The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1937-03-26
BLAST KILLS 500
IN TEXAS SCHOOL
Search Debris for Mangled
Bodies of Children, Dead
and Dying.

and Dying.
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 in the worlds
history.
Hundreds of students were
literally blown to bits in a 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 patrolrnen 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,
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 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. fA5.5lt1 - IA
The terrible force of the erup-
ton sent the mangled bodies of
boys and girls flying through the air
like they were rag dolls. The brick
walls were blasted out. The roof
raised in the air and then fell back
on to the mass of crying and strug-
Cling humanity. Bricks were hurled
more than quarter of a mile.
Dismembered bodies lay all
around on the school lawn. Some
were decapitated. Others had limbs
missing. Some of the children still
were alive.
The scene quickly became one of
extreme confusion. Hysterical wono-
en- tainted, shrieked, and prayed,
kneeling on the grass.
Many parents, the women either
screaming Historically or silently
sebbing, ran frantically from one
body to another, seeking their loved
ones. There were gasps of horror
and occasionally a woman slump
ing to the ground in a faint, indicat-
ing she had found what she had
fearfully hoped she wouldn't.
Mutilation of the bodies made
their tragic task increasingly diff
cult. One couple lowered over the
form of little boy, his face and
body so mangled and bloody they
couldn't be certain if he were their
son. ~
'sMust Be Jim," Mother Cries.
20, it's Jim, it must be Jim,"
sobbed the woman. Picking up one
of the little victims feet, she ar
gued Historically with her hus-
band. "See, it's his tennis Shoes"
she cried. ST remember he asked
to wear them to school this morn
ing %l
'No, no." her husband replied, al
most happily. Jim changed into
his other shoes when he came home
for lunch" ue
20, merciful God, he may still be
alive them" the mother cried as
they got up and hurried away to
scan other little bodies.
For a few minutes after the roof
caved in, leaving jagged remnants
of wall standing like the ruins of
medieval castle, flames shot out
above the wreckage. But the build
ing was of fireproof construction
and the blaze, having almost MOTH
ing to feed upon, soon died out. It
was well that it did, for nearby
communities have only small fire
fighting forces.
The narrow roads to the school,
situated between the oil field COM