Crush, Texas, was a temporary “city” established as a one-day publicity stunt in 1896. William George Crush, general passenger agent of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad (popularly known as the Katy Railroad), conceived the idea to demonstrate a train wreck as a spectacle. No admission was charged, and train fares to the crash site were at the reduced rate of US$2 from any location in Texas. As a result about 40,000 people showed up on September 15, 1896 making the new town of Crush, Texas, temporarily the second-largest city in the state.
This is an interesting read about a rather interesting town. Created for the sole purpose of a train wreck, this remains the only staged train wreck for publicity in US history. 50,000 + people came from all over the state to see these two steam powered monsters collide. The circus atmosphere devised by none other than Barnum Bailey, would rake in the profits for the Katy Railroad. By the end of the day three spectators would be dead, scores others injured and the mastermind behind the publicity stunt would be fired and then rehired.
It is a testament to our times that such an event brought about the desired end. Within hours the word had spread of the awesome display. The story was picked up by major newspapers, hundreds of stories were written, even a song was composed. Such an event today would lead to the demise of it’s creator due to lawsuits, when in 1896 it made them a giant in Texas railroading history.
Take a few minutes and read through the wikipedia page, then do a Google search or two. You might find that your day is enriched a bit once you know the story of Crush Texas’ birth and death. Enjoy!
Have never heard of this before. WIll definitely check out the wikipedia page.
What a cool story! Nice to know that we were weird all the way back then.