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
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sT'i aT I I .i tm 1 e-v a a a.
iiJrUWl Loin Or KID VtAU alKArO ID. JSC
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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
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.W" L' .W
SPRING LAMB Shoulder tutj Entra lb. 30c
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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
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W5
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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