Since Geocachers tend to enjoy cemetery caches, I find it only fitting to use the virtual
award cache inside a truly unique location. This cache will take you around a bit of this cemetery.
This cemetery has the word ODD in the name, but also the history surrounding many portions
of this cemetery is quite odd.
1914 train crash
On August 5, 1914 in the Neosho and Joplin area had been a busy day for several reasons, one
of which was an annual Emancipation Day celebration in Joplin (Which is still held to this day)
Which celebrated the emancipation of slaves in the Joplin area. Due to the quicker and faster
method of transportation at the time, several people opted to use the area rail system. This helped
people move between the towns at that time. The passengers often consisted of a mix of people ,
from farm works, traveling salesmen and even whole families enjoying
the train rides. Due to the amount of traffic that traveled between the two towns on a regular
basis the Missouri and North Arkansas railway operated a passenger train between the two
locations. The M&NA motor car that was used was a model nicknamed the “Doodlebug",
The images below are pictures of the actual doodle bug that was used that day
As the doodlebug headed south out of Joplin, a Kansas City Southern passenger train, which
consisted of locomotive, a mail and baggage car, two baggage and express cars, an express
car, a day coach, a chair car, and a Pullman sleeping car, left Neosho at 5:40 p.m. and headed
north toward Joplin.
See the picture below for a picture of the actual train engine.
Since the M&NA was using the rails provided by the KCS railroad, they had to yield to
regular train traffic, which was Approximately 6 trains a day.
Because both trains were traveling on the shared line, an order had been issued before the Doodlebug pulled out
of Joplin for it to stop on a siderail at Tipton Ford and wait for the KCS train to pass.
In the end it was determined that the Doodlebug operators DID have the information, and that
the operators of the doodlebug where at fault. There is speculation however that since
the doodlebug was 15 minutes behind schedule and the KCS train was 3 hours and 15
minutes late. That the crews on the doodlebug had assumed that the KCS train was already in Joplin.
The Aftermath
Both the train and the motorcar were estimated to be traveling at approximately 35 miles per
hour when they met head-on near Tipton Ford at 6 p.m. Upon impact the train had pushed its
way approximately 20’ inside of the doodle bug, not only stopping it, but pushing it 651 feet
backwards along the track The doodlebug had received the worst of the blow by far with 43 dead
and 39 injured.Upon impact the fuel tanks on the doodlebug were destroyed allowing the
fuel to burst into flames consuming the cars. At the time it was estimated that there was still
105 gallons of gasoline in the tanks.
The victims that did not make it out were mostly all burned beyond recognition. With the
confusion of the wreck throwing people around and the efforts to get survivors out before
the fire consumed it all. It made it nearly impossible to identify the charred bodies, resulting
in a mass funeral for all of the victims, and a mass grave for the ones that could not be identified.
BURIAL
Since they had so many remains that could not be identified, it was decided that there would
be a mass grave to hold the victims. Due to the variety of people being buried the decision had
been made to hold services on the square to accommodate the crowd that would attend.
So they build a large grandstand to allow ministers of different faiths and religions
to be allowed to hold their services, along with their respectable choir.
At the mass grave site they burried 17 black coffins and 16 white coffins to represent the
unidentifiable remains.
George Thomas Ray
Upon Entering the Cemetery at the main entrance, there is a marker to the immediate left.
As you look at the monument it has some interesting information on it. The grandson
of GeorgeThomas Ray was visiting the area and discovered a different story in local
history than what he had known. It was his prior understanding that the his grandfather
had ridden into town with with the Lockes and Fischers to help clean out the Unionist
party in Neosho. They had come for retaliation of a Unionist attack in Butler Mo.
As tensions rode high in the area, the Southern Partisian Ranger Party formed in numbers
to run the Unionists out to combat more local retaliation. Thomas Ray had been shot that
day thinking that he had been part of the battling parties.
What was later reported was that Thomas Ray was out on furlough just six days after the
battle of Pea Ridge. He had ridden into town that day to conduct business . He was
there on behalf of his immediate family as well as younger brothers and sisters.
As he rode into town he had found trouble waiting for him, thinking he was a Unionist.
When he was challenged to leave by R.V Keller and others from the Southern Partisian Rangers,
he refused. Which ended up with him being shot in the head.
On March 14th 1962 this tombstone was placed 100 years to the date by Tom Ray's grandson to
Vindicate his death.
Mass Grave
**Located near the North East corner of the cemetery** This cemetery is home to two mass graves. This one happens to be related to
the Civil war era. Around 1862 and 1864 in various battles between the Union and
the confederates in the local area caused casualties that were buried here. This monument
was erected a little more than 100 years ago by the Thomas Roe Freeman Camp,
United Confederate Veterans, of Neosho. It is located to the south of the memorial Statue
of the standing soldier in the North east corner.
Having a civil war era mass grave in a cemetery is not necessarily a rare occurrence,
This one has since had some dispute due to conflicting historical documents this one
MAY or MAY NOT still have people interned at this site. This monument stands to
remember the between 130 – 165 people that were at least at one time may
have been buried here. The Confusion comes due to the fact that there are conflicting
stories about the graves site. There are several books and articles written about the graves.
Some state that the soldiers were moved to a springfield cemetery after the war
had began. While others have it written that this was their final resting place. All of
which were written after it supposedly happened. Even more strange is the fact
that the cemeteries in springfield that would have accepted the remains of the soldiers,
have no record of them ever being moved to them.
LOGGING TASKS
To Log this Virtual Reward Cache, Please complete the folowing steps:
1.Please post a picture of yourself or GPS, with a one of the mentioned stones in your log.
Send the answers to the following questions me with a message/email from my geocaching profile.
2.What is the name on the tombstone behind George Thomas Ray.
3.What is engraved on the bottom of the soldier statue. (on the side, Name and location)
Virtual Reward - 2017/2018
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between August 24, 2017 and August 24, 2018. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards on the Geocaching Blog.
-Please post pictures.
-Write a caching memory if desired.
-Permission was granted by the owner, Please be respectful of the property.
-Cache is able to be completed in flip flops.
Please Cache on my Friends, replace soggy Logs when needed, Swag containers
up whenever possible, and above all Have Fun.
