[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 84 (Tuesday, June 28, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 28, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                         THE GREAT CIRCUS FIRE

                                 ______


                        HON. BARBARA B. KENNELLY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 28, 1994

  Mrs. KENNELLY. Mr. Speaker, 50 years ago, as the United States was 
immersed in war, the people of Hartford, CT, and surrounding towns 
looked forward to an opportunity to temporarily escape. The Ringling 
Brothers and Barnum & Bailey circus was in town, with its clowns and 
animals and laughter and fun. And so, on July 6, 1944, almost 10,000 
people crowded under the largest canvas tent in the world seeking a few 
hours of fun.
  The show began flawlessly; first clowns and then trained lions and 
leopards thrilled the audience. But the day's joy was to be short-
lived. As the highwire performers took their places, a spectator 
noticed a small flame burning a piece of the tent. A circus employee 
desperately tried to douse the fire with a bucket of water, but the 
effort failed. Before anyone could prevent it the flame shot up, fanned 
by the wind and buoyed by gasoline from a mixture that had been used to 
waterproof the tent. The circus band attempted to maintain calm by 
striking up ``Stars and Stripes Forever.'' But many in the crowd 
panicked, as people rushed in all directions, frantically seeking a 
path to safety.
  Witnesses later recounted stories of heat so great as to fuse coins, 
of people falling and being trampled, of terrible human tragedy. One 
mother emerged from the tent screaming for a child only to find that 
the child had reentered the inferno to search for her. She returned to 
the blaze and died.
  Numerous heroes prevented the fire's toll from being even more 
brutal. A 13-year-old boy created a makeshift exit by slashing through 
the canvas. A man lifted his own child to safety and then remained in 
the tent to help others until he, himself, was overcome. Efforts by 
these and other brave souls saved many lives.
  But the final count of the day's losses was nonetheless dreadful. The 
fire had taken only 10 minutes to reduce the entire tent to ashes, and 
after firefighters had doused the last embers, the bodies of 168 
circus-goers were discovered, 1,200 others were injured.
  Children comprised a disproportionate share of the casualties, 
including one young girl who, despite not being badly scarred by the 
fire, was not identified in the confusion of the following days. Her 
grave was marked only by her morgue number, and she became ``Little 
Miss 1565.'' A picture of her quiet composure in death served as a 
haunting reminder of the terrible fire. So tragic was her fate that two 
policemen who were on duty in the morgue the night of July 6 kept her 
picture with them and several times a year placed flowers on her grave. 
So compelling was the case that even 40 years later a man not yet born 
when she died, fire investigator Rick Davey, was willing to spend years 
searching for her identity. In 1991, thanks to his efforts, she was 
identified as Miss Eleanor Cook.
  Today, as we remember the fire of 1944, let us remember the strength 
of the community, the tireless efforts of firefighters, hospitals, and 
volunteers who helped pull the Hartford area through such a terrible 
tragedy. Let us remember young Eleanor Cook and all the victims of the 
fire.
  But let us also recognize the progress which has been made in the 
past 50 years toward improving fire safety and community preparedness. 
The fire safety laws which have been enacted in Connecticut and 
throughout the country have been inspired in no small measure by the 
tragedy in Hartford.
  And let us recognize the brave men and women who lay their lives on 
the line every day as they fight fires in Hartford and across the 
Nation. We owe them a debt of gratitude which can never be repaid.
  The Great Circus Fire of 1944 was a tragedy. Let us work to ensure it 
is not repeated.

                          ____________________