1933 – Dec 14, School Bus hit by train in fog, 6 miles south of Crescent City, FL      —     11

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 12-24-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–11  Disastrous History. “Crescent City, Florida Train/School Bus crash. December 14^th, 1933.”

–11  Lane. “History Repeats. Area saw another train tragedy almost 69 years ago.” Palatka News, 4-22-2002.[1]

–11  Wikipedia.  “List of Rail Accidents (Pre-1950).” 

–10  AP. “Inquest Postponed in Bus-Train Wreck.” Sarasota Herald, FL. 12-15-1933, p. 1.

–10  AP. “Sholtz Orders Full Probe of Bus Tragedies.” Sarasota Herald, FL. 12-17-1933, p. 1.

Narrative Information

Lane: “Within a mile or two of Thursday’s train wreck is the unmarked site of another train wreck that left this south Putnam County area in despair nearly 70 years ago.  On Dec.  14, 1933, 11 area children were killed when their school bus was hit by an Atlantic Coast Line freight train. [“Just shy of 7:45 a.m.[2]] 

“Fog was blamed. A heavy fog, noted the Daily News account, ‘so obscuring the view that no one saw the approaching freight train, and the talk of the children doubtless drowned out the blowing of the whistle of the train for the crossing. The train was within ten feet of the bus before it’s on-coming was noted; then it was too late. The impact demolished the bus [wood passenger compartment[3]], and a frightful scene followed. Four bodies lay on the cow catcher …’

“The children were in their bus with many of the canvas curtains lowered [no glass windows[4]].  It was speculated that few of the 27 children on board saw the train before the crash.[5]  The bus was a standard, mid 1920s’ truck chassis with a homebuilt wooden body. Children sat on benches running the length of the bus….

“The bus driver, who had been called one of the safest on the route, was eventually found negligent by the coroner’s jury.  A grand jury said he shouldn’t have had to cross the railroad tracks at Silver Pond.

“Neither the governor’s office nor local authorities took any action. “ (Lane, Marcia. “History Repeats. Area saw another train tragedy almost 69 years ago.” Palatka Daily News, 4-22-2002.)

Disastrous History. “Crescent City, Florida Train/School Bus crash. December 14^th, 1933.”

“The children who lost their lives that morning: [Eight names. We alphabetize]

Elsie Berta Gorton, 15. Age from NYT. “10 Children Killed As Train Hits Bus.” 12-15-1933, 8.

[Hilda Hardy, 6.] NYT. “10 Children Killed As Train Hits Bus.” 12-15-1933, p. 8.

Eddie McGrady, 10. Age from NYT. “10 Children Killed As Train Hits Bus.” 12-15-1933, p. 8.

Hazel McGrady, 13. Age from NYT. “10 Children Killed As Train Hits Bus.” 12-15-1933, 8.

Willard Owen, 12. Age from NYT. “10 Children Killed As Train Hits Bus.” 12-15-1933, 8.

[Radtke girl][6]

Evelyn Smith, 9. Age from NYT. “10 Children Killed As Train Hits Bus.” 12-15-1933, p. 8.

Frederick Smith, 14. Age from NYT. “10 Children Killed As Train Hits Bus.” 12-15-1933, p8.

Merle Smith, 16.  Age from NYT. “10 Children Killed As Train Hits Bus.” 12-15-1933, p. 8.

William Smith, 12. Age from NYT. “10 Children Killed As Train Hits Bus.” 12-15-1933, p. 8.

[Troy Tipton, 13.]  NYT. “10 Children Killed As Train Hits Bus.” 12-15-1933, p. 8.

Wikipedia: “December 14, 1933: 11 area children were killed when their school bus was hit by an Atlantic Coast Line freight train near Crescent City, Florida, resulting in the deaths of ten of the school children and the serious injury of a score of others–“several of whom are not expected to recover”.”  (Wikipedia.  “List of Rail Accidents (Pre-1950).”) 

Newspapers at the time:

Dec 14, AP: “Crescent City, Dec 14 – (AP) – Seven elementary school children were killed and at least a dozen more were injured, many critically, when a freight train crashed into a school bus six miles south of here this morning.

“The dead are: William, Evelyn, Merle and Frederick Smith, children of Mrs. Bennie Smith, a widow; Hazel McGrady and Eddie McGrady, children of Drew McGrady; and Elsie Bertha Gorton, all of south Putnam county.

“D. B. Niles, elderly driver of the bus, was injured. His condition was not considered critical, although serious. There was a possibility that others of the injured would die.

“Seven ambulances from Orlando, DeLand, Palatka and Crescent City went to the scene hurriedly, loaded and rushed away to hospitals. Most of the injured were taken to Palatka.

“The tragedy occurred at Silver Pond Grove crossing, six miles south of here, just after the bus had picked up the last of the children to take them to an elementary school here. Niles had just driven from the main highway, state road number three, to pick up Teuton’s two children. Teuton had constructed a turning place so it was unnecessary for the bus to cross the tracks today in a heavy morning fog.

“Great confusion prevailed when news of the wreck reached here. The dead and the first of the injured were rushed here and the Baptist pastorium was converted into an emergency hospital while the overflow of the injured was taken to the offices of Dr. E. W. Ford nearby.

“All of the children lived in a rural district traversed by the bus route. Sad scenes were enacted as hysterical mothers and anxious fathers, stunned by news of the tragedy, hunted loved ones.

“An inquest was set for 10 a.m. Friday [Dec 15].” (Associated Press. “Train Hits School Bus, 7 Dead; Many Injured in Tragedy At Crescent City.” Sarasota Herald, FL. 12-14-1933, p. 1.)

Dec 15, AP: “Crescent City, Dec. 15 – (AP) – Inquest into the school bus-train accident near here yesterday, which cost the lives of 10 school children and injury to about 30 more was postponed today until tomorrow pending the outcome of injuries to some of the most seriously hurt.

“Funeral services for the dead remained undetermined this morning…except for Bertha Gordon, 15, whose funeral was set for this afternoon.” (Associated Press. “Inquest Postponed in Bus-Train Wreck.” Sarasota Herald, FL. 12-15-1933, p. 1.)

Dec 16, AP: “Tallahassee, Dec. 16 – (AP) – A rigid investigation by Governor Dave Sholtz into two school bus accidents in Florida this week, in which ten were killed and upward of two score injured, some of them critically, was started today, as residents of the rural section near Crescent City turned to burial of the dead there.

“The ten dead were killed south of Crescent City Thursday morning when a freight train crashed into a heavily loaded bus in a thick fog. About 30 were injured at the same time, and at least three of these still were in serious conditions at Palatka hospitals

“Fifteen were injured, 10 seriously – four of them lay in danger of death tonight – when a school bus overturned near Crestview yesterday.

“Meanwhile Governor Sholtz called upon the boards of public instruction in the two counties where the accidents occurred, for complete reports. ‘I want these accidents investigated to the fullest extent,’ he said. ‘Full reports of the investigations must be made to the state board of education.” The governor is chairman of this board.

“The chief executive also called upon W. S. Cawthon, state superintendent of public instruction, for complete reports on all school bus drivers, their names, ages, sex, and physical conditions. The governor expressed the opinion that there should be age limits for bus drivers and said the state board might also require that they pass stringent physical examinations before being employed as drivers.” (Associated Press. “Sholtz Orders Full Probe of Bus Tragedies.” Sarasota Herald, FL. 12-17-1933, p. 1.)

Sources

Associated Press. “Inquest Postponed in Bus-Train Wreck.” Sarasota Herald, FL. 12-15-1933, p. 1. Accessed 12-25-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/sarasota-herald-dec-15-1933-p-1/

Associated Press. “Sholtz Orders Full Probe of Bus Tragedies.” Sarasota Herald, FL. 12-17-1933, p. 1. Accessed 12-25-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/sarasota-herald-dec-17-1933-p-1/

Associated Press. “Train Hits School Bus, 7 Dead; Many Injured in Tragedy At Crescent City.” Sarasota Herald, FL. 12-14-1933, p. 1. Accessed 12-25-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/sarasota-herald-dec-14-1933-p-1/

Disastrous History. “Crescent City, Florida Train/School Bus crash. December 14^th, 1933.” Accessed 12-25-2024 at:

https://disasteroushistory.blogspot.com/2016/03/crescent-city-florida-trainschool-bus.html

Lane, Marcia. “History Repeats. Area saw another train tragedy almost 69 years ago.” Palatka Daily News, 4-22-2002. Accessed 12-25-2024 at:

http://putnam-fl-cemeteries.org/Cemeteries/POMONA/History%20Repeats.htm

Lane, Marcia. “Survivors recall Crescent City train tragedy of 69 years ago.” The Ledger, Lakeland, FL. 4-25-2002, updated 6-16-2009. Accessed 12-25-2024 at: https://www.theledger.com/story/news/2002/04/25/survivors-recall-crescent-city-train/8080243007/

New York Times. “10 Children Killed As Train Hits Bus.” 12-15-1933, p. 8. Accessed 12-25-2024 at: https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1933/12/15/105829642.html?pageNumber=8

Wikipedia. “List of Rail Accidents (Pre-1950).” Accessed at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_pre-1950_rail_accidents

[1] We came upon this article from the notes section of “Disastrous History” blog posting on this event (URL below).

[2] Disastrous History. “Crescent City, Florida Train/School Bus crash. December 14^th, 1933.”

[3] Disastrous History. “Crescent City, Florida Train/School Bus crash. December 14^th, 1933.”

[4] Disastrous History. “Crescent City, Florida Train/School Bus crash. December 14^th, 1933.”

[5] New York Times article states there were “forty or so children in the bus.”

[6] Another Marcia Lane article, (“Survivors recall Crescent City train tragedy of 69 years ago,” The Ledger, Lakeland, FL, 6-16-2009, notes that the sister of Louise Hardee Radtke, whom Lane interviewed, died.