Those Who Helped

Those Who Helped

Thousands of circus fans attended the afternoon show on July 6, 1944, and many were fortunate enough to survive the blaze. Here are the names and stories of some of those who helped.

Name

Age

Hometown

Notes

Allen, Edward N.

-

-

Chairman of the Hartford Red Cross chapter, called one of the "key men in the mobilization of the state's disaster relief forces and their direction" by Governor Baldwin._THC

Barber, Thomas

adult

"Three Hartford detectives, Paul Beckwith, Thomas Barber and Thomas Kershaw, who were near the main entrance, removed ropes used to guide spectators to the reserved seats section and saved scores of people."_THC

Beckwith, Paul

adult

"Three Hartford detectives, Paul Beckwith, Thomas Barber and Thomas Kershaw, who were near the main entrance, removed ropes used to guide spectators to the reserved seats section and saved scores of people."_THC

Bell, H. Waite

51

Hartford

Volunteer at the Hartford Hospital and drove a hospital ambulance during the disastrous Hartford circus fire in 1944. (from 5/14/1977 obituary)_THC

Carson, John M.

adult

Sarasota, FL

Headed a staff of 75 ushers who used all available water buckets in an unsuccessful attempt to extinguish the flames. _THC

Chapman, James

2356 N. Lambert St, Philadelphia

Circus employee, made possible the escape of many person by knocking out pegs which held the tent sides down. _AA

Collins, Miss Ellen Gertrude

59

-

Miss Collins was the operator on duty at the Hartford Police Station and took the first call at the outbreak of the circus fire in Hartford in 1944. (from 12/23/70 obituary) _THC

Dworak, George J.

adult

-

Hartford Police Department lieutenant, rescued 22 victims of the fire and loaded them into a bus that he commandeered at the scene. _THC

Fernn, Mrs. Jeannette

48

Hartford

Mrs. Fernn was disaster nurse for Hartford Chapter of Red Cross, directing the Nursing Service to the victims of the Ringling Brothers Circus fire in 1944. (from 7/25/67 obituary) _THC

Graf, Charles A.

43

Hartford

Hartford Police Department Sergeant Graf was assigned to the Hartford circus in July, 1944 and was the first one to notify dispatcher Francis J. "Star" Kelly of the circus fire on Barbour Street. (from 2/22/64 obituary) _THC

Griffin, Miss Nellie B.

180 Capen St, Hartford

Attended the circus with her niece, Miss Geraldine Nelms. Escaped with her niece by crawling under the bleachers, praying as she went. After leaving the fair grounds, she went to Municipal Hospital and worked most of the night. _AA

Gwinnell, Mr.

adult

Mr. Gwinnell worked as an usher for the circus. He was standing at main entrance, saw the fire when it was 5 to 6 feet from the ground on the side wall and went to the spot to try to fight the fire. Testified that he believed a cigarette or match started the fire, because he's seen similar fires during dry season at other locations._WS

Harding, Mrs. Joseph W.

-

-

Wife of Hartford County sherriff, was among the first to come to the assistance of those stricken by the circus fire. Mrs. Harding pinned on one of her husband's badges and went to the circus grounds, then to the State Armory where she worked all night. She also directed the preparation at the county jail of 650 sandwiches which she served to workers at the Armory._THC

Hickey, Edward J.

-

-

Commissioner of the State Police, called one of the "key men in the mobilization of the state's disaster relief forces and their direction" by Governor Baldwin._THC

Seated in granstand area, row 18 (top row in Section G), his party held seats 6 thru 14. Heard a cry of "fire" from the West end, looked over and saw flames shooting up behind the Southwest bleachers on the inside of the canvas wall. Watched for about a minute, and saw the bottom of the roof ignite. Collected the children he was with and got them to safety, then returned to the origin of the fire to begin investigation._WS

Jackson, Rev. J.C.

76

44 Pliny Street, Hartford

Pastor of the Union Baptist Church, calmed the crowd in his section of the tent, and carried several children out with him. _AA

Juliano, Daniel J.

-

-

Police Commissioner Daniel J. Juliano, a spectator at the circus when the fire started, was commended by State Police Commisioner Edward J. Hickey for his heroism which resulted in the saving of many lives. _THC

Kershaw, Thomas

adult

"Three Hartford detectives, Paul Beckwith, Thomas Barber and Thomas Kershaw, who were near the main entrance, removed ropes used to guide spectators to the reserved seats section and saved scores of people."_THC

King, Chief John O.

Chief of Hartford Fire Department at time of the fire.

Liggett's Drug Store

-

-

Donated 25 cases of coca butter soap, especially helpful in treatment of burns, to the Red Cross for circus fire victims._THC

Locke, Dr. Harry L.

-

-

Chief of Staff at Municipal Hospital. _THC

Looney, Rev. Thomas F.

Hartford

Notified of the fire by a parishioner, Father Looney was the first priest to arrive on scene and was directed by a circus employee to the rear of the lot where he did what he could for those still living, as others took them to hospitals._THC

Father Looney was the first priest to arrive at the Hartford circus fire in 1944. He gave first aid to fire victims and administered many last rites. (from 7/27/48 obituary)_THC

McCabe, Kathryn L.

49

Kathryn L. (Roddy) McCabe, R.N., 99, died Saturday, Sept. 10, 1994. She was the first registered nurse to arrive at the circus fire in 1944._THC

Mosle, Henry B.

-

-

Administrator of the State War Council, called one of the "key men in the mobilization of the state's disaster relief forces and their direction" by Governor Baldwin._THC

Potter, Henry J.

63

During Hartford's tragic circus fire, and while serving on the Grand Jury, Mr. Potter did volunteer work caring for the burned and injured. (from 9/30/82 obituary)_THC

Quintillano, Officer Alfred

-

-

Rocky Hill police officer assisted in rescue work at the circus._THC

Scully, Peggy

-

-

Nurse at St. Francis Hospital, shown in photo with patients Jackie and Mrs. Czertak.

Sources:

TWT: The White Tops magazine

CFM: Circus Fire Memories, by Don Massey

CFR: Circus Fire Reminiscences (Manchester Public Library)

THT: The Hartford Times

TCF: The Circus Fire by Stewart O'Nan

THC: The Hartford Courant

SDN: Springfield Daily News

TBP: The Bristol Press

FBM: Frank Bradley Memorial site (link)

Name	Age	Hometown	Notes

Allen, Edward N.	-	-	Chairman of the Hartford Red Cross chapter, called one of the "key men in the mobilization of the state's disaster relief forces and their direction" by Governor Baldwin._THC
Barber, Thomas	adult		"Three Hartford detectives, Paul Beckwith, Thomas Barber and Thomas Kershaw, who were near the main entrance, removed ropes used to guide spectators to the reserved seats section and saved scores of people."_THC
Beckwith, Paul	adult		"Three Hartford detectives, Paul Beckwith, Thomas Barber and Thomas Kershaw, who were near the main entrance, removed ropes used to guide spectators to the reserved seats section and saved scores of people."_THC
Bell, H. Waite	51	Hartford	Volunteer at the Hartford Hospital and drove a hospital ambulance during the disastrous Hartford circus fire in 1944. (from 5/14/1977 obituary)_THC

Carson, John M.	adult	Sarasota, FL	Headed a staff of 75 ushers who used all available water buckets in an unsuccessful attempt to extinguish the flames. _THC
Chapman, James		2356 N. Lambert St, Philadelphia	Circus employee, made possible the escape of many person by knocking out pegs which held the tent sides down. _AA
Collins, Miss Ellen Gertrude	59	-	Miss Collins was the operator on duty at the Hartford Police Station and took the first call at the outbreak of the circus fire in Hartford in 1944. (from 12/23/70 obituary) _THC
Dworak, George J.	adult	-	Hartford Police Department lieutenant, rescued 22 victims of the fire and loaded them into a bus that he commandeered at the scene. _THC
Fernn, Mrs. Jeannette	48	Hartford	Mrs. Fernn was disaster nurse for Hartford Chapter of Red Cross, directing the Nursing Service to the victims of the Ringling Brothers Circus fire in 1944. (from 7/25/67 obituary) _THC
Graf, Charles A.	43	Hartford	Hartford Police Department Sergeant Graf was assigned to the Hartford circus in July, 1944 and was the first one to notify dispatcher Francis J. "Star" Kelly of the circus fire on Barbour Street. (from 2/22/64 obituary) _THC
Griffin, Miss Nellie B.		180 Capen St, Hartford	Attended the circus with her niece, Miss Geraldine Nelms. Escaped with her niece by crawling under the bleachers, praying as she went. After leaving the fair grounds, she went to Municipal Hospital and worked most of the night. _AA
Gwinnell, Mr.	adult		Mr. Gwinnell worked as an usher for the circus. He was standing at main entrance, saw the fire when it was 5 to 6 feet from the ground on the side wall and went to the spot to try to fight the fire. Testified that he believed a cigarette or match started the fire, because he's seen similar fires during dry season at other locations._WS
Harding, Mrs. Joseph W.	-	-	Wife of Hartford County sherriff, was among the first to come to the assistance of those stricken by the circus fire. Mrs. Harding pinned on one of her husband's badges and went to the circus grounds, then to the State Armory where she worked all night. She also directed the preparation at the county jail of 650 sandwiches which she served to workers at the Armory._THC
Hickey, Edward J.	-	-	Commissioner of the State Police, called one of the "key men in the mobilization of the state's disaster relief forces and their direction" by Governor Baldwin._THC Seated in granstand area, row 18 (top row in Section G), his party held seats 6 thru 14. Heard a cry of "fire" from the West end, looked over and saw flames shooting up behind the Southwest bleachers on the inside of the canvas wall. Watched for about a minute, and saw the bottom of the roof ignite. Collected the children he was with and got them to safety, then returned to the origin of the fire to begin investigation._WS
Jackson, Rev. J.C.	76	44 Pliny Street, Hartford	Pastor of the Union Baptist Church, calmed the crowd in his section of the tent, and carried several children out with him. _AA
Juliano, Daniel J.	-	-	Police Commissioner Daniel J. Juliano, a spectator at the circus when the fire started, was commended by State Police Commisioner Edward J. Hickey for his heroism which resulted in the saving of many lives. _THC
Kershaw, Thomas	adult		"Three Hartford detectives, Paul Beckwith, Thomas Barber and Thomas Kershaw, who were near the main entrance, removed ropes used to guide spectators to the reserved seats section and saved scores of people."_THC
King, Chief John O.			Chief of Hartford Fire Department at time of the fire.
Liggett's Drug Store	-	-	Donated 25 cases of coca butter soap, especially helpful in treatment of burns, to the Red Cross for circus fire victims._THC
Locke, Dr. Harry L.	-	-	Chief of Staff at Municipal Hospital. _THC
Looney, Rev. Thomas F.		Hartford	Notified of the fire by a parishioner, Father Looney was the first priest to arrive on scene and was directed by a circus employee to the rear of the lot where he did what he could for those still living, as others took them to hospitals._THC Father Looney was the first priest to arrive at the Hartford circus fire in 1944. He gave first aid to fire victims and administered many last rites. (from 7/27/48 obituary)_THC
McCabe, Kathryn L.	49		Kathryn L. (Roddy) McCabe, R.N., 99, died Saturday, Sept. 10, 1994. She was the first registered nurse to arrive at the circus fire in 1944._THC
Mosle, Henry B.	-	-	Administrator of the State War Council, called one of the "key men in the mobilization of the state's disaster relief forces and their direction" by Governor Baldwin._THC
Potter, Henry J.	63		During Hartford's tragic circus fire, and while serving on the Grand Jury, Mr. Potter did volunteer work caring for the burned and injured. (from 9/30/82 obituary)_THC
Quintillano, Officer Alfred	-	-	Rocky Hill police officer assisted in rescue work at the circus._THC
Scully, Peggy	-	-	Nurse at St. Francis Hospital, shown in photo with patients Jackie and Mrs. Czertak.

*Sources:*
TWT: The White Tops magazine				CFM: Circus Fire Memories, by Don Massey
CFR: Circus Fire Reminiscences (Manchester Public Library)				THT: The Hartford Times
TCF: The Circus Fire by Stewart O'Nan				THC: The Hartford Courant
SDN: Springfield Daily News				TBP: The Bristol Press
FBM: Frank Bradley Memorial site (link)