The Wilmington morning star., 1944-07-07

ais said might ultimately re-
suit in a death toll of 200.
State Police Commissioner Ed
ward ]. Hickey, one of the 5000
spectators in the gay audience
when the first tiny flame was dis
covered minutes after the opening
animal act, placed the number of
deaths at between ITS to 200, while
Clifford Fowler of the American
Red Cross said in New York city
he had been advised that more
than 200 had persisted.
By Sis pm. EWT) the huge
drill shed of the state armory,
quickly converted into morgue,
contained the bodies of 120 men,
women and children, many Of
whom were trapped under the fiery
canvas as it Collapsed at 2:45 pm.
The problem of identifying ths
dead was great. Many, if not most
of the bodies were charred beyond
recognition and the flimsy gar.
ments worn by women and chill
cren offered little immediate hope
OF establishing identity. Only
through a long and tragic process
Of elimination were many expected
to be given names.
One hospital reported an imcom-
plete count showed Al injured,
while another hospital said that at
least 80 children had been admit
ted.
= In the midst of the disaster, more
terrifying because of the sudden
Panic it created than even the flood
Of 1886 and the hurricane and flood
which struck this city in 1888, Gov
ernor Raymond E. Baldwin made
radio appeal for calmness as he
directed mobilization of all the
states emergency facilities.
Blood Plasma Rushed
Neighborhood drugstores were
converted into temporary first aid
stations, the state guard was mo-
bilized to restore order and aid in
the rescue work, blood plasma was
flown here from Boston and SOL
dlers were detailed to the scene
from the Bradley army air field
in nearby Windsor Locks.
Hal Ovler, press representative
tel the circus, termed the fire the
first great fire in the history Of
Ringing Brothers circus" and es-
timated the damage to circus prop
erty at 100000.
Ovler said the cause Of the fire
was. undetermined, but expressed
the belief lit was started most
likely from a cigarette, intentional
or accidental, dropped by someone
citing in the upper rows Of seats
Eye witnesses CROPPED for words
to describe the scene of borrow
which quickly unfolded before them
as the first flame, described by
one as so small that it could have
been put out with a pail of water
quickly became a lethal, fiery
weapon.
Above the roar of frightened ami
mails could be heard the frantic
calls of mothers seeking their chill
Gren and the furious cracking Of
flames as they first quickly en-
veloped the big tent and then sent
the canvas to the ground in ruins.
Spread Fast
Paul Gokey of Hartford, who fled
from the big top without injury,
said:
1T was only a little blaze when
if .started-it could have been put
cut with a pail of water. Suddenly,
saw that little flame starting in
the SideWall about rs feet inside
The entrance 1t spread awfully fast
right up to the top. Everybody
Nas trying to get out at once. 1t
Vas a terrible scene. People were
lnocked down, and other people
walked on them. Outside there was
tremendous confusion"
Another eye witness, Policeman
trthur Barnard, who lives Just
across from the circus grounds,
laid 80 many kids were hurt be-
cause the flaming tent dropped
light on them"
'1They shinnied down the ropes
ard poles" he said. Some of them
we're laughing and excited"
Clarence E. Wilson, a business
,ffice employee of the Hartford
Times, was about to quit the circus
grounds after leaving his wife and
;bild az the big tent when he caw
he burst of flames that signalled
he start of terrifying pandeno-
lium.
The tent, he said, went up in
,uff of smoke" and within 10 min
ties it lay like burnt paper as
ar as I could see.'
II saw rows Of charred bodies
ying between the burned bleach
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