8. The Great Crush Collision March

Holy Spirit Episcopal Church

In 1896, a passenger agent for the M, K & T Railroad presciently named George Crush decided that a good way to drum up business for the railroad was to create a spectacle and crash two trains into one another head on! So he had a little temporary depot with 4 miles of tracks, a bandstand, and viewing stands constructed just north of Waco, Texas, and offered free admission to his audience. So many spectators showed up – over 40,000 – that for one day, Crush, Texas was the second largest city in the state. It was a real spectacle. The trains collided at close to 60 mph, the boilers exploded sending shrapnel into the crowd, and at least three people were killed and more than 20 injured. In those less litigious times, the railroad fired George Crush (and hired him back the next day) and paid off the victims with cash and lifetime rail passes. One of the uninjured spectators that day was the young Scott Joplin, who we heard from earlier. He wrote this piece telling the story of the event. We hear the happy crowds gathering at the beginning, and soon the program begins. We hear the trains gathering speed running at each other, their whistles sounding – and then the unmistakable collision…followed by the happy crowds continuing to enjoy themselves at the party. (from 2015)