reminds me of the fact that throughout college and university I had some great teachers. Like you.
Another great story. It reminded me of the 1955 Pierre Levegh crash at Le Mans. So many deaths, which -- in large part -- occurred because there was simply no consideration put towards safety of the fans. _"Just throw out a couple of hay bales... that should do it."_ The world seemed to have a very callous attitude about safety prior to the 1960s. Even in modern times... there's the example of Dale Earnhardt, who died because he adamantly refused to wear the device specifically designed to prevent the very injury that would end up killing him. In fact, Earnhardt was overheard sarcastically asking its inventor, _"Are you afraid of dying?"_ and then mockingly tossing the device aside. And, of course, if Earnhardt wasn't going to wear it, the younger drivers who looked up to him certainly wouldn't either. The year after his death, the Hans device became mandatory equipment for every driver in NASCAR. I remember, during my stint in the Navy, being told that, "All Navy regulations are written in blood... If it's in there, it probably killed somebody and that's when the Navy piped up to say, _'Holy Smokes! Maybe we should make a rule against it so we can keep from killing anymore idiots dumb enough to try that... what do you think?'"_
The Bonesaw Many rules and regulations are written in blood, and not just in the military. When there was a big ad campaign about wearing seatbelts here in the UK many ignored it but it when the statistics came out about the reduced number of deaths and serious injuries because of them opinions changed. Now it is the law.
irgski I was referring to those who did not wear a seatbelt as these were more likely to die or suffer serious injury rather then those who did not. A simple statistic to count.
The cemetery is actually in North Riverside IL which is just west of Chicago. They say every now and then you hear the elephants crying and ghosts of the deceased are out on the main roads that surround the cemetery (urban legend I know). Great story. Love this channel.
I love your channel, History Guy, I find myself clicking on one after the other, and I especially love these ones about significant events that should be remember but have faded in memory for some reason. I have a suggestion for you: The collision, fire, and explosion of the Queeny and Corinthos on the Delaware River near Philadelphia on January 31st, 1975. I was very little at the time living nearby and I remember the explosion and then my dad watching the fire on the local news, it was a huge event, giant column of smoke, the river was on fire, and several sailors were killed, but the weird thing about it is that many people living in the area today, even those old enough to remember it, don't remember it or only dimly remember it. Funny how the internet makes it seem as if things that took place before we could upload video didn't really happen.
I am fortunate enough to have seen many a circus train pass just a block from my maternal grandparent's house. The train was fairly long and loaded with circus wagons and animal cars. The coming of the train was an event of itself drawing crowds to watch as it passed the various road crossings. It came every summer to Milwaukee leaving from the Circus Museum in Baraboo, Wi. all for the Great Circus Parade in Milwaukee every summer. I was also treated to a visit to that museum one summer long ago to see all those circus wagons up close. Until I watched this episode I had forgotten those wonderful moments in my life.
My father was 11 when this happened. My grandfather was a Hammond cop, Bob Law. When I was a child a movie was made about either this tragedy or one like it. My father often spoke of the horror of the accident and the repercussions, among which was the redesign of passenger rail cars. The old wooden cars were replaced with stronger metal ones eliminating the possibility of the cars telescoping. Lighting was also upgraded. I'm in WI now not far from Circus World Museum. Several Hagenbeck-Wallace cars are in the museum. It's very interesting how many circuses started out in WI. The big barns were empty in winter and many acts were perfected in the empty spaces. During WWII the military used circus moving techniques to move troops and establish camps with all that was necessary. The circus has a rich and glorious history. I'm saddened by its demise.
Wow! This is a topic that has never even crossed mind! And if it had been presented on another channel, I probably wouldn’t have even tuned in. But as usual, you had me on the edge of my seat. And this time, about something I wouldn’t normally care much about- circuses. Thanks for the new perspective on rail history and early 20th Century entertainment in the US!
One of the safest points of our History That was bringing happiness to us. And as it was back then it is still today, History Deserves to be Remembered. Thank you
As a conductor on the Southern Railroad for 30 years I WORKED 2 circus trains in the 70s and 80s. It was interesting to walk through the cars and see how the PEOPLE lived. PEOPLE and elephants and clowns and horses all shared the same nomadic lifestyle and circus people are among the most varied and interesting PEOPLE I ever met. TOTALLY different than anything else
Excellent video, so much history is lost but you are bringing it to whole new generations in a real and tangible way. This reminded me of the 1939 City of San Francisco derailment in Harney, Nevada, would love to see your take on that incident.
1893 Tyrone, PA Circus Train Wreck. A train carrying performers and animals from the Walter L. Main Circus lost control going down a steep hill, picking up speed too fast. The train derailed going around a curve, its cars sailing out into the night, rolling down an embankment, and stacking up one on top of another. Five people lost their lives in the disaster. About 50 horses were killed outright, as they were riding in the forward cars which ended up at the bottom of the pile. The elephants survived and the gorilla, billed as a “Man-Slayer,” was quickly captured. Other animals, however, bolted into the twilight. A tiger was later killed after attacking a cow on a nearby farm. Even more animals were, well, never seen again. The tiger's head is mounted at my gun club in Tyrone.
I’ve done some studying, 2 things, hangenback and Wallace circus is still up and running in Peru Indiana, and the final resting place of Wallace is at Mount Hope Cemetery Peru Indiana.
Clownvis (Elvis performer who also is a clown) posted a vlog about this tragedy when he went to visit the gravesite. I wanted to learn more about it, so I came here. Thank you for the wonderful video.
Thanks,l always enjoy your videos. I attended the last Barnum &Baily circus in the big top when l was a kid. It moved on to the next city and burned to the ground. It was a experience that l remember to this day. I think l was about 5 years old.
I have been to that Peru Circus locale and, for some reason, had not remembered the part-owner at that time (2003) tell me about that tragic accident of 100 years ago. Another good true story. Thanks, History Guy.
THANK YOU lived in ILL . HAMMOND , IND was just over the state line . my first adult job was in HAMMOND 1973 . Heard some stories , never the full one , there is a marker at the site , never able to find it . again Thank YOU
Love your channel and the rich detail you provide, that adds to what some would term boring history. Like the detail about the wreck at Shelbyville , Illinois. Speaking of which, Shelbyville had a Chatauquah building in a park. Don't know alot about about Chatauquah, but you might enlighten us on them. Oh yeah, and another suggested topic. The railyard explosion in Decatur, Illinois in 1972 or 1973.
Vivid, interesting account. Nineteen-eighteen was a bad year to ride U.S. rails. The all-time deadliest U.S. passenger train crash happened in Nashville less than 2-1/2 weeks later, on 7/9/1918 -- about 101 killed, 171 hurt. Less than 6 months later, on 11/1/1918, the all-time deadliest U.S. subway crash happened in Brooklyn -- about 97 killed, 102 hurt. Source: Robert B. Shaw, A History of Railroad Accidents, Safety Precautions and Operating Practices, Vail-Ballou Press, 1978, pp.125 et seq., 388 et seq. The last deadly U.S. circus-train wreck was in Lakeland, FL on 1/13/1994 -- 2 killed, 14 hurt. According to the I.C.C. report, a wheel near the middle of the train broke into pieces, but the train continued for almost 3 miles, finally being derailed when the remaining part of the broken wheel fouled a track switch. Passengers in the affected car were powerless to stop the train, and could not even run forward to try to warn the engineer -- the circus (Ringling-B&B, owner of the second-hand passenger cars) had removed conductors' emergency brake valves, had built car-width partitions, and had not provided emergency intercoms (this was before cell phones were as common as they are now). Ringling-B&B, to its credit, promptly initiated comprehensive train modifications and safety procedures to prevent a recurrence.
I know you have to find photos to accompany the dialog but I just wanted you to know about the wrecked locomotive at 5:03. It is Southern Railway fast mail train #97, commonly called Old 97. It derailed the on Stillhouse Trestle in Danville, Virginia September 29, 1903. It was running well above the safe speed for the trestle. It was behind schedule and trying to make up time. The locomotive number was 1102, 97 was the train number. Nine were killed. The track was re-routed around 1912. the engineer was Joseph A. Broady, he was called Steve Broady, some accounts spell his last name, Brodie. That would be a good story or just read up on it FYI.
I am a recent viewer and subscriber. I have been watching TH-cam videos for a long time, but only recently stumbled upon your channel. I would just like to say that as short, self read videos go yours are among the very best. Great content well presented at a steady easy to digest pace, and NO AUTO-READER! It's like a meal of history set out for nice easy consumption. Not open mouth shove in food. Thank you for the food for my mind. Sorry have too go, my next meal is calling!
There was a history channel special about rail disasters that I had on VHS as a kid. This one was featured. The second a saw the video title it took me back
Besides the two tragedies mentioned in the video, the (by then) Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus had also lost a number of performing animals to the Wabash River during the Great Flood of 1913 -- per Wikipedia, 8 elephants, 21 lions and tigers and 8 performing horses. Truly, a traveling circus could be tragedy and fun in equal measures.
Thumbs up matters to these content providers. He does a good job for us. It only takes a second to click. Let's let him know these stories DO deserve to be remembered! Thumbs up History Guy!
This is one of the few stories you've told so far that I've been familiar with, but that's only because I grew up a couple of miles away from where the wreck happened.
Primitive air brakes did not apply when pressure was released. Railway travel was a bloodbath, but even shop maintenance (where steam was often used to drive equipment) was quite dangerous with tens of thousands killed and maimed! George Westinghouse saved countless lives and much property with his invention of the triple valve air brake system.
New subscriber here, I am glad I found your channel I have been binge watching and appreciate the variety of your stories. I do like military history but you have so many good stories that you have researched. Keep up the good work.
This made me sadder than most of your other ones (which is weird because I knew about this one) Probably because I pretty much grew up at the circus and I kinda miss it
If you get a chance the Ringling Museum in Sarasota Florida is well worth the visit and John Ringling's winter home is a great tour. The Ringling rail car is at the museum and has been fully restored
For more on circus wagons, band wagons , there's a museum in Baraboo, Wis. They put some of the wagons on a train once a year and go to Milwaukee, have a huge parade and circus. In July I think.
And now they live on in our memories. Thanks History Guy, your productions are extremely professional.. I perceive a day when you will have millions of subscribers. Undoubtedly your legacy could proceed for hundreds of years thanks to the dawning of the internet. Nice.
You make me want to go back to collage. I love 💕 your Commentary. My father & stepdad were Seabees. They both saw action in the pacific WW2. I’m so happy I found your program. Thank you for remembering. They never talked about what they did or what they saw. This fills in a lot for me. More please. No one should forget the greatest generation that ever lived.
A older customer at pur restaurant. Told of living in Williamsport Pa. When Barnum & Baileys circus came to towm, on the train. About 80 years ago. She said it was amazing, people then had never viewed exotic animals in person.
I'd seen some of the pictures of the wreckage before but never knew the full story. Thanks. Trivia: If you look closely it appears the car wheels are "paper" wheels - the pattern of bolts on the face holds metal plates on either side of a highly compressed paper layer core. They were lighter than all metal wheels and were supposed to reduce vibration. Both desirable traits for passenger cars. They couldn't support heavy metal cars or high speeds, though, so were discontinued in the early 1900s. Those circus cars may have used one of the last batches made.
I grew up in Durand Michigan and played in the woods next to the accident site. We were told of the circus accident by my father who worked for the Grand Trunk Railroad. He said they buried the elephant probably in the ground where the woods grew.
Thank you for providing such intriguing, informative videos. I would love to see videos on two particular subjects. One is the YELLOW FEVER EPIDEMIC, and another is the THYLACINE or TASMANIAN TIGER, a magnificent animal which was hunted to extinction (or perhaps a video about more than one extinct creature and including the Thylacine). Thanks again!!!
I live in paint lick Kentucky and I often hear about the circus train runaway that happened not far from here There used to be a Louisville and Nashville railroad branch line running from Richmond Kentucky to Rowland Kentucky, in September 1882 a circus train was descending from Morgan's summit when it lost its brakes and crashed killing 5-6 people and injuring many others
I live not far from the site of the second deadliest rail crash in U.S. history in Woodbridge, NJ., on Feb 4, 1951. About 86 were killed when a PRR commuter locally called The Broker on the North Jersey Coast Line ran too fast thru a construction zone and temporary overpass, shifting the rails, causing the loco, a K4s Pacific Steamer to roll over, the tender seperated and started a chain reaction derailment in a residential area.. The train was packed at the time due to a strike on the Central of New Jersey, and numerous died as a result of jumping from the cars toward what they thought was a river below. It was actually the ice-covered street below. It was a miracle none of the 11 cars of the consist plowed thru any of the homes nearby and the locomotive boiler did not explode. It was the first day the construction site's speed limit of 25 mph went into effect. The engineer insisted he was doing the speed limit, but the amount of damage suggested he was going around the normal speed for that stretch of some 50 mph. He never drove a loco again, but remained with the railroad, and signs of the damage caused to concrete structure is visible today where repairs were made. Maybe you should visit NJ sometime, History Guy?!
scary man scary we were just there at woodlawn cemetery looking at their memorial marker wondering if the rumor was true that the elephant was also buried there too.. i've got goose bumps man
In the early 50s my father was hired, as a day laborer, to help put up the tents when the Circus came to Los Angeles by train. The whole family went down to the Circus site near the rail road siding and watched the train arrive and the tents go up. It was organized chaos. Dad took his compensation in cash and tickets for the first show, a matinee. It was a long day.
I was born and raised in Indiana. Every year, we would head South from South Bend to Indianapolis to visit my grandparents. We drove past the Ringling Brothers and they always had animals of every kind out playing in the back pasture. It was really cool to see elephants rolling around in the grass. I volunteer for Find A Grave, which hosts millions of memorials. It took some doing, but I found the page for Showman's Rest. www.findagrave.com/memorial/6326015/showman_s_rest_memorial
I worked traveling with a circus in Australia for 3 years was a awesome life style of hard work, adoration and constant travel sleeping in truck beds or under the stars if the weather was good god I miss it
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Your mention of the number who died reminded me of some history I've wanted to forget. The MGM Grand fire killed 85 people, including my father. I've avoided virtually all material related to that event, at first because I didn't want to know and later because those who tell the story like to sensationalize it. I like your presentation style and I would be grateful if you could help us remember that bit of history.
Sorry for you loss
I'm sorry too.
Mike uncle and some family members had gone to the MGM hotel to visit a family member that worked there and stay at that location, when the fire started that relative that was working there ran to rescue them, my uncle was already unconscious and was fortunately rescued. I am very sorry for your loss. I consider myself fortunate to still have my uncle around he is a great person and has led a very beautiful life and will continue to do so and be thankful to God.
A 1953 movie, "The Greatest Show on Earth", with Cornel Wilde, Charlton Heston, Betty Hutton and James Stewart, included a train wreck scene. It was terrifying; I still remember it. My mother took me to see it; I was five. Many animals had been released from their cages by the impact, and the lions in particular posed a danger to the injured, disoriented circus people. This sequence definitely builds on some of the incidents you describe. BTW, it's HAH-gen-beck, not HAG-en-beck. Carl Hagenbeck was from Hamburg, where Hagenbeck's Zoo is still a major attraction. He's the one who did away with cages and pioneered large landscapes for the animals, who were separated from the visitors (and each other) by moats and ditches.
Hey History Guy, love your channel and enjoy listening to your presentations of history. This particular episode though I found to be lacking information. I found it lacking due in part that not only did you fail to include the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus in your segment, but did not include the intensity of their Circus Train. They too owned their own train cars and coaches for transport to venues throughout American cities. Like you mentioned, there is no more Barnum and Bailey Circus. They too had a fateful day that while traveling to their next destination, they had a major more recent history of a train crash. Many of the circus performers and some animals died in this wreck. The damaged cars were brought to a salvage yard in Mulberry, Florida. There were many pictures taken of the wreck which have public access. Even though the last Barnum and Bailey Circus Train ran in 2017, they now maintain and preserve the railcars in Wisconsin, and Sarasota Florida. They also have a museum of the circus with displays and items from their beginnings to the last day. In Sarasota, Florida the Barnum and Bailey Circus has the University in which performers still put on shows at part of their original training ring. I miss watching them from the time I was a young boy, and their long trains they used to bring it to my town. They too said, " The show must go on". That was until PETA continued to pursue actions to pressure the circus to quit harmful abuses to the circus animals. Thank you for having this channel and presenting history like you do.
I was born and raised in Hammond, my grampa was a rail worker from about 1910 until around 1960. This is the first time I've heard about this tragedy; it truely was a forgotten bit of history until you revived it and educated us all. Keep it up history guy!
I was 5 years old in 1962 when my father took me to see Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus. The circus still made their grand parade from the train stock yard through town to the open field two blocks within walking distance from my house. By the late 60s, Ringling Bros skipped many of the small towns like mine due to expenses. My father had predicted the circus would one day eventually come to a sad end because people would rather sit at home and watch TV. He wasn't wrong. Also to disappear would be fireman's carnivals and county fairs. Rather sad living in an age to see it all fizzle away ... generations will never know that wonderous experience of live entertainment and thrill shows.
I live in the near western suburbs of Chicago very close to the cemetery where the Showman's Rest is located. The elephants on the entrance to the plot are a local landmark that can be seen from a nearby busy thoroughfare. An urban legend erroneously purports that the circus animals, including the elephants, were buried along with the dead and that the trumpeting of the ghosts of elephants and roars of phantom lions can be heard on dark and misty nights. This last detail of the myth may be somewhat supported by the fact that Brookfield Zoo is only a mile to the west of the cemetery and the roars of lions do indeed carry that far under the right conditions.
Yeah, my dad told me that one when I was a kid, and I remember seeing it in a book concerning Chicagoland and it's numerous hauntings.
Scallywags all ! The sheriff still holds the lug nuts to the wagons , trading damages for drunk roustabouts , strange skrimshaw embossed on the skim , close the windows lock the doors , brace for a fleecing by the circus grlz
I had a friend back in the 80s who fought motorcycle helmet laws tooth and nail. Went to court multiple times, steadfastly refused to wear a helmet. Didn't like government infringement on his freedom.
He died in a motorcycle accident.
Massive head injuries.
R.I.P. Cliff
This cemetery is located SW of the intersection of Cermak Ave./22nd St. and Harlem Ave./IL 43. I think the town is North Riverside in Cook County. If you take the first left inside the cemetery, you will encounter "Showman's Rest". I was struck with all the headstones without any names, and with the same date of demise. Brings some coins if you visit, and leave them on the graves. It is a tradition for showmen.
The cemetery is accessed from along Cermak/22nd Street. FYI
This is an excellent series of little known historical events.
I would like to suggest two other rail accidents that were among the deadliest of their time: the "Angola Horror" of 1867, which nearly claimed then burgeoning oil executive John D Rockefeller, who missed the train by a matter of minutes. The other is the Ashtabula train disaster of December 29, 1876- the deadliest passenger train accident in America until the "Great Train Wreck" of 1918.
An amazing, but tragic history. Seems like it takes tragic events like this, to wake people up, in order to implement better safety standards. You make history come to life! Wish my history teacher in school were as good as you, then I would have been a much better student. Job well done, thanks much!
This is so sad on many levels. I remember being stuck waiting for a train....it turned out to be the circus train on its way out of Austin, Texas. It was fun just to see those people waving to us. Anything related to the circus was a happy thing for me. To have a train full of joy-bringers end up in such a terrible accident....hurts my heart.💔 Wonderful video all the same. I especially like this type....small events here and there that I had no idea ever occurred. It's why I love your channel. 👍❤️🤗 BUNGA! BUNGA!
Always a pleasure to hear your storytelling. Thank you for remembering those who would otherwise be forgotten.
American circuses have a rich and fascinating history. It's sad that they are fading into oblivion.
I was a little boy when the students of my class at Warrington Elementary School attended a performance of Ringling Brothers Barnum and Baily Circus. It was a most memorable event I shall never forget. It was actually the last year in which Ringling Brothers would perform under the "big top."
The following year; a fire had struck the the large tent. I was saddened that my little brother was not able to see the circus.
We were seated at the far end of the Big Top and could watch the clowns prepare for the performance. They had dressing rooms beneath the bleachers from where we sat. When they emerged on stage; they stopped to visit and greet us for a few brief moments before performing.
I suppose being in attendance on that special day was an historic event. After 1956 the circus no longer exhibited under their own portable "big top".
I really appreciate all your content, it's very good! I grew up near Hammond Indiana and had never heard that history.
Jim M Same here. I've been to Hammond, Michigan City, and Peru Indiana.
I grew up on the local ghost stories. Still live nearby.
We used to live near this cemetery. It is close enough to the Brookfield Zoo that if the wind is right, you can hear lions roaring. Thanks for this story.
The most jammed packed 11 minutes anywhere.! The coming of the railroad here along the White River in N. Arkansas in the late 1800's changed everything. It was like the first super highway for folks. And yep, there have been a number of deaths associated with the railroad over the years. Oh...I, too, like your new opening.
I absolutely love your videos! I love history as well. I am learning so much history that I have never known of. Thank you for paying tribute to people that many may have never known about if it wasn’t for your videos.
I remember reading about this in elementary school in the 1960's. Thanks for posting!
MY MAN!
COMIN THROUGH WITH THE GOODS ONCE AGAIN
Another excellent video delving into forgotten history. Speaking of forgotten: while watching, I noticed the ad on the entrance tent in one photo for "America's Doll Lady." I could not read the name, the last name looked like 'Doctanna', maybe. Anyway, I tried searching google, e.g. linking wallace circus with the phrase America's Doll Lady. Have not been able to find anything. Sideshow "freak" acts and shows were an integral part of circuses in the nineteenth and deep into the twentieth century. It deserves a whole segment by you, if you have not already done one. Those were real people, whose misfortunes of birth which might have otherwise confined them to loneliness and poverty, allowed them to lead public and paid lives, as objects of what I am sure was sometimes not so pleasant attention, but it was another almost forgotten subculture of American history that should not be forgotten.
I am 72, retired, and enjoying consuming great quality history and science videos on TH-cam. Yours are among the best. Reminds me of the fact that throughout college and university I had some great teachers. Like you.
Look up the Doll family of show biz midgets. They did circus sideshows and Hollywood movies.
At least one appearance in a our gang comedy!
History Guy delivers the best show on-line. Graphics and video clips extrodinare. A+ on this one. All the animals were trained🚂🛤
You allow us to honor those who deserve it and withhold it from those who do not.
You are a better man than most. Honor and respect too you
The deadliest train wreck in American history also occurred in 1918, in Nashville.
DANG!
Another great story. It reminded me of the 1955 Pierre Levegh crash at Le Mans. So many deaths, which -- in large part -- occurred because there was simply no consideration put towards safety of the fans. _"Just throw out a couple of hay bales... that should do it."_ The world seemed to have a very callous attitude about safety prior to the 1960s. Even in modern times... there's the example of Dale Earnhardt, who died because he adamantly refused to wear the device specifically designed to prevent the very injury that would end up killing him. In fact, Earnhardt was overheard sarcastically asking its inventor, _"Are you afraid of dying?"_ and then mockingly tossing the device aside. And, of course, if Earnhardt wasn't going to wear it, the younger drivers who looked up to him certainly wouldn't either. The year after his death, the Hans device became mandatory equipment for every driver in NASCAR.
I remember, during my stint in the Navy, being told that, "All Navy regulations are written in blood... If it's in there, it probably killed somebody and that's when the Navy piped up to say, _'Holy Smokes! Maybe we should make a rule against it so we can keep from killing anymore idiots dumb enough to try that... what do you think?'"_
The Bonesaw Many rules and regulations are written in blood, and not just in the military. When there was a big ad campaign about wearing seatbelts here in the UK many ignored it but it when the statistics came out about the reduced number of deaths and serious injuries because of them opinions changed. Now it is the law.
Big Blue They don’t have statistics as to how many ppl died because of seat belts....
irgski I was referring to those who did not wear a seatbelt as these were more likely to die or suffer serious injury rather then those who did not. A simple statistic to count.
There are worse ways of dying but death by stupidity has got to be one of the most embarrassing.
Randy Rinker So true.
The cemetery is actually in North Riverside IL which is just west of Chicago. They say every now and then you hear the elephants crying and ghosts of the deceased are out on the main roads that surround the cemetery (urban legend I know). Great story. Love this channel.
I love and appreciate your obvious passion for history of all kinds. These videos are wonderful. Thank you for sharing your passion with us.
I love your channel, History Guy, I find myself clicking on one after the other, and I especially love these ones about significant events that should be remember but have faded in memory for some reason. I have a suggestion for you: The collision, fire, and explosion of the Queeny and Corinthos on the Delaware River near Philadelphia on January 31st, 1975. I was very little at the time living nearby and I remember the explosion and then my dad watching the fire on the local news, it was a huge event, giant column of smoke, the river was on fire, and several sailors were killed, but the weird thing about it is that many people living in the area today, even those old enough to remember it, don't remember it or only dimly remember it. Funny how the internet makes it seem as if things that took place before we could upload video didn't really happen.
I find it very sad that one day kids will say; "What's a circus"?
Yes, so we will have to tell them its Congress.
A wonderful narrator.
I would love to hear your take on the SS Ohio, the oil tanker that saved Malta in August 1942. It's one heck of a story...
I really like your channel for so many reasons. Thank you!
the, history its remenber me from the part of indiana jones last crusade train chasse!
I am fortunate enough to have seen many a circus train pass just a block from my maternal grandparent's house. The train was fairly long and loaded with circus wagons and animal cars. The coming of the train was an event of itself drawing crowds to watch as it passed the various road crossings. It came every summer to Milwaukee leaving from the Circus Museum in Baraboo, Wi. all for the Great Circus Parade in Milwaukee every summer. I was also treated to a visit to that museum one summer long ago to see all those circus wagons up close. Until I watched this episode I had forgotten those wonderful moments in my life.
My father was 11 when this happened. My grandfather was a Hammond cop, Bob Law. When I was a child a movie was made about either this tragedy or one like it. My father often spoke of the horror of the accident and the repercussions, among which was the redesign of passenger rail cars. The old wooden cars were replaced with stronger metal ones eliminating the possibility of the cars telescoping. Lighting was also upgraded.
I'm in WI now not far from Circus World Museum. Several Hagenbeck-Wallace cars are in the museum. It's very interesting how many circuses started out in WI. The big barns were empty in winter and many acts were perfected in the empty spaces.
During WWII the military used circus moving techniques to move troops and establish camps with all that was necessary.
The circus has a rich and glorious history. I'm saddened by its demise.
I was born in 1951 and I remember attending a Circus in my home town probably in 1957. I never heard any of these tragic stories before. Thank you.
Wow! This is a topic that has never even crossed mind! And if it had been presented on another channel, I probably wouldn’t have even tuned in. But as usual, you had me on the edge of my seat. And this time, about something I wouldn’t normally care much about- circuses. Thanks for the new perspective on rail history and early 20th Century entertainment in the US!
My dad was telling me about this, we want to go pay our respects at the grave down in the city soon.
One of the safest points of our History That was bringing happiness to us. And as it was back then it is still today, History Deserves to be Remembered. Thank you
As a conductor on the Southern Railroad for 30 years I WORKED 2 circus trains in the 70s and 80s. It was interesting to walk through the cars and see how the PEOPLE lived. PEOPLE and elephants and clowns and horses all shared the same nomadic lifestyle and circus people are among the most varied and interesting PEOPLE I ever met. TOTALLY different than anything else
Excellent video, so much history is lost but you are bringing it to whole new generations in a real and tangible way. This reminded me of the 1939 City of San Francisco derailment in Harney, Nevada, would love to see your take on that incident.
Thank you!!! Wonderful history lesson!
Another entertaining episode regarding forgotten history. Well done!
1893 Tyrone, PA Circus Train Wreck.
A train carrying performers and animals from the Walter L. Main Circus lost control going down a steep hill, picking up speed too fast. The train derailed going around a curve, its cars sailing out into the night, rolling down an embankment, and stacking up one on top of another. Five people lost their lives in the disaster. About 50 horses were killed outright, as they were riding in the forward cars which ended up at the bottom of the pile. The elephants survived and the gorilla, billed as a “Man-Slayer,” was quickly captured.
Other animals, however, bolted into the twilight. A tiger was later killed after attacking a cow on a nearby farm. Even more animals were, well, never seen again.
The tiger's head is mounted at my gun club in Tyrone.
I’ve done some studying, 2 things, hangenback and Wallace circus is still up and running in Peru Indiana, and the final resting place of Wallace is at Mount Hope Cemetery Peru Indiana.
Clownvis (Elvis performer who also is a clown) posted a vlog about this tragedy when he went to visit the gravesite. I wanted to learn more about it, so I came here. Thank you for the wonderful video.
Great video. Thank you, Sir!
Excellent format, research, design and delivery.👍
Thanks,l always enjoy your videos. I attended the last Barnum &Baily circus in the big top when l was a kid. It moved on to the next city and burned to the ground. It was a experience that l remember to this day. I think l was about 5 years old.
I'm not sure how you come up with the subjects that you cover, but keep it up!
Wow, born and raised just an hour East of Hammond and I’ve never heard about this! Thank you for sharing !
I have been to that Peru Circus locale and, for some reason, had not remembered the part-owner at that time (2003) tell me about that tragic accident of 100 years ago.
Another good true story. Thanks, History Guy.
THANK YOU lived in ILL . HAMMOND , IND was just over the state line . my first adult job was in HAMMOND 1973 . Heard some stories , never the full one , there is a marker at the site , never able to find it . again Thank YOU
There is no marker.
So glad I found your vids-very informative descriptions of events that have been mostly forgotten to time. Can't wait for the next notification 🤗🤓
Love your channel and the rich detail you provide, that adds to what some would term boring history. Like the detail about the wreck at Shelbyville , Illinois. Speaking of which, Shelbyville had a Chatauquah building in a park. Don't know alot about about Chatauquah, but you might enlighten us on them. Oh yeah, and another suggested topic. The railyard explosion in Decatur, Illinois in 1972 or 1973.
Vivid, interesting account. Nineteen-eighteen was a bad year to ride U.S. rails. The all-time deadliest U.S. passenger train crash happened in Nashville less than 2-1/2 weeks later, on 7/9/1918 -- about 101 killed, 171 hurt. Less than 6 months later, on 11/1/1918, the all-time deadliest U.S. subway crash happened in Brooklyn -- about 97 killed, 102 hurt. Source: Robert B. Shaw, A History of Railroad Accidents, Safety Precautions and Operating Practices, Vail-Ballou Press, 1978, pp.125 et seq., 388 et seq. The last deadly U.S. circus-train wreck was in Lakeland, FL on 1/13/1994 -- 2 killed, 14 hurt. According to the I.C.C. report, a wheel near the middle of the train broke into pieces, but the train continued for almost 3 miles, finally being derailed when the remaining part of the broken wheel fouled a track switch. Passengers in the affected car were powerless to stop the train, and could not even run forward to try to warn the engineer -- the circus (Ringling-B&B, owner of the second-hand passenger cars) had removed conductors' emergency brake valves, had built car-width partitions, and had not provided emergency intercoms (this was before cell phones were as common as they are now). Ringling-B&B, to its credit, promptly initiated comprehensive train modifications and safety procedures to prevent a recurrence.
1918 a terrible year. Over 60million deaths from Spanish flu that year...spread in large part on troop trains
And the wreck in New Zealand that killed 151 as well
I know you have to find photos to accompany the dialog but I just wanted you to know about the wrecked locomotive at 5:03. It is Southern Railway fast mail train #97, commonly called Old 97. It derailed the on Stillhouse Trestle in Danville, Virginia September 29, 1903. It was running well above the safe speed for the trestle. It was behind schedule and trying to make up time. The locomotive number was 1102, 97 was the train number. Nine were killed. The track was re-routed around 1912. the engineer was Joseph A. Broady, he was called Steve Broady, some accounts spell his last name, Brodie. That would be a good story or just read up on it FYI.
Yes, the wreck of the old 97 is famous, quite an image of destruction.
Always love this stories..
Best subscription I have to date~!
Telling all my friends.
Stoney Curtis thank you!
Fanboy.?
Thank you and Love old history... thank you for sharing 💙
I am a recent viewer and subscriber. I have been watching TH-cam videos for a long time, but only recently stumbled upon your channel. I would just like to say that as short, self read videos go yours are among the very best. Great content well presented at a steady easy to digest pace, and NO AUTO-READER! It's like a meal of history set out for nice easy consumption. Not open mouth shove in food.
Thank you for the food for my mind. Sorry have too go, my next meal is calling!
Wow, thank you for another powerful story that certainly should be remembered.
Your history videos are great and I can’t stop watching them. Please do a video on Smedly Butler. One of my heroes and history worth remembering.
There was a history channel special about rail disasters that I had on VHS as a kid. This one was featured. The second a saw the video title it took me back
Besides the two tragedies mentioned in the video, the (by then) Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus had also lost a number of performing animals to the Wabash River during the Great Flood of 1913 -- per Wikipedia, 8 elephants, 21 lions and tigers and 8 performing horses. Truly, a traveling circus could be tragedy and fun in equal measures.
Thumbs up matters to these content providers. He does a good job for us. It only takes a second to click. Let's let him know these stories DO deserve to be remembered! Thumbs up History Guy!
I love how often you post videos.
The goal is two a week.
Great video!
as a kid I used to see this at Woodlawn when visiting our grampas grave. interesting to see history covered in this way thank you.
This is one of the few stories you've told so far that I've been familiar with, but that's only because I grew up a couple of miles away from where the wreck happened.
You have the best stories of forgot history.
Primitive air brakes did not apply when pressure was released. Railway travel was a bloodbath, but even shop maintenance (where steam was often used to drive equipment) was quite dangerous with tens of thousands killed and maimed! George Westinghouse saved countless lives and much property with his invention of the triple valve air brake system.
New subscriber here, I am glad I found your channel I have been binge watching and appreciate the variety of your stories. I do like military history but you have so many good stories that you have researched. Keep up the good work.
This made me sadder than most of your other ones (which is weird because I knew about this one)
Probably because I pretty much grew up at the circus and I kinda miss it
You are doing great things with your channel!
If you get a chance the Ringling Museum in Sarasota Florida is well worth the visit and John Ringling's winter home is a great tour.
The Ringling rail car is at the museum and has been fully restored
Always an excellent presentation. I may have read about this incident in a book about train wrecks.
Great video! Thanks.
Great channel! Very well and entertainingly done. My only complaint is why do you use so many very low resolution images in your presentations? Cost?
For more on circus wagons, band wagons , there's a museum in Baraboo, Wis. They put some of the wagons on a train once a year and go to Milwaukee, have a huge parade and circus. In July I think.
Gary Schmidt sadly the circus parade is no more... for lack of sponsors. The last year was 2009.
Excellent episode. And love that bow tie!
It was a Father's Day gift from my sons.
Cool sons!
What a great way to start the weekend.
Vary Entertaining and Informative . Thanks
Love the channel. How about the two Hartford hospital fires in the 1940’s or about. Nile St hospital and the main. Thanks, keep up the great work.
And now they live on in our memories. Thanks History Guy, your productions are extremely professional.. I perceive a day when you will have millions of subscribers. Undoubtedly your legacy could proceed for hundreds of years thanks to the dawning of the internet. Nice.
You make me want to go back to collage. I love 💕 your Commentary. My father & stepdad were Seabees. They both saw action in the pacific WW2. I’m so happy I found your program. Thank you for remembering. They never talked about what they did or what they saw. This fills in a lot for me. More please. No one should forget the greatest generation that ever lived.
The wreck was actually in Gary IN on the Michigan Central RR at Ivanhoe not Hammond. The train was travelling to Hammond but never arrived.
A older customer at pur restaurant. Told of living in Williamsport Pa. When Barnum & Baileys circus came to towm, on the train. About 80 years ago. She said it was amazing, people then had never viewed exotic animals in person.
I'd seen some of the pictures of the wreckage before but never knew the full story. Thanks.
Trivia: If you look closely it appears the car wheels are "paper" wheels - the pattern of bolts on the face holds metal plates on either side of a highly compressed paper layer core. They were lighter than all metal wheels and were supposed to reduce vibration. Both desirable traits for passenger cars. They couldn't support heavy metal cars or high speeds, though, so were discontinued in the early 1900s. Those circus cars may have used one of the last batches made.
I grew up in Hammond but only recently learned of this.
The city was once a major rail hub. But today almost all of it has been ripped out.
I grew up in Durand Michigan and played in the woods next to the accident site. We were told of the circus accident by my father who worked for the Grand Trunk Railroad. He said they buried the elephant probably in the ground where the woods grew.
Thank you for providing such intriguing, informative videos. I would love to see videos on two particular subjects. One is the YELLOW FEVER EPIDEMIC, and another is the THYLACINE or TASMANIAN TIGER, a magnificent animal which was hunted to extinction (or perhaps a video about more than one extinct creature and including the Thylacine). Thanks again!!!
I love this kind of stuff! Do the circus train that crashed with another train near Columbus Georgia!
He's working on that one right now!
you should have a show on the history channel . Oh wait they don t do history any more . Thank fully we have you .
II can suggest the Ashtabula Disaster in 1876 (the worst railroad disaster in our nation's history). and the Hartford Circus Fire of 1944.
Recently found you, great presenter, this old history buff is locked in. P.S. ....I'm partial to Naval History.
I live in paint lick Kentucky and I often hear about the circus train runaway that happened not far from here
There used to be a Louisville and Nashville railroad branch line running from Richmond Kentucky to Rowland Kentucky, in September 1882 a circus train was descending from Morgan's summit when it lost its brakes and crashed killing 5-6 people and injuring many others
Didn't realize Barnum & Bailey was no more. It's not surprising, but I am surprised it didn't get more coverage at the time.
I live not far from the site of the second deadliest rail crash in U.S. history in Woodbridge, NJ., on Feb 4, 1951. About 86 were killed when a PRR commuter locally called The Broker on the North Jersey Coast Line ran too fast thru a construction zone and temporary overpass, shifting the rails, causing the loco, a K4s Pacific Steamer to roll over, the tender seperated and started a chain reaction derailment in a residential area.. The train was packed at the time due to a strike on the Central of New Jersey, and numerous died as a result of jumping from the cars toward what they thought was a river below. It was actually the ice-covered street below.
It was a miracle none of the 11 cars of the consist plowed thru any of the homes nearby and the locomotive boiler did not explode. It was the first day the construction site's speed limit of 25 mph went into effect. The engineer insisted he was doing the speed limit, but the amount of damage suggested he was going around the normal speed for that stretch of some 50 mph. He never drove a loco again, but remained with the railroad, and signs of the damage caused to concrete structure is visible today where repairs were made.
Maybe you should visit NJ sometime, History Guy?!
I had heard of this accident but not in this detail. May they all rest in peace.
scary man scary we were just there at woodlawn cemetery looking at their memorial marker wondering if the rumor was true that the elephant was also buried there too.. i've got goose bumps man
In the early 50s my father was hired, as a day laborer, to help put up the tents when the Circus came to Los Angeles by train. The whole family went down to the Circus site near the rail road siding and watched the train arrive and the tents go up. It was organized chaos. Dad took his compensation in cash and tickets for the first show, a matinee. It was a long day.
I was born and raised in Indiana. Every year, we would head South from South Bend to Indianapolis to visit my grandparents. We drove past the Ringling Brothers and they always had animals of every kind out playing in the back pasture. It was really cool to see elephants rolling around in the grass.
I volunteer for Find A Grave, which hosts millions of memorials. It took some doing, but I found the page for Showman's Rest.
www.findagrave.com/memorial/6326015/showman_s_rest_memorial
Please do your take on the Balvano Train Disaster. I remember reading about it in a book about disasters when I was a freshman in high school.
I worked traveling with a circus in Australia for 3 years was a awesome life style of hard work, adoration and constant travel sleeping in truck beds or under the stars if the weather was good god I miss it