KELLY-MILLER FIRE--1963 #1 (FROM RJ RENYOLDS)

A few years ago I visited Nova Scotia and at the Yarmouth Firefighters Museum I came across a display there of circus material on the 1963 fire and sinking of the Circus Ship Fleurus owned and operated by the Al G, Kelly and Miller Bros. Circus. They had a 16 page booklet about the fire with pictures which I have scanned some for you today.
The shows three elephants and other hoof stock was unloaded from the ship with the use of plank ramps as the ship listed starboard. Cages and other equipment was lifted from the ship by a heavy duty crane that was near the site working on building a new wharf. Show personel and other hands carried what they could grab off the ship
Some show personel escaped with just the clothes on their backs, some of the animals had minor injuries, only one zebra drowned being the only loss of life considering all the hazards faced that day. It was considered, locally at least, to be almost a miracle. RJ Reynolds

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