The Great Wallace Show Train Wreck. Durand, Michigan August 7, 1903

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1 The Great Wallace Show Train Wreck Durand, Michigan August 7, 1903

2 The Great Wallace Show Train Wreck of 1903 Brochure On August 6th of 1903 The Great Wallace Show left Charlotte, Michigan in two train sections heading towards Lapeer, Michigan. The Great Wallace Show was scheduled to perform in Lapeer on August 7th,. While en route to Lapeer the show would make a stop in Durand, Michigan to fill up on water and coal then continue on their journey, but fate had other plans for this show. In the early morning hours of August 7th, 1903 at around 3:45 a.m. the first section of The Great Wallace Show pulled into the little train town of Durand, Michigan. The second section wasn t too far behind the first section and within 30 minutes catastrophe hit this little train town. This brochure documents the history of The Great Wallace Show and the tragic train wreck in Durand, Michigan on August 6, Please be sure to stop by the exhibit to hear the audio tour of this event.

3 Sources: Durand Union Station Archives International Circus Hall of Fame Circus World On May 11th, 1907 according to the Detroit Free Press, (above left) a trial has been remanded to Porter County for the $25,000 damage lawsuit case of W.H. Thompson vs. the Grand Trunk Western Railroad Co. and B.E. Wallace, for the death of John Thompson. His death was caused by the Wallace Show train wreck of 1903 in Durand, Michigan. As Compiled By: Adeline Wharton, 2013

4 The Great Wallace Show The Great Wallace Show was established by Benjamin Wallace in his hometown of Peru, Indiana. After he was discharged from the Union Army he started his journey of becoming a successful local businessman. The Wallace and Company s Great World Menageries and International Circus opened in Peru, Indiana on April 26, After a few successful seasons traveling he decided it was time to expand his menagerie and place his show on the train. Finally in the spring of 1886, The Great Wallace Show left Peru, Indiana on 15 railroad cars and he never looked back. The Great Wallace Show opened the 1903 season with a performance in their hometown of Peru, Indiana on April 25th. Over the course of eight months this amazing show traveled to sixteen different states that would take them to 188 cities. On March 22nd 1906, the Detroit Free Press (left),reported that George Clough and assistant hoister was suing Grand Trunk for $35,000 for the injuries he acquired from the Wallace Show train wreck of This lawsuit isn t the only lawsuit in regards to this train wreck, in fact there are five other suits pending. On September 24th, 1906 according to the Detroit Free Press, (left) as declaration in the suit of Emma W. Keys who is the administrator of her late husband, Joseph R. Keys. This suit is against the Grand Trunk railway for $10,000 in damages which is linked to the Wallace Show train wreck of 1903.

5 WALLACE LAWSUITS THAT FOLLOWED ACCIDENT On April 25th 1905 according to the Detroit Free Press (left), a damage suit for $68,000 was filed in the United States court by Benjamin E. Wallace, the proprietor and owner of The Great Wallace Show. This lawsuit is the result of a train wreck that took place on August 7th, 1903 in Durand Michigan where an engineer failed to properly apply the airbrakes then causing a rear end. Evidently this case states that allegedly there is a contract with Grand Trunk railway to transport the thirty-seven circus cars from Charlotte to Lapeer Michigan. It is also alleged that the company agreed to furnish two engines and train crews to accommodate this contract. With that being said this lawsuit hangs in the balance while prosecution states that the railway company assumes all responsibility and risk of the loss of life or injury and damage while transporting the trains between the two points. This schedule (right) of shows allowed for days off and time to travel the rails along the country-side. By the end of the season with the loss of their beloved animals and crew The Great Wallace Show was ready for a winter break. When the circus would come to town the entire area would come to see the amazing sights and sounds. In advance a courier (left)would be mailed to all of the local addresses to show the local townspeople what to expect when The Great Wallace Show would come to town. This courier was a great form of advertisement for the circus and a beautiful keepsake for the townspeople.

6 On August 7th, 1903 August 7th, 1903 (left)according to the Detroit Free Press, they spoke with many eye witnesses to the aftermath of the wreck in order to paint a vivid image of what was going on after two trains collided. One witness stated My husband s scalp is terribly torn, while the injured said It has been a terrible day. The article made the front page that showcased graphic images of the wreck and deceased animals. On August 7th, 1903 (right) according to the Chicago Daily Tribune, they gave an up to date account of the Wallace Show train wreck while showcasing 23 dead individuals. Officials have so far blamed the engineer of the second train, stating that he could have stopped the train in time to have avoided serious consequences. They further stated that Probst knew that he was coming into a yard where trains usually stand and take on coal and water. The rules say plainly that engineers shall approach such yards with the trains under control. A brakeman sent back by the first train warned him (Probst) of the danger about three-quarters of a mile before he arrived to the standing section. For nearly half a mile before he got to the first train the track is straight and clear, and he should have been able to see the red light on the back of the train ahead in time to stop his train. On August 27th, 1903, according to the Detroit Free Press, (left) a coroner s inquest was held on the remains of the twenty-two men that were killed during the Wallace train wreck in Durand, Michigan. Grand Trunk Engineer Charles Probst stated under oath, I did everything possible to stop the train, but the air brakes failed completely. It was Probst s belief that the air brakes never worked properly in that engine. After the jury heard testimony from various experts they were released to deliberate. After three hours of deliberation they returned with a verdict that stated the wreck was caused by the failure of the air brake system on the second section to work, which in turn could have been detected by the engineer if he had paid attention to the air gauge. The jury also concluded that if the circus cars that were provided by the Wallace Brothers were correctly fitted with the correct hand brakes this accident could have been avoided. Jurors: Leonard Soper, Hotel Landlord Eugene Nicholas, Former Railroad Worker Floyd Derham, Miller Morrel Harrington, Businessman M.H. Avery, Grocery Clerk William Putnam, Insurance Agent

7 THE INQUEST INTO THE CIRCUS WRECK On August 14th, 1903 according to the Detroit Free Press (right), the coroner s request began on the matter in regards to the Wallace Show train wreck. The Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Wm. Parker and S.S. Miner conducted the examination while F.H. Rankin is the representative of the railroad company. This inquest is to determine who is responsible for the wreck that took place on August 7th of During this examination the jury heard from the first witness, Charles Propst who is the engineer of the second section of the circus train. The jury then heard testimony from the fireman, Harry Colter who is from that same train. After hearing testimony all day it was the opinion of Wm. Parker that the engineer (Propst) was guilty of negligence. On August 13th, 1903 according to the Detroit Free Press (left), the Coroner Karrer will begin the inquest into the wreck of the Wallace Brothers train wreck. The judge is apparently anxious for the proceedings to begin and for the Prosecuting Attorney Austin E. Richards will look after the people s interests. Unfortunately when the Prosecutor s office was questioned daily for information about the upcoming inquest it was difficult to locate the Prosecuting Attorney Austin. On August 7th, 1903 (above) according to the New York Times, explained the accounts leading up to the Wallace Show Train wreck leading up to the crash. They also stated in graphic detail the aftermath of the wreck. In an official report that was issued in the afternoon by the Superintendent W.G. Brownlee, Engineer Probst states that his airbrakes worked all right in Lansing, where he took water and that he had no occasion to use it again until he was flagged west of Durand, where he found that the train was not charged with air. The five sleepers in the rear of the second section were found standing about two coach lengths from the end of the train after the accident with the draw head in one of the cars jammed in. Indicating that it had been broken apart by the accident and rebounded when the train stopped, which is evidence that the brakes were not applied. The air brakes in the train have since been tested and found to be in perfect condition.

8 Images of The Great Wallace Show Train Wreck Durand residents with the Wallace Show gather around the wreckage. James McCarthy the Grand Trunk Trainmaster of Battle Creek, Michigan; died instantly during the collision of the two trains. He was found in the caboose of the first section. Image of the camels that perished in the train wreck.

9 The Great Wallace Show Memorial of the train wreck on August 6th, This monument is located at the Love Joy Cemetery that is south of Durand. This image (above) is of the train wreck that shows the catastrophic damage along with Maude the deceased elephant and camels.

10 The skinning of Maude the Tricycle riding elephant (above), an image of Maude and the great dane that perished due to the train wreck (right).