Headline News: Pipeline Explosion , Natchitoches Parish LouisianaSource: Natchitoches Times     Thursday, March 11, 1965Submitted By: Kay Thompson - Brown**********************************************Copyright.  All rights reserved.http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htmhttp://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm**********************************************17 DIE IN PIPELINE EXPLOSION AND FIRE, LARGEST DISASTER IN HISTORY OF THEINDUSTRYInvestigation is Underway To Determine Cause of TGP RuptureNatchitoches residents are slowly recovering from the shock of the tragedywhich drew nation wide attention to this area last week. Major topic ofconversation though out parish is still however, the pipeline explosion whichclaimed 17 lives early Thursday morning.Investigation of the blast, the largest disaster in the history of thennatural gas transmission industry is still underway by the Tennessee GasPipeline Co., and teams of investigators representing the Federal PowerCommission, private firms, and state and local authorities. The pipelinecompany, an operating division of Tennessee Gas Transmission Company,requested an independent metallurgist to conduct a probe.High Pressure LineThe explosion occurred at 6:03 a.m. in TGP's 24-inch high pressure pipelinewhich extends from the TGP plant on Oak Grove Road northeasterly toward GrandEcore. Plant personnel, who reported the pipeline was operating on a normaldischarge pressure and had been for several hours, immediately shut the valveat the plant and men were dispatched to Grand Ecore to close the next valve onthe other side of the line break.After the two valves were closed, isolating that eight mile section of pipe,it took approximately 30 minutes for the gas remaining in the ruptured sectionto burn itself out.There was no construction underway on the line and nothing else in theoperation was out of the ordinary that TGP officials can determine wouldcontribute to the catastrophe.Established ProceduresThe damaged section of the pipeline will be replaced with one-third inch pipeinstead of one-quarter inch pipe, but will not be placed back in service untilit has been thoroughly tested. This is in accordance with establishedprocedures which have proved satisfactory throughout the pipeline industry.George Segler of New York, staff member for the American Gas Assn, said thatthe fact the pipe did not rupture with a bell shape opening or with the pipebent upwards pointing the gas flow upwards indicated an unusual aspect of theNatchitoches blowout. He said that he would suspect a "wrinkle bend" wasinvolved in the pipeline failure.Five HousesFour occupied houses and one unoccupied house in a small community just acrossHighway 1 from the Natchitoches Country Club were destroyed in the blast andsubsequent fire. The line ruptured between two parallel country lanes leadingfrom the highway, but houses west of the blast escaped because the force ofthe burning gas was directed like a blowtorch flame toward the eastern group.A large crater was created by the explosionWhen the fires died down, a morgue was set up at the National Guard Armory andcorpses were taken there to facilitate identification. Sheriff's deputies,Civil Defense Auxiliary Police, City Police, and State Police assisted thelocal funeral homes with the gruesome task.Dr. Charles Cook, parish coroner, said 16 human torsos had definitely beencatalogued, and there is no doubt that 17 persons died. Positiveidentification of most was impossible, but care was exercised so that familiesor occupants of the separate houses were determined.Victims of the tragedy were Mrs. Ola Dean Barbo, 19; Sonya Barbo, 4; SandraElaine Barbo, 2; Donald Barbo Jr., eight months; J. R. Rond, 42; Mrs. J. R.Rond, 40; Charles Rond, 14; Danny Rond, 9; Louis Gilcrease, 44; Mrs.. WillieAmmons, 28; David Eugene Ammons, three months; Mrs. Lawson Antley, 47; JackVan Meter, 32; Mrs. Jack Van Meter, 23;  Ruthie Michelle Van Meter, 2; MelodyVan Meter, 3; and Renee Van Meter, 6.Funeral RitesFuneral services for Mrs. Barbo and her children were conducted in the CalvaryBaptist Church at 1 p.m. Friday. Three hours later, services for the Rondfamily were held in the United Pentecostal Church, and Saturday at 2 p.m.services were conducted for the Van Meter family and Mrs. Antley. The funeralfor Mrs. Ammons and her infant son was at 10 a.m. Saturday.All were buried in the Calvary Cemetery.Saturday, services were also held at 10 a.m. for Louis Gilcrease, who wasinterred in the Old Gilcrease Cemetery.Survivors of the victims are listed below by families:BARBOMrs. Barbo is survived by her husband, Donald Barbo of Natchitoches; abrother, Roland Rond of Houston, Tex; two sisters, Mrs.. Rita Carpenter ofNatchitoches and Mrs. Audrey Oxley of Jonesville.Her children are survived by their grandparents, Mrs. And Mrs.. J.B. Barbo inaddition to their father.RONDMr. and Mrs. Rond are survived by two daughters, Mrs. Rita Carpenter ofNatchitoches and Mrs. Audrey Oxley of Jonesville; a son, Roland Rond ofHouston, Tx. Mr. Rond is also survived by five brothers, J.S. Rond and FredRond, both of Hobbs, N.M. Wilmer Rond of Pitkin, and Otis and Ted Rond ofShreveport; a sister Mrs.. Alphie Gilcrease of Pitkin; his father, SandersRond of Shreveport, and five grandchildren.Mrs. Rond is also survived by a brother, L.E. Jordan of Natchitoches; threesisters, Mrs. Ollie Bynog and Mrs. Mildred Dowden, both of Houston, Tx. AndMrs. Dorothy Longaria of Zwolle; a half-sister, Ruthie Milstead of Zwolle.VAN METERMr. and Mrs. Van Meter are survived by a son, Craig S. Van Meter ofNatchitoches. He is also survived by his mother, Mrs.. Edna Mims Van Meter ofShreveport; a sister Mrs. Marvin Shirley of Lindrith, N.M.; five brothers,Frank Van Meter of Knoxville, Tenn., Jan Van Meter of Dumas, Ark., Gerald VanMeter of Portland, Ore., Hampton Van Meter of Morgan City, Bobby Van Meter ofMountain Home, Idaho.Mrs. Van Meter is also survived by her father, Lawson Antley of Natchitoches;and a brother, Alvin L Antley of Bloomfield, N.M.ANTLEYMrs. Antley is survived by her husband, Lawson Antley; a son, Alvin Antley ofBloomfield, N.M.; her stepmother, Mrs. Pearl Finch of Alexandria; threesisters, Mrs. Mattie Wilkerson of Natchitoches, Mrs.. Melwyn Longworth andMrs.. Louise Schweizenger, both of Alexandria; three brothers, Albert Finch ofNatchitoches and Fabe and Guy Finch of Lake Charles; and four grandchildren.GILCREASEMr. Gilcrease is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Betty Dunlap and Mrs. MarilynDoyal, both of Shreveport; two sisters, Mrs. Oma Gass of Pineville and Mrs.Ola Gass of Hobbs N.M.; tow half brothers, Bryant Gilcrease of Natchitochesand S.G. Gilcrease of Hobbs; and four grandchildren