Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1937-05-16
Special Dispatch to The Star.

NEW LONDON, Tex. May Is (NA
A).-This settlement OF cottages
and uncured pine shanties is doing
its level best to pick up the broken
threads of shattered life. 1t is try
ing hard to resume its former small
place in the sun. 1t Is attempting to
take it on the chin by assuming a
masquerade.
It's disconsolate folk 60 about their
business with a sham cheerfulness,
trying hard to conceal their thoughts
from the outside world and divert the
memories OF an awful tragedy-the
gas blast that March Is snuf1ed out
the lives Of more than 400 school
children, leaving a beautiful school
building in shambles.
Trying harder still are those d.
rectly affected by the calamity to
keep from looking too far ahead into
a future that promises little but fulfill
ity and emptiness.
The loss of their children has
burned deep into the hearts of these
oil field folk. Even the children carry
something of this mark Of tragedy
and sorrowing memory about them
They, too, have troubled eyes. Like
the grown-up they cannot forget the
calamity that struck within the twin
king of an eye to take away their
Little Variety in Scenery.
There are no markers to tell where
brothers, sisters. playmates and friends.
New London begins. where 1t ends. 1t
Is Just designated spot In section
dozens Of miles long, dozen or more
miles wide.
For miles before you enter New
London the scenery is the same
After you get there 1t is the same
Just miles of oil derricks, gas flares
and huts built out of tar paper and
green erected during the hey
day of the biggest oil field on earth
The countryside here can be likened
to a gold mining town; there is un-
told wealth that cannot be dis
tinguished except by the dericks
and the rural schools. Yet the
people here are not really poor. They
are much better OF than il many
other sections, for the oil companies
pay good wages. But the workers
continue to live in cheap frame
houses. Most of them have auto
mobiles Of some sort. Many of them
own interests in oil wells.
Some of their homes are furnished
nicely, in some cases extensively
But for some unknown reason they
never get around to building or buy
ing a modern, comfortable home
Perhaps it is their understanding OF
oil that keeps them from doing this
They know that oil fields spring up
overnight, fade out, at times, with
the setting sun.
There are practically no first class
business houses here, no picture shows
no parks, only few shanty beer
Joints, hard work and q few small
churches to take their minds OF the
tragedy.
The big school that was blown ur
was their chief pride. Around II
centered practically all Of the COM
munity's social life, the Parent Teach.
er Association, the track team, the
foot ball team, which won last years
district championship, and the CO.
piece band that is shattered com.
pletely.
Flowing Wells on Campus.
The school is wealthy It owns
campus Of Is acres and has nine
flowing oil wells. seven OF which an
on the campus.
Forty members Of the band wert
either killed outright or manned FOL
life. About is members of the track
team are gone, practically all Of thu
foot ball players are dead or MANNED
There really isn't much left fol
these people except work and re.
ligion, yet they are trying hard X
pick up where they left OF or
March 10.
A pathetic example Of their stoi
cism and endeavor to start all ovel
was seen recently when . track NEE
was held in Livingston, nearby. Tn,
coach took three men to the meet
He formerly took 20.
These people here have always
worked hard. That's the law Of thu
oil fields. You don't ind many trampt
around here. Everybody works. They
had always been fairly religious a
rural folks are won't to be. And nov
they are turning more to their religion
Few children are left ir the com.
munity. Easter Sunday meant little
except a day of mourning at the foul
cemeteries that dot the red clay hill
and dales. The Fourth Of July viii
mean little. Christmas will bring only
horrible memories.
There Is no lack Of routine Il
anything there Is more routine thar
before the blast. It Is all hard worl
now, plus going to church and to the
cemeteries. the chief gathering places
on Sunday afternoon.
The new mounds Of the children
who died are covered with fresh dow.