1915 Circus Train Wreck tragedy (Columbus, Macon: living, cars, rated)

[Will Dockery]

I'm trying to collect all the information available on the 1915 train wreck in one place, the 100th anniversary is November 22nd of this year.

"...Mass Grave of Circus Train Wreck Victims in Columbus, Georgia. A large tombstone shaped like a rectangular tent memorializes people killed in a horrible circus train wreck 6.5 miles east of Columbus on November 22, 1915. It was mid-afternoon on a straight stretch of track when the Con. T. Kennedy Carnival train ran head-on into a passenger train that shouldn't have been there. The metal cars of the passenger train withstood the impact, injuring only a few. But the wooden cars of the circus train telescoped into the engine, caught fire, and incinerated most of the animals and one or two dozen circus people. The tombstone doesn't say exactly how many circus workers died (news reports claimed 24 died, later accounts put the number at 15), or even if they're buried underneath it. Maybe the mixed-up ashes of the train, animals, and people were shoveled here and the tombstone set on top as a kind of general memorial..."

[DWColumbus]

Do you know where this tombstone is located?

[Columbuskidd92]

Originally Posted by DWColumbus

Do you know where this tombstone is located?

I'm guessing somewhere outside the city limits. So since it said 6.5 miles east of Columbus,that would mean in Fort Benning.

[columbusmetro89]

Originally Posted by Will Dockery

I'm trying to collect all the information available on the 1915 train wreck in one place, the 100th anniversary is November 22nd of this year.

"...Mass Grave of Circus Train Wreck Victims in Columbus, Georgia. A large tombstone shaped like a rectangular tent memorializes people killed in a horrible circus train wreck 6.5 miles east of Columbus on November 22, 1915. It was mid-afternoon on a straight stretch of track when the Con. T. Kennedy Carnival train ran head-on into a passenger train that shouldn't have been there. The metal cars of the passenger train withstood the impact, injuring only a few. But the wooden cars of the circus train telescoped into the engine, caught fire, and incinerated most of the animals and one or two dozen circus people. The tombstone doesn't say exactly how many circus workers died (news reports claimed 24 died, later accounts put the number at 15), or even if they're buried underneath it. Maybe the mixed-up ashes of the train, animals, and people were shoveled here and the tombstone set on top as a kind of general memorial..."

Gosh 1915 time frame that's real old I don't even know if there's anybody still alive from around this time who would know anything but good luck on your search.

[Columbuskidd92]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU8vzbIHB3o


The tombstone is at the Riverdale cemetery.

[Will Dockery]

Originally Posted by Columbuskidd92

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU8vzbIHB3o


The tombstone is at the Riverdale cemetery.

Yes, that's it!

[Will Dockery]

Originally Posted by columbusmetro89

Gosh 1915 time frame that's real old I don't even know if there's anybody still alive from around this time who would know anything but good luck on your search.

Of course 100 years ago is too long to expect anyone living to know, but newspapers, railroad reports, things like that.

[Will Dockery]

Originally Posted by Columbuskidd92

I'm guessing somewhere outside the city limits. So since it said 6.5 miles east of Columbus,that would mean in Fort Benning.

The railroad tracks head out towards Midland, slightly above Fort Benning... the train was coming from Macon.

[Jean Kent]

The Riverdale-Porterdale Cemetery Foundation is seeking any information on the actual monument itself. Does anyone have information on who actually carved the monument?

[Will Dockery]

Originally Posted by Jean Kent

The Riverdale-Porterdale Cemetery Foundation is seeking any information on the actual monument itself. Does anyone have information on who actually carved the monument?

That would be interesting information.