The Great Wallace Show
Train Wreck
Durand, Michigan
August 7, 1903
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, 1903. Please be sure to
stop by the exhibit to hear the audio tour of this event.
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.
Sources:
Durand Union Station Archives
International Circus Hall of Fame
Circus World
As Compiled By:
Adeline Wharton, 2013
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, 1884. 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 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.
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 1903. This
lawsuit isn’t the only
lawsuit in regards to this
train wreck, in fact there
are five other suits
pending.
On April 25th 1905 according
to the Detroit Free Press (left), a dam-
age 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 law-
suit 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’.
WALLACE LAWSUITS THAT FOLLOWED
ACCIDENT 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 Wal-
lace Show was ready
for a winter break.
When the circus
would come to town the en-
tire area would come to see
the amazing sights and
sounds. In advance a
‘courier’ (left)would be
mailed to all of the local ad-
dresses 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.
August 7th, 1903 On August 7th, 1903
(left)according to the Detroit
Free Press, they spoke with
many eye witnesses to the af-
termath 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.”
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.
On August 27th, 1903, accord-
ing 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.
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
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.
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 1903. 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 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. Indi-
cating that it had been broken apart by the accident and rebound-
ed when the train stopped, which is evidence that the brakes
were not applied. The air brakes in the train have since been test-
ed and found to be in perfect condition.”
Images of The Great Wallace Show Train
Wreck
Durand residents with the Wallace Show gather
around the wreckage.
Image of the camels that perished in the train wreck.
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.
The Great Wallace Show Memorial of the train wreck on
August 6th, 1903. 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.
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).