Bio

There is very little reliable public information about Walter Rosa dos Santos's early life. Records and sources do not show his date of birth, place of birth, family background, schooling, or early work. What researchers and reports record about him comes from later events, not from his childhood or youth.

Those reports are connected to a large fire that occurred on 17 December 1961 in Niterói, Brazil. The fire happened during a performance by the Gran Circus Norte-Americano and killed more than 500 people. It is recorded as the worst fire disaster in Brazil.

The circus had premiered in Niterói on 15 December 1961. It advertised about 60 performers, 20 employees and 150 animals. The tent had been imported and was said to be made of nylon, but it was actually cotton treated with paraffin wax, a highly flammable material. The fire began during the flying trapeze act with about 3,000 people under the big top. In a short time the tent was consumed by flames. Many victims were children, and hospitals were quickly overwhelmed. Independent investigations and other opinions about the cause of the fire exist.

Murder Story

On 17 December 1961 a fire destroyed the Gran Circus Norte-Americano tent in Niterói, Brazil. More than 500 people died. The circus had arrived a week earlier and was advertised as very large. About 3,000 people were inside the tent during the show.

The tent was said to be cotton treated with paraffin wax. The fire spread very quickly and the circus burned down in a few minutes. All 150 animals were reported to have been rescued and none were under the big top at the time. Three elephants broke their chains and ran free.

Of the victims, 372 died immediately and the total reached 503 as others died later. About 70% of the victims were children. Treatment for the injured was limited and help was brought in from Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.

The fire was soon claimed to have been caused by arson. Three people were arrested and later convicted. The mastermind was named Adilson Marcelino Alves, known as "Dequinha." He had worked at the circus for two days before being fired.

Dequinha was sentenced on 24 October 1962 to sixteen years in prison and six years of hospitalization in a judicial asylum. He escaped from prison on 31 January 1973 and was later found dead with gunshot wounds. The killer was never identified.

The other two convicted were José dos Santos and Walter Rosa dos Santos. Walter Rosa dos Santos received sixteen years' imprisonment and another year in an agricultural colony. José dos Santos was sentenced to fourteen years in prison and two years in an agricultural colony.

Three days of mourning were declared and a state of calamity was announced. President João Goulart inspected the scene and authorized federal aid. The circus owner hoped to organize benefit performances for the victims' families.