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KF5JRV > TODAY 06.07.19 13:38l 6 Lines 1586 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 10134_KF5JRV
Read: GUEST
Subj: Today in History - Jul 06
Path: IW8PGT<IZ3LSV<F1OYP<ON0AR<VE2PKT<N3HYM<KF5JRV
Sent: 190706/1135Z 10134@KF5JRV.#NWAR.AR.USA.NA BPQK6.0.18
In 1944, in Hartford, Connecticut, a fire breaks out under the bigtop of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum Bailey Circus, killing 167 peopleand injuring 682. Two-thirds of those who perished were children. Thecause of the fire was unknown, but it spread at incredible speed, racingup the canvas of the circus tent. Scarcely before the 8,000 spectatorsinside the big top could react, patches of burning canvas began fallingon them from above, and a stampede for the exits began. Many weretrapped under fallen canvas, but most were able to rip through it andescape. However, after the tent’s ropes burned and its poles gave way,the whole burning big top came crashing down, consuming those whoremained inside. Within 10 minutes it was over, and some 100 childrenand 60 of their adult escorts were dead or dying. An investigation revealed that the tent had undergone a treatment withflammable paraffin thinned with three parts of gasoline to make itwaterproof. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus eventually agreedto pay $5 million in compensation, and several of the organizers wereconvicted on manslaughter charges. In 1950, in a late development in thecase, Robert D. Segee of Circleville, Ohio, confessed to starting theHartford circus fire. Segee claimed that he had been an arsonist sincethe age of six and that an apparition of an Indian on a flaming horseoften visited him and urged him to set fires. In November 1950, Segeewas sentenced to two consecutive terms of 22 years in prison, themaximum penalty in Ohio at the time.
73, Scott kf5jrv
KF5JRV @ KF5JRV.#NWAR.AR.USA.NA
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