Georgianna May Kuhnly, age 12
Miss Georgianna May Kuhnly of 28 White Street, Rockville, was born May 30, 1932 in Rockville, daughter of Dorothy (Burke) and Rockville native Francis P. Kuhnly. She was found seriously injured at the circus grounds after the fire on July 6, and was admitted to Municipal Hospital for supportive treatment and plasma transfusions. Despite the efforts of the hospital staff, Miss Kuhnly passed away just after noon on July 10 and was buried at St. Bernard's Cemetery in Rockville after services at the Ladd Funeral Home. Her mother, Dorothy Kuhnly, was also a victim of the fire. Georgianna leaves her father, Francis, 38; her brother Barry, 4; and her sister, Roberta, 9.
Georgianna, an active junior member of the Red Cross, attended the circus with her mother, Dorothy, siblings Roberta and Barry, and neighborhood friend Betty Lou Wormstedt, 14. Roberta and Barry sat in the front row and the others sat behind them. The fire started behind them, and they were all separated and pushed by the crowd across the tent until they were pressed up against the animal runway. Roberta climbed over, and a soldier helped Barry over and into Roberta's arms and they escaped together. Betty Lou escaped too, and found Roberta and Barry and the three waited by a tree for Dorothy and Georgianna, Eventually they went to the police station and got a ride home from a neighbor. It is believed that either Dorothy or Georgianna fell while exiting the burning tent, and when the other stopped to help they were both overcome by the crowd. Miss Kuhnly's estate was awarded $7,850 by the arbitration board.
Newspaper story by Georgianna's cousin Jan (Burke) Wenzel can be viewed HERE. [back-up link]
Georgianna, an active junior member of the Red Cross, attended the circus with her mother, Dorothy, siblings Roberta and Barry, and neighborhood friend Betty Lou Wormstedt, 14. Roberta and Barry sat in the front row and the others sat behind them. The fire started behind them, and they were all separated and pushed by the crowd across the tent until they were pressed up against the animal runway. Roberta climbed over, and a soldier helped Barry over and into Roberta's arms and they escaped together. Betty Lou escaped too, and found Roberta and Barry and the three waited by a tree for Dorothy and Georgianna, Eventually they went to the police station and got a ride home from a neighbor. It is believed that either Dorothy or Georgianna fell while exiting the burning tent, and when the other stopped to help they were both overcome by the crowd. Miss Kuhnly's estate was awarded $7,850 by the arbitration board.
Newspaper story by Georgianna's cousin Jan (Burke) Wenzel can be viewed HERE. [back-up link]
