One hundred and thirty-two years ago, on May 30^th, 1893, the Walter L. Main Circus was headed by train to Lewistown for a performance. But four miles from Tyrone, Blair County, disaster struck, as the circus train, descending a mountain on the Tyrone and Clearfield Railroad, crashed and derailed, killing crew members, animals, and leading to the escape of other animals into Tyrone and the neighboring woods.

As a young man, Walter L. Main realized he wasn’t cut out to be a farmer. His father, William, was also a farmer and horse trainer. After several attempts and failures, by the beginning of the 1880s, Walter L. Main had created a circus using profits from selling off farm animals. It was not until 1886 that the circus became successful; when it did, it was officially established as the Walter L. Main Circus. By 1891, Main had purchased 11 railroad cars and was ready to tour the country.[1]

On the morning of May 30th, 1893, the train was traveling down an embankment near the town of Tyrone. The excess weight of the upgraded train cars proved to be too much for the train's brakes, and it quickly lost control. At a curve, the train derailed, sparing only two sleeper cars. The brakeman, William Heverly, was killed instantly.[4][5] Five crew members died in the wreckage, and seven others were seriously injured.

The Tyrone Daily Herald provided additional details on May 31^st, 1993: “Their train consisted of ten flat cars, three stock cars, a combination car, and three sleepers, placed in the order named. The flat cars contained the wagons, calliope and the other combination vehicles, with the caged animals; The combination car had a lunch compartment; the sleepers were used by the show managers and members. About 2 o'clock yesterday morning, the loaded circus train left Houtzdale for Lewistown, where the exhibit was to have been made on Decoration Day.”

The train picked up speed at McCann’s Crossing, and those on board realized it was out of control. The forward cars left the track, and others at the rear hauling heavy freight soon piled on top of and around them. Passengers, animals, and cars were thrown in all directions. The train’s engine became detached but remained upright.

 Between 50 and 72 horses were either killed or injured. [4] Some of the more exotic animals survived, such as the elephants, although they did sustain injuries in the crash. Those animals that were not injured escaped and roamed the Pennsylvania countryside. One woman, Hannah Friday, reported that when she was milking a cow, a Bengal tiger approached her. While she managed to escape, the tiger ate her cows.[3][2]

Many of the larger escaped animals, such as the lions, elephants, and panthers, were recovered, but some animals, such as the snakes, were never located. In the months following the wreck, local residents reported seeing other unusual animals in the nearby wilderness, including exotic birds and kangaroos. [5][4]

One other oddity associated with the ill-fated circus train: Frank Train, the ticket seller who was killed in the wreck, felt a premonition of coming trouble and declared his intention of quitting the show through fear of meeting with some accident. Among other startling experiences, he related one of a ride over two miles upon the ties, the car carrying his ticket wagon having jumped the track. He was obliged to fire his revolver a number of times to attract attention to his perilous position. He told of other nerve-racking accidents and was emphatic in asserting that there was a "hoodoo" in the company and that evil and death would result if the company's Jonah was not banished.