hartford circus fire, hartford, conn., 1944

In 1944 in Hartford, Connecticut, twelve-year-old Audrey dreams of being an aerialist like her heroes, the Flying Wallendas, and so she is excited to go to Ringling Brothers circus with her six-year-old twin sisters; but at the show a fire breaks out, and as the crowd starts to panic Audrey struggles to reach her sisters--she gets Patty out, but Charlotte, afraid of heights, refuses to jump from the higher seats, and disappears as the big top comes crashing down.

In 1944 in Hartford, Connecticut, twelve-year-old Audrey dreams of being an aerialist like her heroes, the Flying Wallendas, and so she is excited to go to Ringling Brothers circus with her six-year-old twin sisters; but at the show a fire breaks out, and as the crowd starts to panic, Audrey struggles to reach her sisters--she gets Patty out, but Charlotte, afraid of heights, refuses to jump from the higher seats, and disappears as the big top comes crashing down.

"Recounts the true story of the 1944 Hartford circus fire, one of the worst fire disasters in U.S. history"--Provided by publisher.

Tells the story of the tragic events that occurred on July 6, 1944 in Hartford, Connecticut when the big top of Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey circus caught fire in the middle of an afternoon performance attended by nearly seven thousand people.