USA > Missouri > Greene County > Springfield > Items of genealogical interest in the Springfield, Greene County, Missouri newspapers, the Springfield leader and the Springfield daily news for 1928, Part 1 > Part 52
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Pictured at the left to Miss luth Fieber, Ji-year-old West Platos bick school acolor. She was the daughter of Fred E. Flabet, well- toown architect and contractor of West Plains. Alles Father was alle ading hes serned dance to Bond ball.
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WILLOW SPRINGS. Mo .. April 16 .- (Speciali .- Funeral services were held at 2:30 o'clock this afternoon for Miss Hazel Slusser. Willow Springs school teacher, who was one of the victims of the , explosion and fire at West Plaina Friday night. The, funeral was held at the home of her aunt. Mrs. Walter Lovan.
Mlsa Stusser was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bert Slusser, of Quinton. Okla. Mr. Slusser formerly wan edflor and publisher of the Willow Springs Republican, but sold bis newspaper and moved to Quinton last November 15. He and Mrs. Blusser arrived In Willow Springs late Saturday night. making the trip in an automobile after char+ + firmy rolleset of thet- deneliter's dont
MIRs Plusser's hody was identified Saturday afternoon and waa immediately brought 10 Willow Springs. She wns teaching in the Willow Springs anhout and had Intended folding her parents as anon ." the whugl term was completed.
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Beela to THp. rp sod siep.
Mutle that gano juch # thetu dad tas me, and get me ill. Everything Otteles me now, & then, longue can
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Our heaven On this. on our home. How is cad. so bin and dream I en walling morty night. Lar ing for one prenl'ai sight Or Your centte vote A dest. The. I always loved thear Ant yet t bnos the ch never be ('n' ; ar meet in non
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Thus the days pad amit bid tifem
Por i know ! am ope dabearar you.
DEATHS
JOHN B. Mct I.ELI.AN.
Funerel servjera for John B Mc- Clellan. At, who die! at the home of his daught :. Mir A F. Jennings, at 11 15 o clock last night, will be held ": 2 p. m. tomorrow. Burtal will be ID Hazelwood cemetery under direc- llon of the Klingner funeral home. ' ,He was a retired Frisco machluist. . He is survived by a daughter. m son. : A A Mcclellan, and a slater. Mtos ; .JAn. M .Clellan of Topris.
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FRIENDS GO TO VICTIMS' RITES
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Springfield Relatives Aban- don Hope of Identifying Robert Murphy.
The bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Robert i Murphy or thie etty. wbo kre known
Their boaten will be buried. Mong with the other is unidentified ric- !Imes of the tragedy. in the West . - Platne osmetery at 2 p. m. Tuesday. Special services will be held for the unidentified dead.
Abandon Hope ..
Louis 5. Meyer, vice-president of the Meyer Milling Co., bere, a miative of Mr. Murphy, and Robert Li Toombs. Jr_ of the Tonibs-Fay Banh & Door company, were at the scene of the tragedy Saturday, hopeful that they could establish the identity of Mr. and Mrs. Murphy.
They searched" the ruins and morgues all day long and returned to Springfield satisfied that the two Victims' bodies were burned beyond recognition.
Mr. Murphy was the son of Mr. and Mra. S. A. Murphy, 463 South Main avenue, Springfield, and his wife was a former forident of West Platpd. Several years ago Mr. Murphy 'ds- tablished the Murphy ure company which later became the General Tire company. For come tima he had been traveling and buy wife had been liv- ing in West Mela.
Springfield mabda and relatives of the two ricure>will. attend the fu- Deral service :; tomorrow at West Plains.
MIN ISA DANENTREY. Funeral services for Mian Tra - Deugh!rey, 52. of Boutti Greenfield. . no died. yesterday morning at 9:30 clock in a hospital here following s "clef Illness, were held at the First Baptist church' of Greenfield todey. Furial was in the cemetery there. Mise Daughtrey la ourvived by her mother and a alater. Mra. M. E. Holder. both of South Greenfield. ..
MRS. SARAH CHAPMAN.
Funeral services. for Mra. Baralı Chapman. 89. who died . Saturday night at the home of her daughter. Mr. T. E. Btahr, bear Brookline. 'were held at 10 a m. today at the reelder:ce. Burial was In Greenlawn cemetery.
DORA 'LOUISE, KNOWLES. Funetaf services"tot, Dors Louise Knowles, 2-months old daughter of Mr .. and Mra. 'Olaf. Knowles, 3130 Kel- Int avenue, who died yesterday in . Springfield. hospital, there'bold 'at a p. m. today.' Burial was in Greenlawn cemetery under direction of the Klingner funeral home.
W. B. WILLIS.
W B. Willia. 70. died at 1:05 p. m. , today at hia home. 235 East Division . . street. following a brief Illness. Fu. 'reral servicen will be held at 2 p. m. Wednesday at the Robberson Avenue ' Baptist church. Burial will be in : Danforth cemetery. .
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TUESDAY MORNING, APRIL 17, 1928 -- DAILY NEWS
Page 1: Marriage license: Marvin H. Tough, 22 of Dederick and Helen Georgia Huff, 20, of Eldorado Springs.
Orval Byrd died .** Miss Icie Risner died in West Plains.
Olis Holestine died at West Plains .* J. H. Rogers sues to divorce Rogers. They were married in November 1912.
The unidentified dead of the West Plains explosion will be buried today. This is a long article.
Page 2: Louis Taylor sues to divorce Ruth Taylor. They were married in May 1924.
Page 4: Miss Kathleen Carroll and Mr. Jack Butler are engaged to marry .**
Page 5: W. B. Willis died .**
Page 11: Card of thanks .**
Page 12: Funerals held for the victims of the West Plains explosion.'
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BURY BLAST VICTIMS AT MEMORIAL TODAY
Soon, stop the knoll b unidentified dead His West will erect a plain stone cole
- their memory. Inscriptions will tell with merciful brevity of the ca- tastrophe; and in the stone will be cut the names of those who lle be- Death it.
Groups of citizens have been named by the city commissioners to arrange detalle of the common funeral service and erection of a monument to the explosion victims. R. F. Hogan, president of the West Plains bank; A. - T. Hollenbeck. editor of the Journal here, and Miss Ella Carr, representing the women's organizations, planned the' services ace' obtained consent of parents wbo Live in other towns to burial of thetr unidentified dead In the ceme- tery here.
THREE BURIALS HELD
West Plains today paid final tribute to three of the most promi- nent who died in the dance hall blast. This morning there were services at the old MeFarland home for Mra Kittle McFarland, popular young business woman. And In the afternoon, acorea crowded Into the Christian church or stood outalde In the biting wind as a double fu- neral service was conducted for Major Robert Mullins, world war veteran and national guard com- mender, and for his brotherinlaw. Lev Reed.
From the home of John R. Reed, father of one and fatherinlaw of the other, the bodies were taken to the church, escorted by a com- pany of guardsmen. Thence to the cemetery. with a long procesalon of cars following. where a khakiclad figure sounded taps as the body of Major Mullins was lowered Into the grave, and young Reed waa burled with Mamonic rites.
OTHER RITES HELD
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There were other services today, too, in many little towns nearby. The body of Clinton Clemson, West I''ans youth, was laid to rest In l'eace Valley, 10 mlles to the north. near the old family home. The Rev- Frehd J. C. Montgomery of Cape Girardeau, who was here attending
& ministers' conference at the time of the explosion, officiated. assisted by the Reverend Bam Roper of West Plains.
Memorial services at the various churches tomorrow morning will be conducted by the Reverend Sam L. loper. pastor of the Presbyterian church: the Reverend E. R. Clark- son of the Christian church: the Reverend R. N. Fairchild, Epleco- pal church; the Reverend H. E. Ryan. Methodist; the Reverend O. (. Wilcoxon. Baptist; the Reverend A. Mustion, Church of God; the Pererend J." D. Boles, Missionary Baptist; Father B. J. O'Flynn, Cathollo, and the Reverend P. L. Huffman, Pentecostal.
Business 'establishmenta will re- main closed from 12 to & o'clock.
Last of the dead to be Identified into last night was Mrs. Escoe Riley, who was killed with her husband in the blast. Identifica- tion was established by a wedding ring.
The exact number of lives anuffed out by the sharp explosion was fixed today at 39.
Charles R. Bohrer, foreman of the coroner's jury. In making the state- ment that 39 were dead, said a mia- count had come about in the con- fusion of the removal of bodies to the two undertaking establishments hera.
Bones, thought to have repre- sented victims of the disaster, were later found to be parts of other charred bodies removed earlier. Business houses closed today as fu- nerais were held for four of the dead.
Final rites were given Clinton Clemmons at the Methodist church at 10 o'clock followed by ' services for Mrm. Kitty McFariand at her home at 10:30 a. m.
In the afternoon, Major Bob Mul- line and Lov Reed, his brotherin- law, were buried at a double fu- neral. The first Christian church was crowded to overflowing and a procession of more than 80 auto- mobiles wended ita way behind the martial tread of Company D. a ma- chine gun unit of the 140th Infon- try, the local National Guard unit.
MOURN SCHOOL'S DEAD
Mullins was given a military fu- neral while Reed was buried with
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Masoalc ritca.
" In the morning a memorial terv- Ice was held at the high school for the pupila of the school who were killed In the explosion.
Tomorrow morning the unidenti- fied desd will be the objects of a memorial service and in the after- noon the bodies will be placed to- gether in a common grave.
County Attorney H. D. Green, Jr., said tonight ne had no comment to make regarding the many current rumors as to the cause of the dis- aster. The coronor's jury was go- ing ahead with its Investigation. but Foreman Charles R. Bohrer said he and the members of the jury had nothing definite to say regarding their Investigation so far.
LEAKY TANK TO BLAME? +
Doctor Tornburgh and Doctor Toney, who performed the autopsy, were directed by Justice Halalead to keep their findinga secret until the "Inquest la resumed. It ' Was learned, that the autopay revealed Welser was struck on the back of the head, presumably by a timer. and hta skull fractured.
In Welser's pockets were found letters from the General Motors company, telling him his agency for the Oakland and Pontiac care had been transferred to other persons here.
Henry A. Smith, assistant secre- tary of the state penal board, and W. B. Hlodge, a prison clerk, came here today.
When Smith heard of the ex- plosion he told "Babe" Lashley. prisoner. of the fact.
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""It was.that leaky gasoline tank." said Lashley, who' formerly worked In Welser's garage ao· a: salesman. He went to the : penitentiary re- cently on & forgery ; charge.
COURT HOUSE RUINED
The Howell county court house. which stood in the center of court square, a block from the explosion. le so badly damaged that It must be torn down. 1
AT WEST PLAINS FUNERAL
Mra. T. D. Turner, 1065 Com- mercial street, la in West Plains to- day_to_attend the funeral. of -her cousin, Mra. Kitty McFarlaad, Weat Plains undertaker who was one of the victime of the blast disaster Friday night. Mr. McFarland formerly lived In Springfield.
CARDS OF . THANKS
CARD. OF THANKS
We, the mom and daughters of our now dressed father, David W. Batchelder. bernty extend our thanks and approve- tion to friends and neighbors for their touch valued services and sympatiy in our bereavement for the low of car aged and Interable parmit, who departed this Bile
now our hearts are torn "agala and' Weed Lag for the loss of these We want you to know that we loved them Spaderty, and that year offerts to comfort and type. Liter have not come enappreciated. W. would particularly wish to thank Profes cor Calland, the newspapers and elim tto raw tenchiar expressions of praise of the value Intercity and spricht life dras old meterse comrades whe. though steeped and frail, come to hovor bim and En. To these, sla, who played and sang
we shall not forget your kind arview to te in thet boer. We would not fail to Patetico also the splendid service given by th Khmer Undertaking cupry.
Popular Diations patient, we educated; Oils Holottine"2: vas one of the; most promising. young business man of Ava." Friday night he motored to West Plains for a gay evening of dancing. Today his charred, unidentified body will be buried with 18 ethere in a common burial service at West Plains. Young Hateating was widely known In Springfield, having - attended State Teachera college here the the first term this year. He was a graduate of Ava High school. where he won high honora, and spent two years at Washington university in St. Louis, studying for a medical career. The past few months he had been associated with his father, J. F. Holestine, In business at Ava. He was a naphow of C. H. Burdett, president of the Peoples bank at Ava, and a brother of Dr. E. V. Holestine of Ava. The only trace of him found after the dance hall blast was the battered case of m watch given to him by his mother. The watch was near no body. so that it did not aid in identification
ENGAGEMENT ANNOUNCED
W. S. Carroll, wishes to an- the engagement of his Motor Kathleen Carroll, to Mr 3. Butler. of Minneapolis, Minn yoduas will take place this
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Weiser Was a Respected Citizen Of Alton, Admired by Townsfolk
ALTON. Mo. April 16-CP)-J. 3. Weleer. 47-year-old West Plaine automobile dealer, was one of the most highly respected citl- zena of Alton when he resided here. people who knew him declared to- day.
W'elaer was born and reared in :'1. community and lived here until a little more than a Fenr aro. lle went to Oklahoma and then to West Plains, where he obtained an automobile agency.
"Welser was a church member und was considered one of our best citizens." Aald Garvin Gohn. Allon banker. "He may have been opposed to dancing but he never sold anything about It publicly."
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Perry Jenkins, a nephew. said Welser joined the Pentecostal church several years ago, was a faithful member of the creed and admitted he"opposed 'dancing;"";" "While Weiter said several times he was opposed 'to. dancing," Jenkins declared, '1 never beard him condemn anyone for it. He. seldom discussed the question,' avoiding it 'when It was brought up, except to say he did not ap- prove of that diversion."
"Weiser lived a quiet life, at- tending to his own affairs and keeping out of other people's troubles," said George Reed, con- here. I have known him for years. Of course it is possible that his mind may have become diseased."
1 OF GOOD REPUTATION
Welser's acquaintances in Alton and vicinity epeak very highly of him, according to Mra. Charles Farrel, wie of the editor of the Alton. Democrat. They considered him honeet, reliable r.nd a good church member.
Hasten Allen, county collector here, sald he had never heard Wel- expres any opposition to dancing and Welmer was always considered a man of much toler- ance.
"About five years ago he left bis amall farm, five miles from here. because it did not pay." Allen sald.
"He went to Webb City, Okla. where- be . purchased! the? telephone exchange. It was about the time of the oll boom and. when .he sold It two years later he made a nice profit. It was reported . ho' made in excess of $40.000. Weimer came back here to the farm until last Augual, when he took over the automobile sales business at West Plaina."
The Pentecostal cl.urch near hero Is on Welser's farm. His father- Inlaw. the Reverend Mayberry. of Alton, Is a Pentecostal preacher.'
ORVAL BYRD
Funeral services will be conducted at :: 30 o'clock this afternoon at the Kenton Avenue M. E. church for Orval Byrd. 32. Who died Saturday night In a hospital here after a long illness. Mr. Byrd. who served 23 months overseas during the world was. Is survived by him mother and a sister. Mra. Lavange Adklos, both of Springfield. Burlal will be In the National cemetery. with rites by the Good- Ballinger past of the Ameri- ran lexion. and under direction of W. L Starna
- Alleging abandonment, for more than a year. J It Rogers has fied sint for divorce from · Inha Rna- ers. They were married In Novem- her. 1912 and separated in No- vember. 1921.
W. B. WILLIS Funeral services for W. B. Willla, ??. died Norday at his home, 826 Fast bon street, will be held at & o'clock roday. at the home. Barial will be anforth cemetery under direction of ner Funeral home. He is survived by ona, lee and Charles, of Hpringfield. ouf daughters, Mrs. L. R. Reddick. 7. Fishman and Mrs. Rome Ite. of istold, and Mrs. Cicorie Houk. Japp. when is survived by a brother. T a. of Strafford. and three sisters. male Glitteple. Mra. Frank Marton. ford. and Mrs. Julia Marton of
TUESDAY EVENING, APRIL 17, 1928 -- LEADER
Page 1: Marriage license: Cleona Weaver, 20, and Benning Duncan of Strafford. Olis Burdett Holestine was killed at West Plains .**
The unidentified victims of the West Plains disaster were buried.
Page 6: W. B. Willis died .*
Orval Byrd died .**
Daughter born yesterday to Mr. and Mrs. N. Gann of Route 3
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Page 12: There is another list of West Plains dead .** The will of Thomas J. Walker was filed for probate .** Page 14: Card of thanks .**
There is a poem in memory of E. T. Williams .** Page 17: Miss Kathleen Carroll and Jack Butler are to be married .*
THRONGS PRESENT FOR RITES FOR 17 UNIDENTIFIED DEAD
(' ontinued from Page One.)
.t.ore beautiful than words Can tell. Trurk after trucl . filled with flowers. has been received liere tinre Saturday Fid the display todt. was r veritable ountain.
The revised Hat of unidentified, (rad coltalas the following names: Miss Mary Adair, West Plains. -
Slee I rances fragn, manager west- ten luton affler.
She Hade H0201 Pleasanton
Mr. am Mra. Hoberi
Murphy.
...
Tenha Amt, West Platas high school student. Mina bieten Conkin, Kannas I'll). Exo Illey, West Plains,
Yim Jcy Rismer, Thayer, No. - : Royd derm.s. Mammoth ' Spring.
C'areo MeCieliand. Heat Plaine Olls Burdett Holestine. Ara. Ma. Miss_ Beatrice _Parker, Mountain Grove. Mlo. Miss Juanita Lana, L'ahool. Mo. Miss Ruby Hodkinson, Kansas C'ily. Newt Riley, West Plaina. James Lorinc, Mammoth Spring. t Ark.
Hugh Rams, West Plains. .
Funeral services were held yester - 1 cay morning for Mrs. Kitlie McFar- lu d ard Clinton Clemmons and yes- te Jay afternoon for Major Bob Mullins and Lev Reed.
The services for Mrs. McFarland. held at ber home on Grace avenue, were private, but many friends and : Tefattode attended. The services were said. by Rev. R. H. Patrculld. rector "of All Datnts Episcopal church.
Clinton Clemmons was buried from the Methodist church. South, with Rev, J C Montron try of Cape Gir- ardesu, presiding wider. conducung The serviers In the absence of Hev. J. "Y. L' Biten, whois soo,"John Bite, , Tas, one of the victims. '
sol Adr. Need," with Nev. I. R. Clarke con s saying: the sections. . . They Were Impressive, with every member of Company D. 140th Machine Gun Bat". tweet iewutt .National Querd, in attendance
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abouttwo years
·with Mra. Mullins lying between the two.
Memorial services were held in each of the city's churches this morning. All business houses-were closed from
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10 to 11 o'clock and thousands joined In paying tribute to the dead.
Business again was at a standstill from 12:20 to $ o'clock this afternoon as the final services were held at the grare.
City officials yesterday afternoon mad: their final check of the dead. . st and piscing the number of the identified des. at Aghteen, the Lnidentified at nineteen.
DEATHS
Piera!"services for W. B. winla. 77. Who died last night at his home, 826 East Division street, will be hold at 3 p. m. Wednesday at Robberson ·raug Baptist church, Burial will
bome. ZO W'Cantina Sy Lee and Charles, of Springfield, and War daughters, Mra. L. E. Reddick, MIa. P. Dishman and Mrs. Rom Lee. of Springfield, and Mrs. George Houk, Joplin; a brother. T. L. Willis. of Stafford, and three sisters. Mrs. Fannie Olillapie. Mra. Frank Morton of Strafford. and Mrs. Julla Morton of Bpringfield.
ORVAL BYRD.
Funeral services for Orval Byrd, 32. who died Saturday night in a hospital here after a long Illness, were held at 2:30 today at the Benton Avenue Methodist church. Burial was In tha National cemetery. with ritea by the Goed-Ballinger post of the American Legion and under direction of W. L. [ Starne, undertaker. Mr. Byrd. who
World war. is survived by his mother abd & water. Mrs. Larange Adkins, both of apringfield.
Olls Burdett Holestine, 23-year-old victim of the West Plains blast. He was. popular ... among the younger crowds of the district and was a former student at State Teschers col- lege and of Washington university. He was burled this afternoon with the unidentified dead.
LEAVES ESTATE TO WIFE.
Stating that he had implicit confi- dence that his wife. Lucy E. Walker. would trest their only son. Edward E .. Walker, an fairly as he .would. Thomas J. Walker bequesthed hla estate in his wife, according to the terms of his will filed today for pro- bate.
Mre. Walker was named adminta- tratrix of the estate and gave bond today.
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Springfield.
Miles Ruth Fisher, West Stains high
PROBATE COURT HELPS LOVE TO FIND A WAY
The probate court yesterday helped Cupid along by appointing Eugene Carlork guardian of Cleona Weaver, : .* ***: . a mirror and with-
court named a guardian for her and she and Benning Duncan of Buafford 'were Issued license by recorder of derdx.
MISS KATHLEEN CARROLI. TO RE MARRIED.
Mr. and Mrs. W. P. Carroll, of East : Divilon road, announce the engage -! mart of their daughter, Kathleen. to! Jack Butler of Minneapolis, Minn. The wedding will occur in the early rummer.
CARDS OF THANKS.
DACONTREY- We wish lo thek the doc- lote, nurses and all friende for thtit sympathy and kindness during our b. restymant. Mi. and Mrs M & Holder and Children. Mr. and and Mr L. A 13151.00
IN MEMORIAM.
IN MEMOSY Z. T. WILLIAMS.
There within ine ellent gr .... Lles my heart where you are laid. Winds that blew in canile by Arem to werp, mouth and .: th.
[ ** tn mt.º 1. 11.4 184 why Ititil, khiet ?'r.g if your love for me,
(It.tr mese m.e sed yhu ser. Music that gave us auch a thrill
1 Everything we enjoyed an se !! {lrteves Int f.os, mute then torit'se can
Our hessen on earth we tell our t.on ...
Pron, which we timer cared to 128 74.
so Nieet and drea:
intre wo dem ..
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Jt. Fler !!!
=
I ath the day r.Parer 194
menorv of dear mother Mare Hefiet, deperied four
a 1. 1 fati.er rno
H.4ly missed by children Jenn: w ...
WEDNESDAY MORNING, APRIL 18, 1928 -- DAILY NEWS
Page 1: The victims of the West Plains explosion were buried. This is a long article with photos of several of them.
Page 2: Marriage license issued .**
Page 5: The will of Thomas J. Walker was filed for probate .**
Page 8: The estate of John C. Guinn is in probate .**
Page 12: W. B. Willis died .**
Mrs. Bertha Marie Snow died .**
Lorene Beesley died .**
Mrs. Hallie J. Cloud died .*
Miss Ruth Fisher, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Fisher, died at West Plains.
Mrs. Kittie McFarland died **
Maj. Robert Mullins died .* Miss Frances Drago died .** The unidentified victims were buried at West Plains .** Dr. Jeri V. Danes died .*
Bandaged Summon at Fineval Rescued His Dancing Partner
Bandaged, and with a slight limp. Glenn Moore, 24 .: of West Plains was one of the few survivors of the explosion able yesterday to at. Lend the funeral services for the 20 unidentified dead.
Mr. Moore was dancing in the center of the hall with Miss Ernes- Una Cunningham, Willow Springs.
"A abarp terrible blast was the only warning Misa Cunningham and I had of the explosion," Mr. Moore. who la a local baseball player, de. clared. "] remember we -were thrown'against the west wall of the building. The roof seemed to fall in from the center and the timber apparently shielded us from fall-
Ing brick. I pulled myself out or the wreckage, tearing my clothes from my body.
"I heard Mlea Cunningham cry. My God, It's on fire.' I pulled her from the debris. I looked ahead and saw that we were near to the street. 1 crawled to It, dragging Miss Cunningham with me." Misa Cunningham was burned about the legs and face. Moore wan badly burned about the face and. armii hat broko. blood velse - In':HL "right arm to pulling Miatti Cunningham from . the wreckage. '
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TWENTY ARE BURIED AT UNION SERVICES
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE
close as loath to leave his comrades, the boy, Mo Ath- ley, who took Miss Conkin to the fatal dance.
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The boys of Company D. attentive to the comfort of all, assist the mourners with an added understanding be- cause three of those unidenti- fied dead are of their own company-Marvin Hill, Newt Riley and Hugh Sams.
A . young girl stumbles -1
along the bitter way, blinded by tears and choked by sobs. Only the strong support of a young man's arm, tender and firm around her, keeps her from falling at every step. The boy, with rare sympathy, says nothing-for nothing can be said-but his support is steady ; his face filled with tender concern.
AN old man, stunned by grief, with reddened eyes and lips caught tight between his teeth, controls his own sorrow as he virtually carries his wife from the cemetery-
There are many such groupe; a woman almost col- lapsed, lovingly supported by husband, or sons, or other
Mrs. Kittle MeFarland, prominent young business women . of West Plains, and Major Robert Mullins, world war veteran and National Guard commander, were engaged to marry. Friday night they died together in the blast Which demol- ished ' a dance hall, and Monday they were buried in beautiful Oak. lawn : cemetery at West Plains. Hundreds crowded into the Chris. tian church or stood in the cold outside 'Monday afternoon double funeral service was con- ducted for Major Mullins and Lev Reed, his brotherinlaw, who also died in the -explosion. 4-10
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