Crash at Crush

Subject: Crash at Crush Thu 02 Aug 2007, 5:43 pm

In searching through the Handbook of Texas Online, I was reminded by article there about a spectacular and very tragic and different sort of duel: the so-called 'Crash at Crush.' In 1896, railroad promoter, W. G. Crush, arranged for a head-on crash of two locomotives near the little town of West, McLellan County. Crush had Katy excursion trains booked for spectators to ride in on to witness the collision; a tent city (called 'Crush,' apparently) was erected so as to shelter other people who arrived via their own means. In all, some 30, 000 tickets were sold to those eager to see the big, iron engines meet their doom on a single track.

As the locomotives progressed slowly and then gained speed to reach the point of their meeting, spectators viewed business advertisements painted or a-fixed to the freight cars which trailed the advancing engines. And the crash was every but as spectacular as Crush had promised that it would be .... but as the trains rolled into their violent union, debris from the collision flew through the air. Two spectators were killed and dozens were injured.

The Crash at Crush was immortalized in song by Scott Joplin. *

Holly

http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/CC/llc1.html

* 'Ray Miller's Eyes of Texas Series: Fort Worth/ Brazos Valley' (1992)
_________________
The woman of the frontier made the best of her situation, for she had developed a respect for the land that gave her freedom as well as the courage to live in it.
~~~ from the perspective of Anne Seagraves

Subject: Re: Crash at Crush Fri 03 Aug 2007, 9:24 am

That's terrible. It seeme like they would've planned it out better. I don't know how that man could've lived with himself after this happened.

Trailblazer Joined : 29 May 2007 Posts : 88

Crush was not exactly a "railroad promoter". In fact he was, i believe, a Katy RR passenger agent. And lost his job, at least temporarily, over the awkward outcome of the wreck at "Crush". It is a very well known event among railfans.

Arranged train wrecks were quite common during the late 19th century, often set up at state or even county fairs. Thee was at least oneguy whose name I can[t recall who made a living travelling around arranging such. May be some information on the matter in Reed's book TRAIN WRECKS. Which I'll check if I can find it.

Wrangler Joined : 13 Nov 2007 Posts : 49

How funny to find this here! The Judge was just telling me about this a couple of days ago. He said that in the late 1800's, early 1900-'s "dare-devil" activities were quite the trend.
Which reminds me, when was it that Houdini gained fame?

This story reminded me of Bill Engval's: Here's Your Sign....

He also told me a story about something that took place here in McKinney around the same time. Some man thought it would be cool to set himself on fire and slide down a two story ramp into a huge tub of water on the square. He told the folks with him to light him, they did, the tower collapsed, fully flaming he fell two stories and the onlookers rushed to put him out.
Here's Your Sign....

When we finally get entertainment like tv you'd think people would find better things to do. But that defective gene was passed on and persists today in shows like Jackass.
He has a collection of signs.

Subject: Re: Crash at Crush Thu 29 Nov 2007, 5:38 pm

Clearly I am a cultural illiterate. Had to run a google search to find out who Bill Engvall is and here's what showed up:

http://www.billengvall.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Engvall

He graduated just a few years ahead of my class at Richardson High School Razz

Did you ever run into him in our scenically deprived environs? Will have to read up on what his show's all about.

Jackass Question

That one has passed me by, too.

Now, I did know Jeff Dunham, the ventriloquist, once apon a time (and yes, he was already doing his thing with the puppets way back then):

http://www.nationwidespeakers.com/speaker/531/jeff-dunham/ventriloquist-extraordinaire

And Houdini ~

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Houdini

Well, your Judge certainly has educated me. I was ignorant of this early daredevil period. His vignette of the man sliding off the building in McKinney while ablaze was .... well, one I could visualize. 'Twas almost humorous, but the poor fellow was ON FIRE! Hope he learned his lesson and was not injured.

And should your judge have any more local color from days gone by that he spreads before you, please be so kind as to share. I love McKinney and old Collin County I love you

And thanks!
_________________
The woman of the frontier made the best of her situation, for she had developed a respect for the land that gave her freedom as well as the courage to live in it.
~~~ from the perspective of Anne Seagraves

Subject: Re: Crash at Crush Thu 29 Nov 2007, 5:49 pm

Here is Jeff's official site:

http://www.jeffdunham.com/

Speaking of crushes ... he once had one on my dear friend from childhood, K. T.

I'm degrading into gossip mode, now .... sorry albino

_________________
The woman of the frontier made the best of her situation, for she had developed a respect for the land that gave her freedom as well as the courage to live in it.
~~~ from the perspective of Anne Seagraves

Subject: Re: Crash at Crush Fri 30 Nov 2007, 4:03 pm

Are you serious Holly, you know him?? From where??? Jeff Dunham's pretty funny. Frank about has convulsions when he does that dead shiek routine. LOL lol!

Madelyn

Subject: Re: Crash at Crush Fri 30 Nov 2007, 8:33 pm

Miss Madelyn ... I didn't realize until about six months ago how successful Jeff Dunham had become. My husband was tuned into Comedy Central (?) and there Jeff was.

I admire him greatly because he held onto his dream for many years, worked hard to bring it to fruition and now sees it bear fruit. Even back during the 1970s, his dream was to be a ventriloquist Smile

I really don't know Jeff Dunham at all, now; met him during gorgeous and memorable summers when we both were teenagers and campers at Sky Ranch .... located near Van, in East Texas.

http://www.skyranchcamps.com/

During the 'off' part of the year (fall, winter and spring), Sky sought to maintain a spiritual connection with its young disciples by sponsoring Bible studies in private homes. I saw Jeff often on these occasions.

By the way, singer Michael Martin Murphey once was a counselor at Sky Ranch, when it was in its first location .... near Lewisville, I believe:

www.michaelmartinmurphey.com

I never attended the first camp and never met Michael, but from what I was told, he already was a songbird during his 'counselor' days Smile

And it is so wonderful what he has done for 'cowboy' music and for the preservation of the spirit of the West!

Sky Ranch surely has had a momentous influence on almost every life that it has touched across the decades.
_________________
The woman of the frontier made the best of her situation, for she had developed a respect for the land that gave her freedom as well as the courage to live in it.
~~~ from the perspective of Anne Seagraves

Wrangler Joined : 13 Nov 2007 Posts : 49

I didn't know you camped in Van as a teenager. I did too! I have a hilarious story about that place. Unfortunately, not the variety I can tell publicly...

Subject: Re: Crash at Crush Sun 02 Dec 2007, 4:28 am

Yikes!

I have a very dim memory of your saying that you were a camper at Sky Ranch, but you'll have to refresh it (behind a curtain, if need be) afro

_________________
The woman of the frontier made the best of her situation, for she had developed a respect for the land that gave her freedom as well as the courage to live in it.
~~~ from the perspective of Anne Seagraves