Anna Marie Euphissyne (Sahlin) Thompson, age 47
Mrs. Anna Marie Euphissyne (Sahlin) Thompson of 580 East Road, Bristol, was born July 6, 1898 in Bristol, daughter of Swedish-born parents Mathilda Johanna and Frederick Sahlin. Anna was burned in the circus fire over 28% of her body, particularly on her neck, back and arms, and taken to Municipal Hospital immediately after the fire. Stabilized and sedated with morphine, she was moved to Hartford Hospital on July 8 where she remained until September 11. Treatment for her burns, and for emotional distress from the fire and a split with husband Robert Thompson, continued in the following months at Bristol Hospital, until her death from an embolism following an operation in July, 1945.
Mrs. Thompson leaves her daughter Judith Doyle, 11, from her late first husband, and her brother Morris F. Sahlin, who would become the guardian of Judith. Miss Doyle attended the circus with her mother and was burned on her forehead, shoulder, elbows and scalp. Her burns were less severe than her mother's and she was treated at the hospital released. Anna had been employed at Bristol Savings Bank for several years, and was in good health with no ailments. The injuries she received from the circus fire left her partially disabled after her discharge from Hartford Hospital. Though not commonly considered a victim of the circus fire, Mrs. Thompson's estate was awarded $7,500 by the arbitration board, comparable to awards made to the estates of other women in her age group who died in the fire. Arbitrators questioned whether Anna's death was caused by the fire, but decided that her estate was entitled to the award based on her injuries alone.
Mrs. Thompson leaves her daughter Judith Doyle, 11, from her late first husband, and her brother Morris F. Sahlin, who would become the guardian of Judith. Miss Doyle attended the circus with her mother and was burned on her forehead, shoulder, elbows and scalp. Her burns were less severe than her mother's and she was treated at the hospital released. Anna had been employed at Bristol Savings Bank for several years, and was in good health with no ailments. The injuries she received from the circus fire left her partially disabled after her discharge from Hartford Hospital. Though not commonly considered a victim of the circus fire, Mrs. Thompson's estate was awarded $7,500 by the arbitration board, comparable to awards made to the estates of other women in her age group who died in the fire. Arbitrators questioned whether Anna's death was caused by the fire, but decided that her estate was entitled to the award based on her injuries alone.