Evening star., 1937-03-20

ture not be used until after q thor
ough examination for safety.
He had been informed in a letter
from George H. Greenway Of Dallas,
heating engineer, that there were
several more schools in East Texas
with the same type of heating equip
ment that are liable to blow up any
minute, with the same results.
Day Of Mourning.
The Governor set aside tomorrow
as day Of mourning in Texas and
ordered the flag on the State buildings
continued at half-statf and proposed
that monument to the victims be
erected at the scene of the disaster.
This terrible tragedy touched not
only the families and immediate
friends of these victims, but reached
and Mortified every home throughout
the land" his proclamation said.
Let us reconsecrate ourselves to
the faith of our fathers and highly
resolve that no such disaster shall ever
again be visited upon any community
or any home"
The casualty list showed "a injured
and eight missing The list, as relief
workers checked it, still was subject to
revision.
Capt. Coombs said he would call 30
or rs witnesses. The first heard was
J. L. Downing of Henderson, who
helped in original plans for the
building
He said the original intention was to
heat the structure with a boiler and
steam. This plan was changed to gas
steam heating to cut the cost, he said
Only three bodies-all young girls
lay unclaimed in a Henderson NOR
tuary.
Yesterday as many as rs unidenti-
fed had been laid In rows in impro-
vised morgues at one time The State
Department of Public Safety aided in
the difficult task of identification by
sending finger print expert here.
Vents from the radiators in the
building, used as independent units
simply end in the walls" said DR..
Schoch, discussing the probable cause
of the blast
His contention, based on his re-
ported finding Of intact radiators
without proper fues" in the ruins,
placed him in disagreement with an
other called as witness at the in
quiry.
Denies Radiator Connection.
1T is my opinion that the explosion
was caused by gas accumulating be-
meath the building" asserted E. M.
Roberts, electrician on construction Of
the building.
Il don't think there was any de-
feet in connection with the gas radia-
tors which would allow such An ex-
plosion."
The radiators, one to a room. were
individually fired with gas, heat radia-
ton being by means OF a contriyance
similar to the radiator of q central
steam heating plant, but not supplied
with steam from outside.
DR.. Schoch said there was no doubt
gas had been in the building and
that the blast came either from the
basement or from the walls. He
called the cells Of tile excellent gas
chambers
IT'S simple" he went on. THE
walls were filled with gas that had
no other exit.
The condition of the bodies of
those children bears that out. They
were blown to death-not burned to
death"
The blast left only half a dozen OF
the 70 radiators in the building in
tact with their wall connections DR..
Schoch inspected each and said he
found only one with satisfactory fue.
The scientist was sent here as ON
cial investigator for Gov. Alfred.
U. S. Sends Experts.
To supplement the inquiry of the
university chemist, the Bureau of Oils
and Chemistry in Washington sent
David j. Price, another expert on ex-
plosions, to the scene. D. J. Parker
United States Bureau of Mines engi-
neer. was dispatched from Salt Lake
City.
At Austin legislators traced tenta-
tive lines for an inquiry
Next Monday four Representatives
and four Sellators will meet in Hen
derson to start an investigation Or
dered by the Legislature. Start Of
actual work of digging into the causes
of the tragic blast probably win be de-
layed few days.
Oil field workers ended their search
through the ruins for additional
bodies and Col c. E. Parker, National
Guard commander, said it had been
estimated "about 425" bodies had
been removed
London school officials, visibly
shaken by the tragedy that wiped
out half their student body, said nc
definite plans had been made to re-
build the worlds wealthiest rural
school," located in one OF the heaviest
taxed school districts.
Supt. w. c. Shaw, who lost his son
was assured by Supt. c. O. Pollard
Of Henderson, l8 miles distant, that
all New London pupils between the
nth and elel enth grades would be
welcome to attend the Henderson
school without charge
School officials indicated normal
routine in the lower grades would be
resumed Monday.
Maj. Howard said martial law, de-
clared soon after the blast, would not
be lifted until the court of inquiry
completed its findings. Military rule
Is needed to retain authority of the
court.
Bodies Sent Elsewhere.
Most of the families preferred to
bury their own dead. AlthodGh 4 mass