The Impulsive Texan

On this day in 1896, the celebrated “Crash at Crush” occurred 15 miles north of Waco, Texas in McLennan County. As a publicity stunt for the Katy Railroad, two railroad engines were deliberately crashed in a head-on collision at the non-existent town of Crush. Elaborate preparations and extensive publicity brought a crowd of more than 30,000 to witness the event. After a two-mile run, the two engines, the bright green No. 999 and the brilliant red No. 1001, met in a fiery crash. Flying debris killed two people and injured many more. By the nightfall, the site was abandoned. In the early twentieth century, Scott Joplin commemorated the event in hs march, “Great Crush Collision”.

"I may not get much done, but I sure am slow"...