Tucked away in a cemetery in Illinois is a strange sight to behold. A section of graves with 750 plots, but some headstones are only engraved with names like “Smiley,” or “Baldy.” Surrounding this section of the cemetery, you’ll find majestic statues of elephants guarding the dearly departed at their final resting place. Sometimes, if you listen closely, you might even hear the ghostly sounds of elephants late at night. Today, we explore the history and haunts of Showmen’s Rest in Forest Park, Illinois. A final resting place for circus performers killed in a tragic accident over a century ago.
The Showmen’s League of America was an organization founded in 1913 with the famed William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody as its first President. It was founded with the mission of helping carnival and circus performers through good times and bad, with a goal of seeing to their needs and wants while on the road. At the time, this was revolutionary, as the quality of life for carnival workers on trains was less than ideal. They chose an elephant as the symbol of their organization to illustrate the strength of performers. The league is still operating after 111 years. In a coincidental purchase, the League had acquired a large plot of land in Woodlawn Cemetery outside of Chicago in 1917, not knowing that in just a year, that plot would be filled with dozens of bodies.
Members of the popular Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus were asleep in their train cars in the early morning hours of June 22, 1918. Performers typically slept at the back of the train. At around 4 am, another train following behind the circus train continued its pace at 35 miles per hour without heeding any of the warnings along the way. The train didn’t even slow down, as the conductor of the military train had fallen asleep. The inevitable crash that would come slammed into those rear cars with such force, later reports alleged that most of the victims were killed almost instantly. The crash was devastating, and is one of the worst train wrecks in US history.
The true numbers are lost to time, but it’s estimated the death toll was a staggering 86 lost souls, with 127 serious injuries. As survivors crawled from the train, lanterns inside lit the wooden train cars on fire and performers watched as friends succumbed to the fire. One of the most striking memories from survivors was that of a clown, Joe Coyle, desperately trying to save his wife and daughter from the blaze, being pulled back by his fellow performers, and sobbing as he watched them succumb to the flames.
The Showmen’s League of America immediately began the work of preparing for the funeral and services for the lost performers, trapeze artists, strongmen, and clowns. In the newly purchased plot in Woodlawn Cemetery, services were held for the lost five days after the tragic accident. Performers were buried in a mass grave, some of which the true identity was unable to be determined and thus they were buried under nicknames. Others were unrecognizable and buried as “unknown male/female.” Monuments were erected, including the famous elephants, and they were interred at Showmen’s Rest.
Today, the League continues to hold services at Showmen’s Rest every memorial day to honor those who were lost that day in 1918. Other performers have continued to be laid to rest in the section of the cemetery, seen as a high honor. It’s also known as the Clown Cemetery, for the famous clowns buried there. Reports say the area is still haunted with the high energy of a circus and that strange and unusual sounds and happenings can be observed there. Dozens of EVPs have been recorded. Visitors report hearing the distant sounds of elephants, despite the fact that none are buried in the cemetery. Some can feel the vibrations of a massive elephant walking at night around the section, as if the statues come to life to guard the souls of the tragic victims. Voices can be heard, including raucous laughter, vibrant circus music, and the sound of applause from an unseen audience. Perhaps these performers continue to astound audiences, even well into the afterlife, bringing joy to a somber place of rest.
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
Born in Death Valley and raised on the prairie, Deborah is a Wyoming-based paranormal researcher and University of Wyoming graduate. Her interests lie in folklore, history, symbolic interaction and research. She also researches the paranormal academically and is a graduate student studying sociology.