1903 — Aug 7, Brake fails, Wallace Circus trains collide, Grand Trunk RR, Durand, MI–26
–26 Michigan Dept. of Transportation. Michigan’s Railroad History 1825-2014. 2014, p. 16.
–26 Railroad Stories. “August in Railroad History,” August 1935, pp. 63-64.
–26 Shiawassee County, MI History. “The Great Wallace Brothers Circus Train Disaster.”[1]
–24 Daily News, Marshall, MI. “Guilty of Negligence. Engineer…at Durand…” 8-15-1903, 1.
–23 Altoona Mirror, PA. “1903 in Review. Notable Occurrences of the Year.” 12-31-1903, 9.
–23 Names identified and one unidentified in newspaper accounts below (Blanchard).[2]
–23 Shiawassee County, MI History. “The Great Wallace Brothers Circus Train Disaster.”
–22 Daily Chronicle, Marshall, MI. “It Cost 22 Lives…Wreck…Wallace Bros.’…” 8-8-1903, 1
–22 Daily Eagle, Traverse City, MI. “22 People Killed 70 More Injured.” 8-7-1903, p. 1.
–22 Faith, Nicholas. Derail: Why Trains Crash. London: Channel 4 Books. 2000, p. 123.
Narrative Information
Michigan Dept. of Transportation: “Air brake failure wrecked the Wallace Brothers Circus train at Durand, killing 26 people and several animals.”
Railway Stories: “August 7, 1903—Circus train wrecked on Grand. Trunk Ry, at Durand, Mich.; second section crashes into rear of first section; 26 killed, many injured.” (Railway Stories, Aug 1935, 63-64)
Shiawassee County, MI History: “At 8:30 am [reference to photo not reproduced here] at the Grand Trunk railroad yards in Durand, MI, two separate trains of the Wallace Bros. Shows met in a rear end collision that resulted in the death of 23 people and twice as many were injured.
“Several animals were killed including a…horse, 3 camels, one great dane and an elephant named Maud. The accident occurred about 1,500 feet west of Oak St. crossing of the main line as the engine of the second train smashed into several cars of the first. The animals were buried at this location….
“In all, 22 men died that morning and four more died after being transported to a hospital in Detroit….
“Ten bodies were unclaimed. They were buried in Lovejoy Cemetery.” (Shiawassee County, MI History. “The Great Wallace Brothers Circus Train Disaster.”)
Newspapers
Aug 7: “Durand, Aug. 7. — Two of Wallace Bros.’ circus trains were wrecked at Durand at 3:45 this morning by a rear-end collision. Twenty-two people were killed, 70 injured and several are dying. The first train pulled into Durand about 3:30 and was standing on the main line. A red light was placed out behind the train. C. M. Probst, a Battle Creek engineer on the second train saw the danger signal but claims his air brakes would not work. Engineer Ping and Fireman P. E. Colton of Battle Creek and Brakeman W. F. Benedict of Battle Creek, all jumped, receiving only slight injuries.
“All of Durand’s physicians and several from neighboring towns are making the wounded as comfortable as possible. The Richelieu hotel is being used as a temporary hospital. Dr. Ben. P. Brodie, chief surgeon of the Grand Trunk and a corps of Detroit surgeons left Detroit on the early morning train for the scene of the wreck.
“Seventeen people were instantly killed and five more since have died from their injuries. Six of the unknown men were drivers of wagons. No Michigan people are injured.
“Mr. Wallace says that most of the dead were laborers. Mr. Foley, special officer of the Grand Trunk is in a serious condition.
“One elephant and two camels were killed and two other camels are badly injured. A bloodhound valued at $1,000 was killed. The trumpeting of the elephants and shrieks of the other wild animals added to the horror of the situation. The circus was on its way from Charlotte to Lapeer.” (Daily Eagle, Traverse City, MI. “22 People Killed 70 More Injured.” 8-7-1903, p. 1.)
“The Dead.
- W. Large of Battle Creek, chief detective of the Grand Trunk lines;
- McCarthy, Grand Trunk trainmaster;
Frank Thorpe, Wallace Bros.’ chief trainmaster, Dundee, Mich.;
John Purcell, Peru, Ind.;
Harry St. Clair;
- Thomas,
Lafe Larson, Columbus, O.,
John Leary, Springfield, O.;
Andrew Haviland, New York;
Robert Rice [harness-maker, Sand Lake, Mich.],
George Saukh [unclear],
Charles Sands, Peru, Ind.’
Joseph Wilson, Pittsburg, Pa.;
- J. McCoy, Columbus, O.;
Edward York, Terre Haute, Ind.;
James Toffelmire, Orient, Ind.’
Six men whose naves are not known.
[William Griffin. (Daily News, Marshall, MI. “His Brother Among Dead.” 8-10-1903, 1)]
[John Stillman. (Daily News, Marshall, MI. “His Brother Among Dead.” 8-10-1903, 1.)]
[Allen Johnston. (Daily News, Marshall, MI. “His Brother Among Dead.” 8-10-1903, 1.)]
[Joe Keyes, Allegheny Co. PA. (Daily News, Marshall, MI. “His…” 8-10-1903, 1.)]
[Frank Kerns. (Daily News, Marshall, MI. “Thought Son Dead.” 8-12-1903, 1.)]
[Frank Tilley. (Daily News, Marshall, MI. “Thought Son Dead.” 8-12-1903, 1.)]
Aug 8: “Durand, Mich., Aug. 8. – By one of the most serious train wrecks in the history of the state, in the yards of the Grand Trunk Western between 3 and 4 o’clock Friday morning, at least twenty-two persons lost their lives, while the total number of injured will reach sixty, more than half of whom are under the care of surgeons here or at Detroit, where those who could be moved were taken….
“The circus train was made in two sections, the first of twenty-one and the second of seventeen cars. These started from Charlotte at midnight, half an hour apart. The first section contained the cars carrying the canvas and some of the animals and the coaches occupied by the drivers, canvas men and unskilled employes. The owners and managers of the circus, with the performers, occupied sleepers on the second section, and none of them were injured. The railroad officials who lost their lives had preferred to ride with the first section and occupied the caboose, which received the full force of the collision.
“Section No. 1, drawn by engine 1126, with Engineer Schlyberlet at the throttle and in charge of Conductor Welch, arrived at Durand about 3 o’clock and stopped at the west end of the yards, being flagged by a freight train. A brakeman was sent back to guard the rear from the second section, all precautions being taken to avoid accident.
“The freight having got out of the way, the section was coupled up and about to move, when section No. 2, Conductor Hubbard, Engineer Propst and engine 1133, came around the curve, and although answering the signals, drove into the rear of the standing train at the rate of perhaps
fifteen miles an hour. The crew afterward explained that the airbrakes failed to work and it was impossible to do more than reverse the engine before the collision.
“The fireman and head brakeman jumped from their engine when they saw the danger, escaping with slight injuries, but the engineer stood by the throttle until almost upon the other train before be threw himself to the ground to escape almost certain death. He was not seriously hurt, although considerably jarred by his jump.
“The engine of the second section plowed into the cars ahead, five of which were wrecked, one being that in which some of the animals were carried….Several cars in rear of the engine were derailed and broken by the force of the impact, and in these, too, were unskilled employes of the circus, many of whom were hurt….
“Wallace Bros. were in a wreck at Shelbyville, Ind. Less than a month ago, in which two employes were killed..” (Daily Chronicle, Marshall, MI. “It Cost 22 Lives…Wreck…Wallace Bros.’…” 8-8-1903, 1)
Aug 10: “Detroit, Mich., Aug. 10. — Frank Tilley, one of the victims of the disastrous railroad wreck at Durand early last Friday morning, and who was subsequently brought to Harper hospital was reported to be in a dying condition last evening at that institution. The man sustained internal injuries from which he suffers terrible agony. At first it was thought he had a chance for recovery, but as time wore on and he failed to take the expected turn for the better his condition was considered more grave. Last evening Dr. Ben Brodie said he apparently had little time to live.” (Daily News, Marshall, MI. “His Brother Among Dead.” 8-10-1903, 1.)
Aug 11: “Durand, Mich., Aug. 11. – Business places here closed one hour this morning while the funeral services of the 10 remaining victim of the circus wreck were being held on the street. The bodies were interred side by side in Lovejoy cemetery, two miles south of Durand.
“C. E. Baker and Frank Cone, two of the injured, have settled with the Grand Trunk for $250 and return transportation to their homes in Mt. Carmel, Pa.” (Daily Eagle, Traverse City, MI. “Ten Funerals in One Day.” 8-11-1903, 1.)
Aug 12: “Detroit, Mich., Aug. 12. — Frank Tilley, one of the employes of Wallace Bros.’ circus, who was brought to Harper hospital after the accident at Durand suffering from internal injuries, died Tuesday afternoon. Tilley’s home was in Rising Sun, Ind. All the other wreck victims at the hospital are reported as improving.” (Daily News, Marshall, MI. “Thought Son Dead.” 8-12-1903, 1.)
Aug 15: “Durand, Mich.. Aug. 15. — In the coroner’s inquest, started here Friday to ascertain the cause and attach the blame for last Friday’s wreck of the Wallace Bros’, two circus trains, in which twenty-four lives were lost and a score seriously hurt. In the engineer’s testimony it was brought out that Charles Propst of Battle Creek, the engineer on the second section, which crashed into the first section of the main line of the Grand Trunk railway here, run his train a distance of sixty miles without looking at the valve that would show whether or not his air brake system was in working order. He admitted this fact. The jury will find that Propst was guilty of negligence, but whether or not it was criminal negligence is the question.” (Daily News, Marshall, MI. “Guilty of Negligence. Engineer…at Durand…” 8-15-1903, 1.)
“Durand, Mich, Aug. 28. — The coroners inquest in the matter of the wreck of the Wallace Brothers’ circus trains in the Grand Trunk railroad yards here on Aug. 7, was concluded Thursday. The testimony throughout the inquest showed that the first circus train was standing on the main line here and had put out the necessary signals to stop the second section. When the second section came into sight she was running at a high rate of speed. When the engineer applied the air brakes to stop the train he was confronted with the awful sensation of no air. He whistled for the hand brakes and used the reverse lever. When he left the cab the train was within a few rods of the obstructing train and was then going at the rate of twenty miles an hour.
“The engineer of the engine on the second section was Charles M. Propst, of Battle Creek. His story was always a straight one and he admitted that he did not keep his eye on the air gauge in his cab. If he had so done he would have known whether or not his train had air. The testimony of the train crews showed that the circus trains were not equipped with available handbrakes, and the brakemen on the train could do nothing to aid in avoiding the disaster. The jury after hours of deliberation, rendered a verdict that the wreck was caused by the failure of the air brakes system on the second section of the circus trains failing to operate, which might have been avoided if the engineer Charles M. Propst, had watched the air gauge before him and also if Wallace Brothers had had their cars properly equipped with handbrakes.” (Daily News, Marshall, MI. “Engineer Blamed. Jury of Durand Wreck Inquest…” 8-28-1903, 1.)
Sources
Altoona Mirror, PA. “1903 in Review. Notable Occurrences of the Year.” 12-31-1903, p. 9. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=9599795
Daily Chronicle, Marshall, MI. “It Cost 22 Lives. The Wreck of Wallace Bros.’ Circus Train in Durand.” 8-8-1903, 1. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/the-daily-chronicle/1903-08-08/page-1/
Daily Eagle, Traverse City, MI. “22 People Killed 70 More Injured.” 8-7-1903, p. 1. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/traverse-city-record-eagle/1903-08-07/page-1/
Daily News, Marshall, MI. “Guilty of Negligence. Engineer of Wrecked Train at Durand Admits it.” 8-15-1903, 1. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/daily-news/1903-08-15/page-1/
Faith, Nicholas. Derail: Why Trains Crash. London: Channel 4 Books. 2000.
Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). Michigan’s Railroad History 1825-2014. Lansing, MI: MDOT, 2014. Accessed 7-16-2018 at: https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdot/Michigan_Railroad_History_506899_7.pdf
Railroad Stories. “August in Railroad History,” August 1935, pp. 63-67.
Shiawassee County, Michigan History. “The Great Wallace Brothers Circus Train Disaster.” Accessed 2-9-2012 at: http://www.shiawasseehistory.com/circus.html
[1] Twenty-two at the scene and four more after movement to hospital.
[2] This represents our attempts to identify names of fatalities. There were a number of un-identified. We accept Michigan Department of Transportation (and other sources) estimate of twenty-six deaths.