The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1922-02-22

the cries of the wounded and dying
could be heard for hundreds of yards
The eleven men who jumped Out Or
were dragged to safety by rescuers
were scarcely safe before the cries
ceased because death had ended their
sufferings, so intense was the heat
This was evidenced by the fact that
everybody was not only scared. but
literally baked and cooked almost be-
yond recognition.
Newport News, Va, Feb. 22.-
Wives. mothers. sisters and sweet
hearts of the Roma victims have not
been allowed to view the blackened
and charred bodies. most of which are
burned beyond recognition. There are
eighteen or twenty widows at the fly
ing station as a result of the acci-
dent.
Work of identification progressed
slowly last night, the officers and men
from Langley detailed for this work
completing their examination shortly
before daylight. Identification was
established by scars, teeth and hair
in some instances, but even then there
were four bodies which no one could
positively identify.
The only live thing about any of the
bodies were several watches Three of
these were still ticking when taken
from the charred and water-soaked
clothing after midnight. Others had
stopped at the time of the accident,
Of o.
o'clock, the exact time the explosion
is said to have taken place
A morbidly curious crowd milled
about outside of the undertaking es-
tablishment far into the night One
or two ventured inside on one or an
other pretext, but staggered out gasp
ing for breath few seconds later.
Blackened torsos are all that re-
main of some of the bodies. Others
lie in repose as If petrified. Still 9TH
ers are so badly broken and twisted
that there is no hope of getting them
within regulation coffin.
AS work of identification dragged
through the night and into the morn
ing hours, there was one man who
stood stoically by, never shifting his
y,
this city, the only relative of the
Roma victims who has thus far seen
the remains. He was looking for his
brother, Capt Dale Mabry. Man after
man was identified or sent back for
a later examination. The last body
brought in proved to be that for which
he was waiting. Friends took the ply
sician outside. The blackened mass
of what had once been human body
was covered with a sheet after iden-
tifcation had been established to the
satisfaction of the Doctor.
Norfolk. Va, Feb. 22.-(By the As.
sociated Press. )-Shortly after dawn |
this morning large detail of air ser.
vice men from the Langley field sta
tion began the grim task of gathering
Up victims of the explosion and fire
which yesterday destroyed the dirigi- |
BILE Roma at the army base here.
Major Jouett, of Langley field, is in
personal command of the air forces at
the scene of the disaster.
Superintendent of construction
Charles Dworack, of McCook field, |
one of the passengers on the Roma. Is
In a serious condition at the public |
health hospital. having swallowed |
flames and is also suffering from the |
effects of gas fumes. Other injured |
survivors are expected to recover.
The father of Walter A. McNair. OF /
the Bureau of Standards of Washing |
ton, arrived here this morning to join |
his son who is one of the survivors.
The clearing up of the wreckage of
the warped and blistered skeleton of |
the Roma is progressing rapidly and
it is expected every vestige of the dis
aster will be removed Immediately af. |
ter the official inquiry is completed.
Newport News, Va, Feb. 22.-Offi-
GERS and men from Langley Field last
night positively identified thirty out
Of the thirty-four men burned to death
aboard the Roma. Among them was
Captain Dale Mabry, brother of DR..
j. Hughes Mabry of this city. Captain
Mabry made his home in Tampa, Fla,
but had been stationed at Langley
Field for some time. Most of the