This article was
written by Suzanne Sickler Ohl, an early member of the Tyrone
Area Historical Society. It was originally published in April
1993. Early in the morning of May 30, 1893 an event occurred
at McCann’s Crossing, four miles northwest of Tyrone,
Pennsylvania, which has remained an important part of Tyrone’s
history. On that site a train containing the Walter L. Main
Circus was derailed and piled in a confused mass. Five men
were killed and seven were seriously injured. Fifty-three
horses plus other animals were killed. A few animals escaped
to the woods, later to be recaptured. The escaped snakes never
were found. Fourteen railroad cars and twenty-five circus
wagons were destroyed. As had been demonstrated on many other
occasions the people of Tyrone demonstrated they had a heart
when they came to the aid of those frightened circus people.
They provided rooms and hospitality to Mr. Walter Main and his
people during the several months that went by before it was
possible to assemble a new outfit and continue the tour.
However during the following week the big circus tents were
erected in Conrad’s Park on E. 12th Street with the horses and
other large animals being housed in the 150-horse Sheridan
Armory adjacent to the Park. Many of the performers were
guests at the nearby Empire House. During that weekend the
military circus band played a concert at St. Matthew’s
Catholic School hall and between innings at the baseball game
at the Athletic Field. A real spirit of comradeship existed
between Tyrone and the circus people. The two circus employees
who were killed were buried in Grandview Cemetery in Tyrone.
Each succeeding year whenever a circus would pass through or
appear in Tyrone, the circus troupe would hold a memorial
service at the grave site. On June 23, 1975 a memorial plaque
was dedicated at the McCann’s Crossing wreck site to
commemorate one of the greatest circus wrecks in world
history. About one hundred Tyrone area people gathered for the
occasion. On the monument plaque was inscribed a brief
description of the circus wreck and the names of the people
involved in the memorial project.
Please take the time to visit the monument, sit on one of the
benches and reflect what the scene would have been there as the
train crashed, the animals ran, and circus folks scrambled to save
what they could.
Baby Coozie wants you to walk in history, let her lead the
way.
Landowner permission has been granted for this cache
Minimal bushwacking is necessary. For now, please search during
daylight hours only.
*USE CAUTION near GZ because "small vehicles".
The cache is large enough for small swag trade items, TB's,
Geocoins, etc.
Have fun. Practice CITO. Be courteous. Let us know how we did
with our first hide.
Congratulations to Oasis888 on being FTF!!