Crash at Crush Page: 3 of 6
This paper is part of the collection entitled: Rescuing Texas History, 2019 and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the History of West Museum.
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CRASH AT CRUSH
As told by Joseph Foit to granddaughter Patricia Stover Cloud
I am nine years old. In my brief, simple life, I have never been this curious,
excited and frightened all at once. MKT plans to have a spectacular train wreck
between two engines. This grand event is set to occur at the back of our farm
where the creek bed meets the Dallas Highway. At that particular spot the tracks
slope into a gentle basin, perfect for two moving objects to hit each other.
Sisters Anna and Emilie do not understand my feelings but they are just girls.
Papa forbids us to leave the area of our home but I already know the perfect spot
to watch the event.
Our barn loft includes a large window facing west, providing a safe and fine view
of the crash site. For many days before the event I go to the barn, climb up to the
second story and watch everything. Four miles of parallel tracks carefully stretch
next to the real tracks. A huge wooden stage lies ready for use along with
refreshment stands and even a jail.
The magic day finally arrives and I run to the barn in early afternoon. Excursion
trains with loads of people arrive continuously. By late afternoon more than forty
thousand people crowd around the stage area.
Now it is time for the event. Two brightly colored engines roll down the four-mile
track and stop just before touching as though greeting each other. Then they
back up. Engineers tie down the throttles and jump to safety. As the engines
roar toward each other, the crowd cheers while I hold my breath. The iron horses
crash into each other. The boilers explode. Steam, metal and wood fly
everywhere. People cry. People die. People fall to the ground injured. Others
board the excursion trains in shocked disbelief and great relief for their own
safety. Railroad officials gawk with horror at the tragedy. But I am safe in the
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Cloud, Patricia Stover. Crash at Crush, paper, September 6, 2011; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1309622/m1/3/: accessed June 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting History of West Museum.