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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (July 7, 1944)
TENT FIREDEATHS U6 Lives Lost and Toll May Reach 150 Searching Investigation Ordered. Hartford, Conn., July 7. (U.P.) Five officials of the Ringling Brothers and Garnum and Bai ley circus were charged with manslaughter today while state, county and municipal authori ties dushed a searching investi gation into the disaster of fire and panic under the bis top in which 146 persons, 80 of them children, died. While authorities questioned r invasmen, performers, rousta bouts, and members of yester day's matinee audience of 10,000 that saw an acre and more of canvas dissolve into flame above its head, 20 or more of the 214 injured crowding all local hospi tals were in dying condition and It was feared that the ultimate death toll would reach 150. Manslaughter Charge Police Prosecutor S. Burr Lei kind ordered a charge of man slaughter lodged against J. A. Bailey, vice-president of the cir cus; Edward Versteeg, chief electrician; David W. Blanch field, chief wagon and tractor man; George W. Smith, general manager, and Leonard Ayles worth, boss canvas man. Leiking said the five men were arrested by Hartford police during the night Coroner Frank E. Healy sub poened the five officials plus 15 executives to an inquest Tues day when he intends fixing re sponsibility for the disaster. Mayor William H. Martensen headed a. committee of nine offi cials conducting an investigation paralleling the coroner's and early today he issued a public statement making two charges: (1) the circus tent, the largest in the world, "had been sprayed vith paraffine which had been melted in gasoline"; (2) a steel runway, used to brina animals In and out of the big top, "closed off an entire end of the oval, obstructing exits." Approximately 60 bodies were found jammed against the run way, he said. Spotlights Eyed Authorities, it was learned, were concentrating upon the spotlights perched high in the corners of "the biggest tent in the world" belonging to "the greatest show on earth" which St the instant the fire broke out were illuminating "lire Flying Wallendas," a high wire aerial act, in their white, hot glare. A number of witnesses said the fire first appeared directly above one of the spotlights which were so high they appear ed to be almost touching the slanting roof of the tent. . At first the fire was merely red spot, tiny in comparison to the great sweeping acres of canvas in which it was an un c itrollable destructive force. One second later it had grown large and with an audible swish ing sound it raced toward the center poles and 50 feet below 10,000 men and women momen trrily went insane, stomping, kicking and climbing over one another, and, t gically, hun dreds of small children, occupy ing, as ihildren will at a circus, the very front seats. Many Die In Panic Almost all of the dead were believed to have died in the panic, of suffocation, of shock induced by acute fright, and of fcjing knocked down and stomp ed under the feet of the thou sand, stampeding for the exits. Though the fire swept over the top of the tent with speed of an eye blink, there was enough time for all 10,000 to have escaped unharmed if they had responded to the efforts of the circus people to calm them. The circus band played on until th? part if the audience that hadn't been converted into piles of corpses had fled safely from beneath the sagging sky of flames. 80 Children The greatest tragedy was cen tered in the bodies of 80 chil d.en laid out on army cots in th local armory of the Connec ticut national guard on some of the rots, two little bodies all covered with olive drab blan kets. Parents, fathers and moth ers moved along the rows of cots. A blanket would be pulled back, revealing a white, inanim ate face, a mother's lips would sag and her facial muscles would tighten and with a scream perhaps, but more often, with a dry sob that barely was audible, she would turn away and a cor oner's assistant would ask her the name and age and address, write it on a green card and at tach the card to the blanket with a wire. Many Unescorted ,Thls is a big war industry town, in the heart of industrial New England, and parents don't have time to take children to the circus. Therefore, many of the children had gone unescorted, but in a number of cases the bodies of the father or mother or uncle or family friend who i' ad taken a child to the most thrilling afternoon a child can have, were on cots nearby. Circus headquarters in Sara sota said the big top had been treated to resist fire but, being canvas, could not be made fire proof. In Evanston, 111., Robert Ringling, president of the circus, declined to comment on Mayor Mortensen's charge that it had been treated with paraffine, but said the tent was supposed to have been fire resistant. "Every test we put that tent through showed that it would resist fire; a fire might endanger some of the equipment but ; would never endanger human life," he said. Circus officials here said the tent cost $60,000 and its guys, ropes, and poles were worth $20,000 more. Except for the center poles, all were lost. It was understood that the circus carries $500,000 liability insur ance and fire and storm Insur ance on all its equipment. $5 Auto Tax Stamp Only On Sale Here Only the $5 denomination of the automobile tax stamps are carried at the local postoffice, ac cording to Frank DeSouza, post master. Anyone desiring to pur chase stamps of lesser denomina tion must do so through the of fice of the Collector of Internal Revenue. Portland. The postmaster pointed out that after the first month s sales. the stamps may be purchased on a declining rate each month, but only through the collectors of fice In Portland. The postoffice here will have the $5 stamps throughout the year, sales being continued until May 15, 1945. Lemonade Helps To Combat Fatigue rr-. -T'-Ti'V.- '"n Fishing at' Night Brings $25 Fine Jacob George Dye of Shady Cove was fined $25 and costs in Justice court yesterday on a charge of angling during pro hibited hours. Hp was fishing in Rogue River at 10:30 p. m., the game warden's report showed. Dye has been living at Shady Cove for several years. LOS ANGELES BUS WAGE INCREASE AGREED UPON Los Angeles. July 7 (U.R) Before the 10th regional war labor board today was an employer-employe agreement on $850,000 in annual wage in' creases for 3000 trainmen, bus operators and mechanics of the Los Angeles Railway Corp, and Los Angeles Motor Coach Lines. The wage Issue, pending since a strike a year ago tied up trans portation for 24 hours, was settled yesterday after six weeks negotiation with the Amalga mntpH Adcnriatinn of Street, Electric Railway and Motor Coach Employes of America (AFL). FLIER DIES IN CRASH INTO FACE OF BIG DAM Los Aneeles. July 7 (U.R) A navy fier died yesterday when his Douglas dive-bomber crashed into the face of Fullerton Dam, Fullerton Calif., navy public re lations officers said today. The pilot, whose name was withheld, was based at San Diego. ' WARD BOND SUED Hollywood, July 7 U.R Ward Bond, film actor and fnmr TTnlvpreitV of Southern California football star, today was faced with a divorce sun on the grounds of cruelty. Mrs. Bond said a property settlement had been reached in an amend ed complaint filed In superior court. Mrs. Bond previously had filed suit for separate main tenance, chareing desertion and requesting $1230 monthly support. "Pack your lunch with a vita-i mln punch," is an- admonition this pretty war worker has taken seriously. Uncle Sam, whose current worries include seeing that all of his millions of war workers eat an adequate, well-balanced lunch, can take this girl off his anxious list, for she knows her foods and has chosen a vitamin-rich selection for her lunch box. Into her vacuum bottle goes lemonade good source of vita min C, the vitamin that coun teracts fatigue. Ice-cold and sweetened to just the right de gree, this beverage will add ap petite appeal to the rest of the lunch box foods. Perhaps she plans to drink this lemonade be tween meals for a "cooler off er." The vitamin C of lemonade also helps to restore the vita mln C lost through perspiration Ready-to-MIx Lemonade For the worker whose lunch must go into a paper bag or for the worker who wishes lemon ade often throughout the day, a small bottle of pre-mixed lemon , juice and sugar may be pre pared. Combine: 1 cup lemon Juice Vi cup sugar (use more or less to taste) 2 teaspoons grated lemon peel Add this lemon-sugar syrup to water, vi cup to a cup of wa ter. US. BIG In Its statement of condition to the Comptroller of Currency as per the official call of June 30, the United States National Bank, which has one of its im portant units in this city, re ported deposits of $428.139,114.. 56 and its resources $446,541,. 330.68. These figures represent the highest peak in deposits and re sources In the history of the United States National and show a gain in deposits of $99, 567,489.59 over the correspond ing call date of a year ago and a gain in resources over the 12 month period of $104,274,335. 75. George T. Trey, manager of the local branch, reports that gains shown in this immediate territory are in keeping with the growth of the bank as a whole. Lemon Oatmeal Cookies Good sources of vitamins A and B are the other foods In this lunch peanut butter on wnole wheat or rye bread sandwiches. hard cooked egg, apple, carrot strips and oatmeal cookies. The oatmeal cookies are good sources of vitamin B. They are a "natur al" for lunch box serving and are a "just right" accompaniment for the lemonade, either as a lunch dessert or a between-meal snack. Easy to make, it will pay to keep a well-filled cookie jar of them on hand for lunch box use. To make cookies take: 4 cup shortening Vi cup granulated sugar . V2 cup brown sugar 1 egg 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel 3 tablspoons lemon juice a4 cup sifted flour 4 teaspoon salt VS teaspoon soda 2V4 cups quick or regular, un cooked rolled oats Cream shortening; ad dsugar gradually and cream well. Beat in egg until lisht and fluffy. Add lemon peel and Juice. Sift flour, salt and soda together; add with rolled oats to creamed mixture. Drop from teaspoon onto greased baking sheet and bakeMn mod erately hot oven (375 degrees F.) 12 to 15 minutes. Makes about 3 dozen cookies. THE GRANGE Roxy Anne Grange Roxy Anno Grange will hold the reg I ar meeting tonight at the hall. A "birthday night" pro gram has been planned and all members are urged to attend. Applegate Grange Applegate Grange met June 23 with -Master Glen Best pre siding. Candidates obligated In first and second degrees were Irene Walker, Mary Mien, Duane and Ben Ver Bryck and Carl Lester Rich. Grangers and guests from Williams, Creek spent remainder of the evening In social activities with Brother and Sister Hansen furnishing music for dancing. Report was made that the Home Economics pie social made $7.40, to be used for redecorating the Grange kitchen. Serving committee for Grange on July 14 will be Marie Bene dict, Georgia Benedict, Mr. and Mrs. Martin Pernoll, Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Carl and Mr. and Mi's. Eugene Krause. At the last Home Economics meeting, June 20, held at Bertha Abercrombie's with Grace Hunt er as hostess, Mrs. Schenk and Mrs. Rankin of the Jackson County Red Cross were present to start the group on Red Cross work. Beryl Elmore and Ber teena Hill were appointed on cutting committee and all mem bers are to get cut garments from them and finish them as soon as possible. Next Home Economics meeting will be July 26 at Grange hall. LAST B-25 Inglewood, Calif., July 7 (U.R) The home plant of North American Aviation Co. builds Its last B-25 Billy Mitchell bomber today. The plant will devote the B-25 line to produc tion of more P-51 Mustang fighters, described by the War Department a the world's fast est plane. Closing time tor Sunday Too Late I to Classify 6 30 Saturday afternoon Plea&e rememoer. Frldar. July 1. 1944 MEDrORD MAIL TRIBUNE SEVEN The largest single collection, made by the Greenwood school of waste paper ever turned in when 900 students collected 54, at the Kansas City schools was ' 700 pounds. HERE 'S A FAIR OFFER! rY-H lA$ You'll love "SJ.reddie". rftT C LfftQU' rt Delicious! All the good- crisp. B y jl Convenient spoon-size. i Today-buy 'Shreddies"! . vi'M ja "KED Y NABISCO Hft WrKffiESe NATIONAL BISCUIT Utu't WSSSsrSSr COMPANY In lha erla- KWWTSj.iS''' I ,no1 shr,dd,d wh" Bok- VyCjISSi I " Niagara falls. Gold Hill Artist Sells Painting in Portland Display Gold Hill, July 7 The All Oregon Art Exhibition, Including two paintings by F. L. Wertz of Gold Hill, has Just concluded a six weeks showing at the Port land Art Museum. The display had 203 paintings and 161 artists, Mr. Wertz being the only artist from outside the metropol itan area of Portland who sold a painting at the exhibit. One of his water colors, "His torical Jacksonville Main Street," was purchased by Dr. O. B. Wight of Portland. The second entry was "The Old Ly man Ranch on Rogue River." EMULATES NAMESAKE Toledo, O.fU.R) Motorcycle Patrolman Dean Manson stopped a motorist the other day for driving In the wrong direction on a one-way street. You guessed it: the driver's name was Corrl-gan. WRONG MOTHER-IN-LAW Denver, July 7 (U.R) Mrs. Martha Martin nursed a black I eye today, the result of her re ; semblance to someone's mother- in-law. A stranger walked up to her yesterday, hung a shiner on her and then apologized un expectedly, explaining: "I thought you were my mother-in-law." WEATHER Northern California Clear today, tonight and Saturday, but with fog along the coast from Golden Gate southwards. Some cooling Interior today. DROP IN FRESHMEN State College, Pa. (U.R) The Registrar at Pennsylvania State college reported today that only slightly more than 14 per cent of applicants to the freshman class of 1944 are male students. LOW WEEKLY RATES CRATER HOTEL Across From Craterian Theatre Phone 4174 SINGLE...:... $4.50 to $6. DOUBLE ... $7.50 to $12 Naw Simmons Inner Spring Mattresses Free Showers. Clean Rooms I 0- DEPENDABLE REPAIR SERVICE For Your CAR TRUCK TRACTOR EATHERTGN'S FARM STORE 80S So. Riverilde Ph. 3146 0S3 une up your drinks Drinks sparkle out loul hen they're miied with Canada Dry Water. Its ' PIN POINT Car'onation" in sures liveliness to the last sip. CANADA DRY WATER BIS BOTTLE 15' P'ui deposit ALUS-CHALMERS TRACTORS - LOGGING and ROAD BUILDING MACHINERY FARM TRACTORS-HARVESTERS . All Kinds of FARM MACHINERY and IMPLEMENTS "Carco", Isaacson, Baker, Gar Wood and other Make of ROAD AND LOGGING MACHINERY A Urge stock of GENUINE PARTS for all ALLIS-CHALMERS Machines 111 No. Fir EXPERIENCED MECHANICS McCOY MACHINERY COMPANY Phone 3415 Medford IT ALWAYS PAYS TO BUY AT LUMANS' Ml TELEPHONE 2239 MAIN AND BARTLETT JUJQ-Y ILL, gjgjip HALEY'S SOUPS A Good Assortment IOC "AN cigarettes I HILK, all brands 4 for 29c le,. BLUE ROSE RICE 2 lbs. for 25c ch.LS" ,d, FORMAY SHORTENING 3 lbs. 65c Ctn. S1.28 I HILLS BROS. BLUE CAM COFFEE lb. 27c Bakery Special Saturday COCO-MALT dude ranch DOUGHNUTS Large Jars 49c Citrus Marmalade Cake doughnuti, iced and flavored. Soma rolled In H E M 0 2"lb. jar 38 0 &1!!:..40C Srcdd-WDteedn29c Large Jars 59c -n. DEL MONTE CORN Creem Style t No. 3 alie Tim 29c No. 1 Gr.de BLUE ROSE RICE 2 lbs; for 25c A Fin Assortment of PICKLES OLIVES JAMS JELLIES Beat LEG OF SPRING LAMB, fine for roasting lb. 38c l a ...-s-v OTMBTC T-BONE OR SIRLOIN II )P W JILftnO CHOICE CUTS U jjc Li I I " 1 vlIF a I I sT'i aT I I .i tm 1 e-v a a a. iiJrUWl Loin Or KID VtAU alKArO ID. JSC Et. I. TIV I CKd PORK ROASTS Choice Shoulder Cut lb. 33e n M M M II ii a .m bAUUH. nest ?raae. id jc w?5fi RFFP PQT ROACTC Cknir. Ct. Ih surr-LT 1 .J ri r -(-".ft, 1 tif.-wi .W" L' .W SPRING LAMB Shoulder tutj Entra lb. 30c aaaiiaaaaaaaaaaalaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaasiaaaliaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaiaiiaaaaaaa 1 FIM.it d.U f ' 1 BEEF SHORT RIBS Fine for B.iking lb. 20c tWi m Baaa (JassV Dl I f C A I LI f k i C 4aVfc m b. 5V r&fl '?W LAKU "&Gi 3 lbs 50c 'Nal -fc.-j' rai i I I W5 aa. faiiVEGETABLESBUVWARB0NDS Watermelons . lb. 4c CANNING TIME IS HERE Now It the time to can Berrict. Fresh every day from tha Shangri La Berry Farm. This includes Youngborrict, Boyienberrica, Loganberries, Red Raspberries, and Black Raspberries. LARGEST FRUIT DISPLAY IN TOWN
