The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1937-03-25
BLAST KILLS 500
IN TEXAS SCHOOL
Search Debris for Mangled
Bodies of Children, Dead
and Dying.

ana lying.
New London, Tex.-Workers
are still searching the wreck
age of the London Consolidated
school for more bodies to be
added to the toll of the worst
school disaster III the worlds
history.
Hundreds of students were
literally blown to bits in gas
explosion which demolished the
richest rural school in America
ten minutes before the boys
and girls would have been dis
missed for the day. Estimates
placed the total dead at about
500.
Gov. James v. Alfred Immediately
declared martial law, and sent all
state highway patrolmen to the
scene, which is IL miles north OF
here. National Guard troops were
ordered out as the entire populace
OF the neighborhood thronged about
the school Historically waiting for
the bodies OF their loved ones to be
dragged forth. President Roosevelt
promised every aid from the fed
eral government.
At the time OF the mighty blast
fifty or more mothers were attend
ing a Parent-Teacher association
meeting in the school gymnasium,
a separate building several hundred
feet away from the main structure.
Hearing the rumble Of the blast,
they rushed to the windows in time
to see a hail of debris flying through
the air and the big building collaps-
ing upon their children.
Mothers Race to Aid.
Screaming Historically. the moth
ers raced across the campus and
with their bare hands clawed at
the debris trying desperately to
reach the children whose cries could
be heard from beneath the crumbled
structure. Nearby oil fields. some
OF which could be seen from the
school grounds, shut down and
frantic workers rushed in to try to
rescue those who still remained
| alive.
The terrible force of the erup.
ton sent the mangled bodies oil
boys and girls flying through the all
like they were rag dolls. The brick
walls were blasted out. The ROOT
raised in the air and then fell back
on to the mass Of crying and strug.
Cling humanity. Bricks were hurled
more than a quarter of mile.
Dismembered bodies lay al,
around on the school lawn. Some
were decapitated. Others had limbs
missing. Some Of the children still
/ were alive.
The scene quickly became one o.
extreme confusion. Hysterical WON
en- tainted, shrieked. and prayed
kneeling on the grass.
Many parents, the women either
screaming Historically or SILENT,
sohbing, ran frantically from on,
body to another, seeking their loves
ones. There were gasps OF horro
and occasionally a woman slump
ing to the ground in faint, indicat
ing she had found what she ha,
fearfully hoped she wouldn't.
Mutilation OF the bodies mad
their tragic task increasingly diff
cult. One couple lowered over tn
form of a little boy, his face an,
body so mangled and bloody the
couldn't be certain If he were thei
SON.
Must Be Jim," Mother Cries.
20, it's Jim, it must be Jim,
sobbed the woman. Picking up on
of the little victims feet, she al
gued Historically with her hu.
band. See. it's his tennis shoes,
she cried. II remember he aske
to wear them TO school this morr
ing"
mo, no." her husband replied, a
most happily. Jim changed int
his other shoes when he came HON
for lunch"
20, merciful God, he may still /
alive then," the mother cried 6
they got up and hurried away
scan other little bodies.
For few minutes after the 70,
caved in, leaving jagged remnant
Of wall standing like the ruins of
medieval castle, flames shot OF
above the wreckage. But the bull
ing was OF fireproof constructic
and the blaze, having almost not
ing to feed upon. soon died out
was well that it did, for neart
communities have only small fl
fighting forces.
The narrow roads to the schoc
situated between the oil field cor