Evening star., 1926-11-10

on it's mission of death and destruc-
ton. It's path could be plainly dis
cerned through the outskirts of this
town today and evidences of its
touches also were reported near Wal
dorf The path seemed scarcely more
than so feet wide where it crossed the
schoolhouse site and blazing the grue-
some trail were the gaunt specters
of what had been befoliaged trees and
bushes.
Clothing Hung i'm Trees.
Not far from the schoolhouse site
was an incline wooded with small
pine trees. Into this patch Of green
cry the screeching wind had dashed
! many of the tiny bodies of it's victims,
and today the pine trees were gro
tesquely hung with bits of paper, torn
hats or remnants of clothing as
though some one had placed grim
Christmas tree joke.
Across the ravine and up the slope
on the other side is Mount Rest Gem
etery and it was toward this place of
death that the tornado dragged its
broken cargo. In this cemetery will be
buried the remains of most Of the
little ones.
toward any one growing out of yes
terday's holocaust; on every side to-
Gly the sorrowing survivors were
comforting those who had been be-
reaved or aiding those who had been
injured. 1t was agreed that even had
the La Plata School been Of more sub
Stantial construction the danger would
not have been averted. In fact, the
townsfolk contended that there had
been no danger, pointing out that
tornadoes are virtually unheard of in
that particular section. No move had
been made today, or was even in
course of contemplation, regarding
plans for reopening of school.
Supt. of Schools Gwynn was giving
entire attention to the emergency
work of the moment and it Is un-
likely that any plans for new school
will be laid until the last of the young
sters killed in the tornado have been
buried.
With conflicting reports being re-
ceived every hour concerning the
deaths of the school children in local
hospitals, decision was made early to-
day by Supt. of Schools j. B. Gwynn
that an accurate check-up of the death
list should be the first task.
Despite the injuries Of the two
teachers of the school, Mrs. Hughes
and Miss Ethel Graves, Supt.
Gwynn found them ready volunteers
to come to Washington and make posi-
tive identification Of the children in
the local hospitals.
1t was apparent that early plans
for the holding of a joint funeral for
the dead school children have been
abandoned. as one of the fathers, An
drew j. Clark announced he would
bury his son, Jack Clark, II years,
tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock.
School Was Standardized.
one of the first on the scene of the
tragedy this morning was Leo K.
Farrell, chairman of the Fairgrounds
committee and a school leader at La
Plata
Mr.. Farrell announced that there
would be no investigation. He said
that the school had been standard
lzed only year ago last May, bring
ing it up to the required model for
the county.
Three of Mr.. Farrell's children were
in the school, one Of them, Dorothy
Eleanor, aged six. being slightly in
jurtd. He says that his son, Leo X
Farrell, jr.. laid down on the floor
when the hail which preceded the
tornado began to fall, yelling, THE
world $ coming to an end"
There were 25 pupils in Mrs Hood s
room, only one being absent. There
were 35 pupils in Miss Graves room
being absent. The children ranged
from to IA years Of age.
Teacher Describes Disaster.
Interviewed at the La Plata Hotel
this morning, Mrs. Hood, who was
! suffering from a sprained leg. gave
the following account of the tornado $
! visit:
1T was shortly after the afternoon
train had passed the school. There
was no warning except terrific wind
and the patter Of hale on the windows.
None of the pupils seemed scared eX-
cept the little Gamble girl who has
been sick. She began to cry and ran
behind the blackboard.
Il was sitting in my chair at my
desk. OF a sudden l felt myself sway
ing It gave me a seasick sensation.
The next think l knew / was sit
ting upright in the center of the de-
bris l viewed the most pitiful sight |
ever expect to witness. There were
nv little children, many with broken
bodies, crying.
"Oh. teacher. help US. We are
AT first l did not think I was
injured at all. My glasses were still
on my nose l have no idea how l
got out"
Muriel Hardesty. IA years old, who
is credited with being the first pupil
in the school to reach the town and