Evening star., 1944-07-07
152Dead inFire;
High Bail
Officials Accused
Of OfMonsIouehter in
Hartford Disaster
BY the Associated Press

HARTFORD, Conn, July T.
The death toll in the worst fire
in circus history in this country
topped the $50 mark today, with
the majority of victims women
and children. as the full, grim
unfolding of the catastrophe
which destroyed the main tent
Of the Ringing Bros. and Bar
mum g. Bailey Circus turned
this stunned city into a center
of grieving.
DR.. Alfred I. Burgdorf, city health
officer. fixed the death toll at l52,
while $50 other persons, burned or
injured when the big top first burst
into flames and then collapsed yes
terday, were scattered in three hos
pitals.
Meanwhile variety of investiga.
tors pressed an inquiry into the
origin of the inferno which quickly
changed a gay throng of 5000 into
panic-stricken, shrieking mass Of
humanity.
Manslaughter Charged.
AS steady stream of weary rela-
| tlves sought to give names to the
victims. who lay beneath sheets in
grim aisles of dead in the huge,
sprawling armory, five officials of
the circus company were held in
high bail, charged with man.
| slaughter.
| J. A. Haley. vice president: George
w. Smith, general manager; Leon
ard Aylesworth, boss canvasman;
Edward Versteig, chief electrician,
and David Blanchfield, chief wagon
man.
After having been detained
throughout the night at police head
quarters. Haley and Smith were
held in $4,000 bail and the others
in $4,000 for a hearing July 10.
Meanwhile, investigators seeking
to establish a reason for the star
tlingly rapid spread of the blaze
which all eyewitnesses agreed mush-
roomed with incredible speed from
a tiny finger of fame near the main
entrance to a gigantic inferno OF
smoke and fire.
Investigation Opened.
Police Court Prosecutor James F.
Kennedy announced that his pre-.
liminary investigation had estab-
lished that the huge canvas tent
had been coated with a WATERPROOF
solution of gasoline and parafiln be-
fore the circus left its winter quar-
tiers at Sarasota, Fla, early in the
year.
Many witnesses to the appalling
scene commented on the thick oily
nature of the billowing flames and
smoke.
Among other agencies investigat-
ing were the States attorneys of
fee, the FBI and special commit
tee appointed by Mayor William
Mortensen.
In contrast to the stories of va.
rious persons present when the fire
broke out yesterday, shortly after
the opening of the afternoon per-
formance, that the blaze originated
low in the tent. Hal Clever, circus
press representative said today:
The fire definitely started at the
roof of the tent"
Announcement Promised.
And he added: I'VE have theory,
but we're not making it public now.
We expect to make an announce
ment later" He further declared
that absolutely no credence was
being given any theory of incendiar-
ism or sabotage.
AS Mayor Mortensen indicated
that the city might be called on to
provide common burial for the un-
identified and unclaimed, War Man.
power Area Director William G..
Ennis announced that employment
ceilings for all persons needed as
undertakers' helpers, cemetery work.
ers and various relief agencies had
been lifted
Mayor Mortensen said: Il am told
that large number of bodies are
beyond recognition. The dead are
still in the custody of the coroner,
but it may be impossible to keep the
bodies in their present condition
much longer"
City Still Swelters.
For the third successive day a
sweltering heat wave gripped this
city. Because of it many women and
children, who comprise the majority
OF yesterdays victims, we're lightly
clad in f1imsy attire with few identi-
flying marks as they trooped gaily to
the circus grounds.
At the Armory morgue alone to-
day, where 142 bodies lay, only half
had been identified.
Mayor MortenSen, who toured the
hospitals, described the scenes in the
various institutions as heart.
breaking"
He stepped into one room, lust as
a young girl died.
The fire, acknowledged to be the
greatest disaster in American circus
history, reduced the shows main
i