HISTORY: Train Accidents and wild entertainment

Patrick Miner's Web

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8,000 cities and towns were suddenly linked when the east and west met at Promontory point, Utah. On that day, May 10, 1869, travel from the East Coast to the West Coast had reduced a perilous journey of months into a safe trip of less than one week.
Joe Connoly, AKA Head On Joe, became caught up in the bizarre story of trains. Joe grew up on a farm in Iowa which butted up against a railroad. in the late 1800's. The train, and all of its mystery, roared by the young man on regular schedule. This probably secured his interest in all aspects of trains and the railroads. Did he imagine train accidents? The power of the train to both be a productive tool used in the development of the United States, and to be the source of entertainment to thousands pulled Joe Connely along tracks and disasters.
Along with others, Joe honed a craft most unusual. He staged crashes of locomotives at state fairs, and other venues. Thousands of people paid admittance to watch a crash of steam locomotives. The thunderous expositions met all expectations. These crashes were profitable. Engines on their way to scrap yards were common and inexpensive. Crowds were easily lured to his ticket gates.
GUEST COMMENT
Thank you for making me sound good, as best you could, within the limitations of what you had to work with!

I have been alerting parties to the podcast and will continue to do so as I can.

Again, I appreciate your interest in the subject. Had one party, by total coincidence, who recently read the book and contacted me and say that somebody from Hollywood should purchase the rights to the story and make a movie about Head-on Joe. I directed him to the podcast as well.

Let me know if I can ever be of additional help with any information.

Jim Reisdorff

South Platte Press

David City, NE

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