Muriel Goff, age 4
Miss Muriel Goff, of Bellevue Square, Hartford, was born March 25, 1940 in Hartford, daughter of Maurice (Wells) and Arnold Goff. Miss Goff was found dead with her mother at the circus grounds after the fire on July 6 and the two were buried together in a single casket at Northwood Cemetery in Hartford after services at the S.M. Johnson & Company Funeral Home. Miss Goff leaves her father, Arnold Goff.
Muriel's mother returned home early from a trip to New York and she and Muriel went to the circus with Muriel's aunt Mrs. Mabel Epps and her sons William, 8, and Richard Epps, 3, and neighbor Mrs. Patrica Smith and her son Luther Smith, Jr., 8. The group sat near the top of the bleachers on the south side of the tent, and when they noticed the fire they went to the end of the seats. William climbed down a wood support pole, Muriel and Richard were tossed down to him, and the children escaped under the canvas. William lost hold of his cousin Muriel and she disappeared into the crowd outside. Maurice and Mabel jumped from the top of the bleachers, and also escaped under the canvas. Mrs. Smith assisted with Mabel, eight-months pregnant, who fractured her pelvis when she jumped and later lost her unborn son due to her injuries. Maurice, unable to find Muriel, began screaming "Where's my baby!" and went back inside the big top to find her.
Body #1509 was identified as Muriel Goff at the State Armory on July 6 by her father, who noticed an arch support that his daughter wore welded to her foot. Miss Goff was said to be completely burned and little more than her skeleton remained. Her estate was awarded $6,500 by the arbitration board.
Muriel's mother returned home early from a trip to New York and she and Muriel went to the circus with Muriel's aunt Mrs. Mabel Epps and her sons William, 8, and Richard Epps, 3, and neighbor Mrs. Patrica Smith and her son Luther Smith, Jr., 8. The group sat near the top of the bleachers on the south side of the tent, and when they noticed the fire they went to the end of the seats. William climbed down a wood support pole, Muriel and Richard were tossed down to him, and the children escaped under the canvas. William lost hold of his cousin Muriel and she disappeared into the crowd outside. Maurice and Mabel jumped from the top of the bleachers, and also escaped under the canvas. Mrs. Smith assisted with Mabel, eight-months pregnant, who fractured her pelvis when she jumped and later lost her unborn son due to her injuries. Maurice, unable to find Muriel, began screaming "Where's my baby!" and went back inside the big top to find her.
Body #1509 was identified as Muriel Goff at the State Armory on July 6 by her father, who noticed an arch support that his daughter wore welded to her foot. Miss Goff was said to be completely burned and little more than her skeleton remained. Her estate was awarded $6,500 by the arbitration board.
