The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1916-09-27
Ardmore Remembers
and Bows Its Head
For Five Minutes Today Citizens in Every
Walk of Life Pause in Remember
ance of the treat Explosion.


1927 to 1892 today, lived over the
scenes of the violent explosion of one
wear ago. Sorrow for the missing,
gratitude that so many escaped-tears
mingled with joy ruled for five min
ute period. There has been many
fiye-minute period in the past twelve
months when the thoughts of Ardmore
people have gone out in tenderest SYM
pathy to father and mother who had
to give up their sons and daughters,
to the widow who was separated from
her husband, the shrieks, the groans,
the suffering, all have been lived over
time and time again. The freight
house fire where husband and wife in
licked arms gave their lives up to
the flames that enwrapped them. No
wonder today there is a requiem for
the dead.
1t was a sacrifice that others might
be saved. Why Ardmore was chosen
for such a fate, no man dares to ans
wer, but we do know that lives were
snuffed out that men should know OF
the dangers of casing-head gasoline,
that they should learn to handle this
new commodity from the petroleum
fields of the world, that lives and prop
erty of others may be protected for all
time to come. There will never be an
explosion from the same cause again.
II is appropriate today that we re-
member the unselfish work of physi-
clan. nurse and every man and wo-
man who volunteered to do service for
mankind. For the telephone girl who
worked in the trying hours that 9TH
srs might know, the telegrapher who
staid at his keys in a creaking bull
ling to send out messages to the out
side world, and the messenger boy
who retraced the steps where one had
IN the discharge of his duty lost his
ife. 1t is well that we remember,
md honor and love the service, the
leroism, and the stout spirits of those
who with tear-dimmed eyes rendered
,elp to all who suffered and who laid
O rest the bodies of those who died.
/ was a touch that made all humani-
y akin. 1t aroused every dormant
sympathy, it awoke tears that had
limmed eyes infrequently before, II
Melted hearts of populace that be
anne as one.
Just one year ago today, at 2:27, in
he afternoon, Ardmore was devastated
" the greatest calamity in the his
ory of the petroleum industry. Forty
even lives were snuffed out hun
reds were injured, and property TO-
aling near the million dollar mark,
yas destroyed.
The cause of this calamity was at
Auted to a tank car Of casing-head
asoline that was standing in the San
Fe freight ward south of the union
epot. The car was shipped to the
rdnore refinery, and had been stand
ag on the siding for several hours
hen the explosion occurred. The ex
rene warm weather caused the gas
escape through the safety valve in
lch volume that it was noticeable 10
ANY who chanced to pass that way
!, heavy was the atmosphere that the
a seemed to have accumulated over
ne entire section adjacent to the car
nd when it became ignited at the
our named. the city was rocked to its
)undation, and death and devastation
,llowed in the path of the explosion
nat was distinctly heard for a dis
,nce of thirty-five miles. Business
as paralyzed in an instant, stores
rat moment before had been
,ronged with busy clerks and shop
,rs. we're a mass of ruins, and the
,ct that more lives were not lost
III always remain a mystery, as the