Woodlawn cemetery circus train tragedy The train behind it, a 21-car military troop transport, had left Michigan City about an hour later. Jan 12, 2016 · When the runaway train finally came to a halt amid the wreckage of the fourth car from the end of the Hagenbeck-Wallace train, the circus train’s gas lighting system caught fire. They were traveling to their next performance in Hammond, Indiana. , and was Jun 22, 2018 · The Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus suffered one of the worst train wrecks in history in 1918, with more than 100 people injured and 86 killed. --53 Buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Forest Park, IL. , on June 22, 1918. On the fateful early morning of June 22, 1918, a 26-car circus train was heading from Illinois into Hammond, Indiana, with 400 performers and roustabouts asleep in the rear cars. They were killed in the Hammond circus train wreck on June 22, 1918, at Hessville, Indiana, (about 5 1 ⁄ 2 miles east of Hammond, Indiana), when an empty Michigan Central Railroad troop train from Detroit, Michigan, to Chicago, Illinois, plowed into their circus train. Fifty-six of the victims were buried at Woodlawn Cemetery at Showmen’s Rest. Kids in attendance received free clown noses and Josh Negron, 7, of Berwyn, kept his on. “100 years ago…worst circus train wreck in U. This plot has a chilling past that has intrigued and haunted visitors for over a century. Eighty-six performers, circus hands and roustabouts were killed as a result of the crash and fire. Feb 8, 2024 · Jennie and Dianne relate a gripping yet heart-wrenching chapter of circus history that led to the first burials at Showmen's Rest in Chicago's beautiful Woodlawn Memorial Park. m. Listen in as they spotlight the Hagenbeck-Wallace circus train wreck of 1918 – a tragic event that claimed over 80 lives and left many injured. Jun 18, 2018 · Members of the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus were killed in a fiery crash in Hammond, Ind. Jan 25, 2024 · The horrific tragedy happened to the famous Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus at Dutchman’s Curve near Hammond, Indiana on 22 June 1918. The train was halted on the Michigan Central tracks near Ivanhoe due to an overheated axle box. Today, original circus wagons from the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus can be seen at Circus World in Baraboo, Wisconsin. Jun 24, 2011 · Three of the train cars, with sleeping circus workers in them, were destroyed by fire. 56 are buried at Showmen's Rest, Woodlawn Cemetery, Forest Park, Illinois. Woodlawn Cemetery Circus Train Tragedy On June 22, 1918, at approximately 4 am in the morning, veteran train driver Alonzo Sargent fell asleep at the helm of his 21-car locomotive and crashed into the temporarily-stopped Hagenbeck-Wallace circus train carrying 400 circus performers. Their winter headquarters in Peru, Indiana is now the International Circus Hall of Fame. Wikimedia Commons Feb 16, 2016 · Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus, 1917. history—the tragic Hammond Circus Train Wreck of 1918. They are buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Forest Park. Jun 20, 2013 · It’s a small plot of land inside Woodlawn Cemetery in Forest Park, Illinois known as “Showmen’s Rest. There is a lot to appreciate in this small graveyard, but perhaps most compelling of all are the dozens of graves marked “Unknown Female” or “Unknown Male,” along […] Woodlawn Cemetery is the final resting place of 53 circus performers who were killed in a train crash near Ivanhoe, Indiana on June 22, 1918. In the early pre-dawn hours of Saturday June 22, 1918, a Michigan Central Railroad troop train struck the rear of the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus train near Ivanhoe Jun 17, 2018 · Members of the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus were killed in a fiery crash in Hammond, Ind. Visit reports, news, maps, directions and info on Memorial to Circus Train Wreck Dead in Forest Park, Illinois. , killing trapeze artists, bareback riders, a lion tamer, a strongman and Aug 12, 2016 · The Forest Park, Ill. The Hagenbeck-Wallace circus had just finished two shows in Michigan City, Ind. In June, 1918, eighty-six people were reported to have died and another 127 were injured when a locomotive engineer fell asleep and ran his train into the rear of another near Hammond, Indiana. But five miles east of Hammond, the train made an emergency stop to fix an overheated axle box. Below: Five days later, members of the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus family and others gather to memorialize those who died so tragically. For further reading, take a look at these great articles I referenced while researching the details of the Hammond circus train wreck: May 2, 2011 · The circus train had left Michigan City hours before and was headed to Hammond for a show. -- 85 Daily Free Press, Carbondale, IL. The circus train wreck killed 89 performers and roustabouts, and injured over 150 more. It Jan 19, 2020 · The Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus train wreck killed 86 and injured 127 on June 22, 1918, near Hammond, Ind. The Story Behind This Seemingly Normal Place In Illinois Will Give You Nightmares. May 7, 2024 · On June 22, 1918, its train, comprising mostly wooden cars lit by oil lamps, was traveling through Hammond, Indiana, with about 400 performers when it paused for maintenance work around 4 a. ” And the event that brought me there happened 95 years ago this week. References: Austin, Beth: "The Day The Show Didn't Go On", Chicago Magazine May 1989 Barnum, Art: "Statues mourn circus train tragedy", Chicago Tribune Oct 10, 2021 · Above: The Showmen’s Rest section of Woodlawn Cemetery in Forest Park features five elephant statues that stand in tribute to those lost in a 1918 circus train wreck. Jun 20, 2018 · At dawn on June 22, 1918, an empty passenger train weighing 150 tons barreled into a stopped circus train in Hammond, Ind. Its origins, however, are marked by sorrow, tied to one of the most appalling accidents in circus history—the 1918 Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus train wreck. Woodlawn is a modern cemetery, best known for "Showmen's Rest" and a 1918 train crash. Ultimately, 56 people perished in the crash, though other reports suggest 61. , funeral for 86 people who were killed in the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus train wreck near Hammond drew about 1,500 mourners just days after the June 22, 1918, tragedy. …happened in Gary…” 6-22-2018. S. Please note that although the Cemetery office and Crematory will be closed for regular business, as detailed below, the Cemetery grounds will be open for visitation during regular visiting hours of 8:30 am to 4:30 pm and calls will be answered. Many others injured. Showmen's Rest (Part I) Showmen's Rest: (Part II) Woodlawn Sign. -- 86 Ross. As the Hagenbeck Wallace circus train approached Hammond, it pulled onto a sidetrack in order to cool an overheated wheel bearing box. Jun 12, 2018 · Dozens of circus performers and workers were killed in the 1918 crash and laid to rest at Chicago’s Woodlawn Cemetery The Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus train wreck of 1918 remains one of the In June of 1918 a train conductor fell asleep at the wheel, causing his train to plow into the back of the 26 car Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus train filled with circus employees and animals. Jan 13, 2016 · In the early morning hours of June 22, 1918, the members of the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus were fast asleep in the wooden cars at the back of their train. Of the 400 or so on board, about 61 of the total 86 victims of the wreck are buried here at Showmen's Rest (many of them unidentified or only known by their Woodlawn Cemetery in Forest Park, Illinois, is known for its peaceful atmosphere and the haunting history of Showman's Rest, where circus performers from a tragic train accident are buried. The circus train was stopped on the tracks for repairs. Then, an empty troop train pulling Pullman cars, despite many signals indicating a train ahead, plowed into the circus train at about The Woodlawn Cemetery would like to advise you of our upcoming Holiday office and operating hours. References: Austin, Beth: "The Day The Show Didn't Go On", Chicago Magazine May 1989 Barnum, Art: "Statues mourn circus train tragedy", Chicago Tribune Jul 19, 2018 · At the southern end of Woodlawn Cemetery just west of Chicago, a 750-plot area called Showmen’s Rest is set aside as a burial ground for circus folk. Early morning, June 22, 1918, the 26-car Hagenbeck-Wallace circus train on the outskirts of Hammond, IN, was struck by a troop train, killing 86 circus employees and performers. “Documentary tells tale of 1918 circus train tragedy…” Post Tribune, 1-19-2020. Aug 6, 2013 · A clown Sunday pauses after placing flowers at Showmen’s Rest monument during a memorial ceremony at Woodlawn Cemetery in Forest Park for circus artists who died in a 1918 train accident. source The Tragedy. Jennie and Dianne relate a gripping yet heart-wrenching chapter of circus history that led to the first burials at Showmen's Rest in Chicago's beautiful Woodlawn Memorial Park. The Hammond Circus Train Wreck was one of the worst train wrecks in US history. Known as Showmen’s Rest, this section of Woodlawn Cemetery is the final resting place for dozens of circus performers who died in one of the worst train crashes in U. Listen in as they spotlight the Hagenbeck-Wallace circus train wreck of 1918 – a tragic event that claimed over 80 lives an… Tucked within Woodlawn Cemetery, Showmen’s Rest is the final resting place for circus performers from around the world, made possible by the Showmen’s League of America. kymgnut kuipnei dnfz qxn hfuq yxza sygatq fxoblk loeja olowb
Woodlawn cemetery circus train tragedy. --53 Buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Forest Park, IL.
