(Inter)National CLOWN WEEK observance at SHOWMEN’S REST is a loving and festive remembrance of circus artists past, held in the nation’s most well known final resting place for circus artists, remembered especially for its elephant statues and roustabout headstones. This event includes speakers, placing of flowers, circus arts performances, lots of fun stuff for kids including activities and entertainment and contests with prizes, snacks and drinks, and many many many clowns.
The Hagenback-Wallace Circus Train Disaster:
On June 22, 1918, the time at about 4:00 am Dawn was not yet painting the eastern sky. The Hagenback-Wallace Circus was scheduled to present its fabulous spectacle in the Show Grounds at 150th and Calumet Avenue in Hammond, Ind.
An empty troop train was approaching at full speed from behind, piloted by engineer Alonzo Sargent, who had previously been fired for sleeping on the job. Ignoring the red lights, at Signal No. 2581 and the efforts of a frantic flagman to signal the oncoming train, it plowed into the back of the circus train, destroying three sleeping cars before finally coming to a halt. A fire then broke out. Survivors of the crash, trapped under the wreckage, were unable to free themselves and escape the flames. An estimated 86 people died in the accident. No animals were killed. Most of the dead were roustabouts who had been hired hours or days earlier for the Hagenback-Wallace performance in Michigan City. Among Circus performers were often known only by nicknames, and many had joined only recently. The stones shown here are labeled “Baldy” and “4 Horse Driver”; almost all of the others simply read “Unknown Male”, followed by a number. Among the dead were Arthur Dierckx and Max Nietzborn of the “Great Dierckx Brothers” strong man act and Jennie Ward Todd of “The Flying Wards”.
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