EXPLOSION WRECKS LONDON SCHOOL
Henderson Times, March 18, 1937
Death & destruction struck its most
horrible blow to Rusk Co. Thurs. afternoon, when an explosion wrecked the main
building of one of the finest schools in East Texas, at New London.
The
explosion was said to have occurred shortly after 3 o'clock, almost completely
demolishing the building, killing & trapping children &
teachers.
There is no possible way to know just how many have lost their
lives in this tragedy, but several hundred attend school in this one building,
however some were out for recess according to our report.
The distress
call was sent out to all surrounding towns in this section, Henderson responding
with 3 ambulances & 3 fire trucks. Fire trucks were not needed for fire,
however, as luckily no fire followed the explosion, but the trucks were utilized
for removing dead bodies.
All doctors & nurses in East Texas were
asked to come to the scene of the disaster, and drug stores were asked to send
bandages & medicines.
A temporary hospital was set up at a church in
Overton, the nearest town to the school, after the Overton, Kilgore &
Henderson hospitals were filled with the injured & dying people.
Many
bodies were mangled & torn so badly identification is difficult or
impossible.
One mother sobbed, "that is our son," but her husband said,
"No, he has on tennis shoes." The mother explained, however, he had taken his
shoes off during lunch period.
As crumbling brick walls & tile
roofing settled in on the victims following the explosion, rescue work is
difficult, and it will likely be several days before a definite check can be
made on the number of killed & injured, but it is reported to be between 400
& 500.
The first name coming to us as a victim was that of Miss
Jacobs, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Claude Jacobs. Mr. Jacobs being Commissioner
of Precinct No. 1.
Superintendent W. C. Shaw, who was absent from the
building when the explosion occurred is alive.