The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-07-07
Circus Hands Lucky,
All Escape Injury
"Flyng WaIIendas" Only Ones Performing When Ten
Fire Spreads Like Wildire
NEA Telephoto.

ing Wallendas" could invite death
to follow them, death was much
too busy down below.
Herman Wallenda happened TO
glance down. At that instant q
bright patch Of flame hardly larger
than a clenched fist appeared In
the canvas roof at the point where
1t Joined the canvas wall.
Hypnotized by what he saw, the
flames climbed up the roof toward
the center poles. Then screams and
means and frenZied shouts ladened
with lunacy induced by panic burst
upward at him like an explosion.
The Wallendas looked down into
hell, they said.
People always looked up at U.S."
Herman said, II can never look
down at crowd again without
smelling the flames and burning
hesh." He pulled at his red and
white tie. It was hours later, but
he was sweating.
Herman tried to save his bicycle,
but Carl dragged him down the
rope ladder and they jumped over
the animal cages with Henrietta.
The children, the Wallendas al
ways will remember.
II will remember them always be-
cause child saved my life," Helen
said, holding her brothers hand
tightly and weeping a little. She
wept all night, Herman said.
Helen ran out Of the tent with
the crowd fleeing the flames.
II fell and they stepped on me-"
she said. II could feel them over
me and I knew was going to be
trampled to DEATH"
A little girl saw the coral fluff Of
Helen's costume.
II heard her yell as she covered
me with her little body The bright
flying lady; help her'-and then an
usher came and pulled US out"
Helen said.
Herman, Joe and Carl carried wa
ter to help put out the f1re-a fu-
tile gesture, because within is min
utes flames ate up the huge tent.
"Then we carried out bodies-so
many bodies" Herman said. II went
back for more the last time when
a man called to me and asked me
to help him pull out his child.
He called from the grandstands,
and I reached up toward him--he
fell back into the fire"
The Wallendas thought there
would be no more circus this year.
Herman's bronzed forehead wrin-
kled. He bit his lips.
For years now we have trooped
with the circus and the crowds will
be afraid now to come-and we
never can replace our equipment"
The circus people were lucky, how
ever. he thought. The Wallendas
were the only ones in the ring and
they escaped.
They were in the middle Of the
ring.
In the backyard" the space be-
tween the dressing tent and the big
top. Emmett Kelly. the sad-faced
clown who is the star Of the circus.
was waiting for his cue, his makeup
making him pale.
II heard what sounded like laugh
ter at first and then 1t turned into
a terrible scream-they all sounded
like beaten dogs" he said.
Kelly, always dressed in tatters.
always looking longingly over q red
bulb OF nose at women In the
crowd, helped carry out the bodies
"of the kids who have earned my
living for so many years-the Hesle
ones who laughed at me-"
Felix Adler, liking Of clowns" was
putting on his false nose when he
saw the flames through the OPEN
ing OF his tent.
II got my daughter. Muriel, (6 ana
Q beauty who rides In parades) out
OF the danger zope," he said. Then
] thought OF my pet pig and went
back to get him"
Adler carried out bodies. too.
The four Macs. roller skaters In
the biggest show on earth we're
greasing their skates.
THE music stopped 80 suddenly"
one Mac said, "the cir cFnekieA n&s
gnnfiFe for q few minutes an9 49,
there were the screams. psheAes
high above q steady roar"
They stood on the lot Tor q whzs.
the performers. their spangled eos
tunes scared and covered with scot
and blood.
" loved the circus always" said
Or. Albert osteFmaieF. who stars
with his horse act, NOW ] almost
hate II, because there are 80 many
many dead
The circus grounds, too, were sad,
The ring looked like q campfire
after plenIekeFs have poured water
on 1t.
The lions cage, which was empty
when the fire started, had collapsed
In the center Of the smoking circle.
Az the railroad yards, the F0ust-
ab0uts sat outside their special pas.
sengeF ears, They sat on pillngs I'M.
III very late, Pat Waldo, director
Of performer personnel Tor the chr.
Gus, was with them,
u don't know no said. " Aen't
understand tive made 90 many
II