Newspaper Extract
Serious Accident to a Waxworks Caravan
November 1871
Late on Sunday evening a caravan, used as the living apartment of Mr. and Mrs. Purchase, the proprietors of a well known travelling waxworks exhibition, met with a very serious accident near Rotherham.
The collection was travelling from Worksop to Rotherham, to be present at the annual statute fair, and while descending a very steep hill near Whiston, the horse of one of the "living" caravans, in which were Mr. and Mrs. Purchase at the time, broke into a trot.
The driver attempted to pull them up, but the reins unfortunately broke, and the horses set off at a fearful pace down the hill. Although the heavy vehicle swayed backwards and forwards fearfully, strange to say it did not upset until the bottom of the hill was reached, at which point there is a rather sharp turn.
The horse darted round the corner at full gallop, and the van at once fell over with a tremendous crash, the horses also being thrown down.
Mr. and Mr. Purchase were thrown out, but they escaped with a severe shaking.
Inside there was a fireplace, and the burning coals were of course scattered all over the interior. In a very few minutes a quantity of clothing etc. caught on fire.
Fortunately plenty of assistance was at hand, the men belonging to Mrs. Wombwell's No.1 collection of wild beasts being immediately in the rear.
Some time elapsed before the collection could get under way again, and it was found that nearly £50 worth of damage had been done.
