A Year of Indiana History Stories - Book 2

Tragedy at Rochester, Indiana

From the Book

A Year of Indiana History Stories - Book 2

February 20, 1940 - Fire Destroys Circus – Stampeding Animals Startle Town

A stampede of 3500 stampeding circus animals startled residents of Rochester, Indiana on a winter evening when the Cole Brothers Circus caught fire.

Winter Quarters

The Cole Brothers Circus, one of the United States' largest touring circuses during that era, had over wintered in Rochester since Grant County native Jesse Adkins and his partner  Zack Terrell purchased the Cole Brothers Circus in 1934. The partners acquired land in Rochester and set up their winter quarters on the outskirts of the town.

Cole Circus

Originating in 1884 when Barnum and Bailey part owner William Washington Cole assembled his own circus and began touring. After going through several changes of ownership Adkins and Terrell purchased the name and assembled a thirty-five wagon circus. They began touring after their traditional opening in Rochester on May 3 each year. The circus would eventually tour all through New England, the southeast, the plains state, the west coast and into Canada by rail.

The Fire

The fire began when a short circuit in an electrical box set off a fire that quickly spread to the 240 by 320 foot main building. Circus workers dining nearby heard the cries of the frightened animals and began rescue efforts immediately. The fire raged through the main building, fueled by hay, straw and other stored combustibles. Flames shot 150 feet into the air sending flaming embers into downtown Rochester. Local businessmen wetted their roofs down to prevent the town from burning. The flames soon engulfed the nearby 60 by 180 animal barn.

The Stampede

Circus workers labored at trying to free the trapped animals from the searing heat. Soon the streets of Rochester were awash with elephants, horses, camels, monkeys, mules and ponies running away from the fire. The workers could not save two elephants, two tigers, six lions, two leopards, a hippopotamus, two zebras, two llamas, four wild sheep, a sacred cow and 100 monkeys. The hippopotamus had boiled alive in its water tank and the two maddened elephants had escaped, but ran back into the fire in spite of workers efforts to stop them.

Losses

In addition to the animals, the fire destroyed twenty circus wagons, five tractors and other circus equipment. The fire caused an estimated $150,000 worth of damage.

The Show Must Go On

In spite of the loss, the Cole Brothers opened on its traditional date in May in Rochester and toured that summer. The circus continued operations as late as 2016, when it was discontinued.