Facts and Figures

Facts and Figures about the circus fire

A floor plan of the big top the day of the fire. (Volunteer Firemen magazine, August 1944)

No regulations prevented tents from being waterproofed with parafin and gasoline, as the Big Top at Hartford had been. (Coronet Magazine, September 1950, page 123)

The previous day's performance, which would have been the first in Hartford that year, had been cancelled because the circus tent was six hours late coming in from Providence, RI.

The canvas tent was 550 feet long and 250 feet wide, supported by six poles to a maximum of 75 feet. The canvas weighed 19 tons. Seating capacity was 12,000.

Merle Evans, the bandleader, saw the fire and signalled the band to play Stars and Stripes Forever, which was code to the circus employees that there was an emergency.

Flags on the State Capitol flew at half-staff on 7-7-1944 in a sorrowful fluttering tribute to the circus dead on order of Gov. Raymond E. Baldwin. (Manchester Evening Herald, 7/7/44)

John M. Carson, chief usher for the circus, estimated there were 6,000 people in the tent, approximately half of its capacity, when the blaze started. (The Hartford Courant, 7/7/44)

All bodies were removed from the grounds in approximately one and one-half hours._THC

The circus had been scheduled to visit Rochester, NY on July 19 and 20 at the Norman Street grounds, but would instead return to winter quarters at Sarasota, FL for repairs.

As word of the calamity spread through the city, the Southern New England Telephone Company's switchboards were flooded with the greatest number of calls since the hurricane of 1938. All afternoon and evening there were some 250 operators on duty as compared with a normal force of 150._THC

Nearly one-third of the victims were identified by dental charts. Marks from operations were also helpful, as two women were identified by their scars from Caesarian operations. Another victim was identified from a bad shoulder injury of several years prior. Jewelry was helpful, particularly in the case of wedding rings which bore initials. Clothing and shoes were recognized in a few cases.

Chart of Deaths by Place and Date, on file at Connecticut State Library, State Archives:

DEATHS BY PLACE AND DATE

'

DIED AT CIRCUS GROUNDS

DIED AT MUNICIPAL HOSPITAL

DIED AT ST FRANCIS HOSPITAL

DIED AT HARTFORD HOSPITAL

July 6

125

16

-

-

July 7

-

9

₁

-

July 8

-

2

-

-

July 9

-

₂

-

₁

July 10

-

₂

-

-

July 11

-

₂

-

-

July 12

-

₁

-

₁

July 16

-

-

₁

-

July 24

-

₁

-

-

July 25

-

₁

-

-

July 26

-

₁

-

-

August 3

-

-

-

₁

August 17

-

-

₁

-

Totals

125

37

3

3

'

168

'

'

'

(click on numbers to see names)

Chart of Casualties by Major Injury, on file at Connecticut State Library, State Archives:

CASUALTIES BY MAJOR INJURY RESULTING

FROM THE CIRCUS FIRE OF JULY 6, 1944, HARTFORD

S U M M A R Y

Major Injury

Total Number of Persons

Percent

Hospitalized Patients

Non-Hospitalized Injured Survivors

Number

Percent

Number

Percent

All Casualties

652

100.0

183

100.0

344

100.0

Percent burned*

-

66.0

-

82.0

155

45.1

Percent with other injuries

-

34.0

-

18.0

189

54.9

Burned*

430

100.0

150

100.0

155

'

Deaths from burns

168

39.1

43

28.7

(125)**

'

Survivors, burned

262

60.9

107

71.3

155

'

1^o, 2^o, 3^o, & 4^o

1

'

1

'

-

'

1^o, 2^o, & 3^o

55

'

51

'

4

'

1^o, & 2^o

112

'

47

'

65

'

1^o

23

'

3

'

20

'

Degree not stated

35

'

5

'

30

'

Inhalation of smoke

1

'

-

'

1

'

Friction burns

35

'

-

'

35

'

Survivors With Other Injuries

222

'

33

'

189

'

Fractures

31

'

20

'

11

'

Sprains & strains

62

'

7

'

55

'

Multiple contusions

85

'

2

'

83

'

"Injuries"

21

'

1

'

20

'

Emotional upset only

10

'

1

'

9

'

Abortions

2

'

2

'

-

'

No information

11

'

-

'

11

'

'

* Many of those included in the "burned" classification also suffered other injuries. However, if any burn was mnetioned, the case was placed in the "burned" classification. It is realized that some of those severely injured may also have had slight burns which were not mentioned by the reporting physician.

'

** Non-hospitalized fatalities at the circus grounds.

Chart of Hospitalized Patients by Residence, on file at Connecticut State Library, State Archives:

HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS BY RESIDENCE

FOR INJURIES SUSTAINED AT THE CIRCUS FIRE, JULY 6, 1944, HARTFORD

ALL HOSPITALS

TOTAL NUMBER OF PATIENTS

PATIENTS' RESIDENCE

HARTFORD

CONNECTICUT

OUT OF STATE

183

63

114

6

Hospitals in Hartford

170

63

102

5

Municipal Hospital

56

16

40

-

Hartford Hospital

65

25

37

3

St. Francis Hospital

45

20

23

2

Mt. Sinai Hospital

4

2

2

-

Conn. Hospitals

12

-

12

-

Meriden Hospital

1

-

1

-

New Britain Hospital

3

-

3

-

Bristol Hospital

2

-

2

-

Bradley Field Hospital

2

-

2

-

Newington V.A.F. Hospital

1

-

1

-

Middlesex Hospital, Middletown

2

-

2

-

Litchfield Hospital

(1)*

-

(1)*

-

Sharon Hospital

1

-

1

-

Out-of-State Hospitals

1

-

-

1

Holyoke, Massachusetts

1

-

-

1

*The patient who was hospitalized in Litchfield County Hospital was hospitalized first (July 6-7) in the Municipal Hosptial, Hartford.

11-18-44

Chart of Deaths, Resident and Non-Resident, By Age, Sex and Race, on file at Connecticut State Library, State Archives:

DEATHS, RESIDENT AND NON-RESIDENT, BY AGE, SEX

and RACE, RESULTING FROM THE CIRCUS FIRE WHICH

Occurred in Hartford in July 6, 1944

Total

Under 5 Yrs.

5-9 Years

10-14 Years

15-19 Years

20-24 Years

25-29 Years

30-34 Years

35-39 Years

40-44 Years

45-49 Years

50-54 Years

55-59 Years

60-64 Years

65-69 Years

70-74 Years

75 Years and Over

Age Unknown

Male

Female

Municipal Hospital

Hartford Hospital

St. Francis Hospital

Circus Grounds

Resident

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-Males

-

5

5

2

-

-

1

-

-

1

1

1

-

-

-

1

1

-

18

-

5

-

-

13

-Females

-

5

5

3

-

2

3

3

4

4

1

1

-

3

1

1

1

-

-

37

7

-

-

30

--Total

55

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Non-Resident

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-Males

-

3

11

2

-

-

1

1

1

-

1

2

-

1

-

-

-

-

23

-

7

-

-

16

-Females

-

4

16

3

4

8

3

7

11

8

5

4

1

2

5

1

1

-

-

83

18

3

3

59

--Total

106

-

-

-

--

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

*Unknown

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-Males*

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

2

-

-

-

-

2

-Females*

-

-

2

-

-

-

-

2

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

4

-

-

-

4

-Age & Sex Unknown

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

1

--Total

7**

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

GRAND TOTAL

168**

17

39

11

4

10

8

13

16

13

8

8

1

7

6

3

3

1

43

124

37

3

3

125

* Age estimated

** Total is one more than sum of males and females because age and sex of one victim, who was crushed and torn to fragmentary remains, is not known.

Note: Of the out-of-state non-residents, 1 was from Massachusetts, 4 from New York, 1 from Pennsylvania, 1 from Rhode Island ---- Total 7

Chart of Circus Fire Casualties, Resident and Non-Resident, by Age and Sex:

CIRCUS FIRE CASUALTIES, RESIDENT AND NON-RESIDENT, BY AGE AND SEX

July 6, 1944 Hartford

'

Total

Male

Female

Under 5 Yrs.

5-9 Years

10-14 Years

15-19 Years

20-24 Years

25-29 Years

30-34 Years

35-39 Years

40-44 Years

45-49 Years

50-54 Years

55-59 Years

60-64 Years

65-69 Years

70-74 Years

75 Years and Over

Age Unknown

All Casualties

652*

205

446

39

105

41

14

27

54

61

75

50

26

28

18

25

20

12

6

52

Total Deaths^x

168*

43

124

17

39

11

4

10

8

13

16

13

8

8

1

7

6

3

3

1

Total Injured Survivors

484

162

322

22

65

30

10

17

46

48

59

37

18

20

17

18

14

9

3

-

Hospitalized Survivors

140

43

97

11

29

8

5

6

9

14

17

8

4

5

6

7

5

4

2

-

Residents

50

-

-

3

10

-

1

5

3

6

12

1

1

2

2

-

3

1

-

-

Males

-

13

-

2

4

-

-

-

1

2

-

1

1

-

-

-

1

1

-

-

Females

-

-

37

1

6

-

1

5

2

4

12

-

-

2

2

-

2

-

-

-

Non-residents

90

-

-

8

19

8

4

1

6

8

5

7

3

3

4

7

2

3

2

-

Males

-

30

-

5

9

3

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

-

3

-

1

1

-

Females

-

-

60

3

10

5

3

-

5

7

4

6

2

2

4

4

2

2

1

-

Non-Hospitalized Injured Survivors

344

119

225

11

36

22

5

11

37

34

42

29

14

15

11

11

9

5

1

51

Residents

120

-

-

5

10

9

4

6

15

14

13

12

5

6

5

2

4

1

-

9

Males

-

38

-

3

5

6

1

1

1

3

4

3

1

4

1

-

2

-

-

3

Females

-

-

82

2

5

3

3

5

14

11

9

9

4

2

4

2

2

1

-

6

Non-resident

221

-

-

6

26

13

1

5

22

20

29

17

9

9

6

9

5

4

1

39

Males

-

79

-

6

18

3

-

-

4

5

11

7

2

3

2

5

2

2

1

8

Females

-

-

142

-

8

10

1

5

18

15

18

10

7

6

4

4

3

2

-

31

Residence not known

3

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

3

Males

-

2

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

2

Females

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

* Total is one more than sum of males and females because of fragmentary remains counted as 1 death.

^x For distribution of deaths by sex and residence see separate table of deaths

Fire Apparatus Responding To Alarms

1st Alarm - Box 82 - Clark & Westland St. - 2:44 p.m.

#7

900' - 1" nozzle - hydrant front of lot on Barbour Street

3 hours, 17 min. Capt. McDonald - pumper worked.

#2

800' - 1 1/4" nozzle - hydrant front of lot on Barbour Street

2 hours, 5 min. Capt. Kirby - pump used.

#16

1000' - 1 1/4" nozzle - hydrant at 337 Barbour Street

2 hours, 46 min. Capt. Yacavone - pump used.

Truck #3

Lt. Curtin, assisted on lines and rescue work.

Truck #4

Lt. Connors, assisted on lines and rescue work.

2nd Alarm - Box 828 - Barbour Street & Cleveland Ave. - 2:44 p.m.

#14

800' - 1" nozzle - hydrant - off #7 pump in front of circus lot.

1 hour, 41 min. - Capt. Potter

#4

800' - 1" nozzle - off #7 pumper

1 hour, 40 min. - Lieut. Kelliher

#3

450' - 1" nozzle - hydrant 132 Cleveland Avenue

2 hours, 23 min. - Private E.M. Daley

Truck #1

Paul Wychodil - assisted on lines and rescue work - 56 min.

Sent by Headquarters on adjacent box - 2:49 p.m.

#5

1350' - 1" nozzle - hydrant 132 Cleveland Avenue.

2 hours, 27 min. Capt. Griffin.

(from Report of the Municipal Board of Inquiry on the Circus Disaster, Nov. 1944)

Circus-Owned Fire Equipment on Hand:

1 - 2 1/2 gal. Alert Fire Extinguisher, soda & acid - Truck and Blacksmith Dept.

1 - 2 1/2 gal. Sod-Acid Fyr-Fyter Extinguisher, soda & acid - Truck and Blacksmith Dept.

1 - 2 1/2 gal. Alert Fire Extinguisher, soda & acid - Truck and Blacksmith Dept.

1 - 2 1/2 gal. Phomene Fire Extinguisher. Taken from Giraffe Cage, south side of lot.

1 - 2 1/2 gal. Universal Fire Extinguisher, soda & acid. Taken from Wagon 169.

1 - 2 1/2 gal. Guardene Fire Extinguisher, soda & acid. Taken from near Giraffe Cage, south side of lot.

1 - 2 1/2 gal. Phomene Fire Extinguisher. Taken from near Giraffe Cage, south side of lot.

1 - 2 1/2 gal. Cambar Fire Extinguisher, soda & acid. Taken from Wagon 110.

1 - 2 1/2 gal. Cambar Fire Extinguisher, soda & acid. Taken from near Giraffe Cage, south side of lot.

1 - 3 gal. Duragarde Pump-Type Extinguisher. No ticket - about 1/2 full.

1 - 3 gal. Duragarde Pump-Type Extinguisher. No ticket - empty.

1 - 3 gal. Duragarde Pump-Type Extinguisher. No ticket.

1 - 3 gal. Duragarde Pump-Type Extinguisher. Taken from in front of Gorilla Cage near front entrance.

1 - 3 gal. Duragarde Pump-Type Extinguisher. Taken from Wagon 168.

1 - 3 gal. Duragarde Pump-Type Extinguisher. Taken from Wagon 168.

1 - 3 gal. Duragarde Pump-Type Extinguisher. Taken from Wagon 168.

1 - 3 gal. Pump-Type. No identification marks.

1 - 3 gal. Pump-Type. No identification marks.

27 Pyrene Extinguishers. 1 qt.

1 - 1 qt. Wilbur Fire Extinguisher.

8 - 12 qt. pails picked up inside tent area.

6 - 12 qt. pails picked up outside tent area. Two found full of water, one at southeast end and one about center way north side. Others empty under seat sections.

4 Water Tanks trucks equipped with pump, 50' 2" hose, 1/2" nozzle coverage, 1000 gal capacity. On a test subsequent to fire, pitat reading at nozzle 57 lbs.

(from Report of the Municipal Board of Inquiry on the Circus Disaster, Nov. 1944)

Five circus officials were arrested, at the circus grounds on Friday, July 7, 1944.

James A. Haley, 45, Sarasota, FL, Vice-President of the circus, bond set at $15,000

George W. Smith, 51, Sarasota, FL, General Manager, bond set at $15,000

Leonard Aylesworth, 52, Sarasota, FL, Circus Executive, bond set at $10,000

Edward Versteeg, 44, Baldwin Park, CA, Chief Electrician, bond set at $10,000

David W. Blanchfield, 57, no home, Chief Wagon Man, bond set at $10,000_THC

Police Court Prosecutor James F. Kennedy declared Friday, July 7, that his investigation had established the fact that three to four parts gasoline and one part paraffin had been used as waterproofing for the canvas tent, and that the preparation was applied to the main tent last April. Mayor Mortensen issued a similar statement about the waterproofing and announced that he determined that a waist-high steel runway for animals had closed off and obstructed exits. Approximately 60 bodies were found jammed against the runway._THC

The Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus will leave its winter headquarters in Sarasota, Florida on Monday, July 31, 1944, for Akron, Ohio, where it will open at the Rubber Bowl on August 4, 1944. Future scheduled shows include University of Detroit Stadium, August 8 through 20, and Soldiers Field in Chicago, August 22 through September 4. The entire performance will be staged facing one direction because of increased room in stadiums and ball parks, all patrons will sit on one side. The circus train has been reduced from 79 cars to 67 because the tent and poles will no longer be needed. _THC

Photo from the August 22, 1944 performance at Soldiers Field.

Photos from setting up at the Rubber Bowl in 1944.

Mayor Mortensen announced a special five-man board of inquiry to investigate the performance of the city officials before, during and after the circus fire, comprised of:

George C. Long, Jr., president of the Phoenix Insurance Company

Attorney Solomon Eisner

Walter S. Paine, manager of the engineering and inspection department of the Aetna Life Insurance Company

Monsignor William H. Flynn, chancellor of the Hartford diocese

W. Ross McCain, president of the Aetna Insurance Company_THC

Patients at Hospitals as of Monday night, 7/10/44:

110 total

32 at St. Francis, one critical

21 at Municipal, all critical

57 at Hartford Hospital, 6 critical

Patients at Hospitals as of Tuesday, 7/11/44:

113 total

32 at St. Francis, none critical

20 at Municipal Hospital, 19 critical

60 at Hartford Hospital, 6 critical

1 at East Hartford Hospital, not critical

"The circus could not get fireproof tents because the material was a war priority unless the Ringling circus agreed to play in military bases. John Ringling North I agreed, but the cousins protested. He gave in and stopped using fireproof material." -- as told by son, John Ringling North II in a ToledoBlade.com article, 8/7/2011.

Original Link * Link to Quote

The State Armory emergency center for identification of victims of the circus fire received some 10,000 calls during the first 24 hours after the disaster. -- War Administrator Henry B. Mosle, The Hartford Courant, 7/16/1944.

The circus was held on the circus grounds until the morning of Saturday, July 15, 1944 when they circus train left for Sarasota, Florida. Only equipment that was immediately involved with the fire investigation was left behind, as well as approximately 33 employees who are still to be questioned by the state's attorney._THC

Partial list of lost articles picked up in the vicinity of the circus fire, held in the property room of the Hartford Police headquarters by orderof State's Attorney Hugh Alcorn, Jr.:_THC

about 100 women's compacts of various sizes and shapes, many black with soot

a half-filled cigarette case, charred black

about 20 crucifixes, some tarnished, some bent out of shape

20 lipsticks

a pen knife

a half burned purse

a comb untouched by fire

a rabbit's foot attached to a key chain, and many other tokens of luck attached to key rings and chains

many eye-glasses and cases, some crushed, some burned

a torn pocket from a girl's coat with a Girl Scout pin

a partly burned umbrella with badly twisted framework

approximately 20 pairs of shoes, one a size 2, most in bad shape