Talk:Crush, Texas

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[edit] How many boilers burst

The article currently states The impact caused both engine boilers to explode, which is the story at http://unmuseum.mus.pa.us/crash.htm and elsewhere, but other sources differ for example http://www.lsjunction.com/facts/crush.htm At the instant of impact, one of the boilers unexpectedly exploded and http://west-tx.com/history-crush.asp one of the boilers exploded sending debris in all directions. Who is right?

http://buckcreek.tripod.com/traincrash.html quotes but does not fully credit what seems to be a number of eyewitness accounts, presumably these are fully credited in the printed source it summarises. It supports the two-boiler story: THE BOILERS OF THE LOCOMOTIVES HAVE BURST, and later After the two trains collide and the boilers burst..., note the plural both times. Andrewa 15:40, 3 August 2007 (UTC)

Well, we can mention the discrepancy in the article if its notable enough to include. The big problem with obscure historical articles is the contradiction from source to source. The further back you go, the more contradiction you will find. IvoShandor 15:43, 3 August 2007 (UTC)

Exactly. I'm not quite sure whether the discrepancy needs reporting or not... on the balance it seems likely that both boilers did explode, as the article currently states. Given the nature of the event, and the fact that the press stand was flattened and one photographer seriously injured, the first-hand accounts published in newspapers would almost certainly have contained factual errors at the time. My guess is that this is one of them. Some accounts also claim only two fatalities, but others give three names and other details of the casualties. Andrewa 15:58, 3 August 2007 (UTC)