It was in 1952 that
Meher Baba first
came to his “Home in
the West,” to visit the
place that his
devotees had
lovingly built for him
in Myrtle Beach and
called the Meher
Spiritual Center. This
was a joyous time …
an event that was
many years in
preparation.
Meher Baba is pictured here along with with Adele Wolkin, Filis Frederick, his sister
Mani, Rita (Sparkie) Lukes, Ivy O. Duce, Mehera, Delia DeLeon and Meheru.
After several weeks visiting with Baba lovers old and new, it was time for
them to go. On May 21, 1952, Meher Baba and the women mandali left in
two cars for California to visit devotees waiting for him there. (The men
mandali had been sent on ahead, the day before.) Perhaps no-one
realized the significance of it then, but the route Baba chose very closely
followed the Trail of Tears.
Trail of Tears Map source: U.S. National Park Service
“Kitty Davy writes in Love Alone Prevails…
“Elizabeth drove the blue Nash,
Baba seated beside her; Mehera,
Mani and Meheru behind….
On the night of May 23 we stayed
at Pond Crest Motor Court in the
Ozarks [Arkansas]….
We were up early as usual.
…After breakfast the group stood
waiting in front of the motel for Baba’s
signal to step into the cars. This
morning Baba delayed starting, however.
He came out of his room and stood quite
still for some minutes on the doorstep,
withdrawn, sad and unusually still. No last
minute questions, no haste to be off….
Ten minutes elapsed before Baba walked to the car, followed by the
eastern women…. After a short distance, Baba’s car stopped suddenly
and Baba got out and paced up and down the right-hand side of the road.
We too got out and stood by the car. Not a word was uttered.” (pp. 397398.)
The automobile collision occurred later that day on this stretch of
road 8.8 miles away from Prague, Oklahoma.
This photograph was taken from the collision site, facing east.
“With lightning speed we jumped out of the car and rushed forward. The
anguish of that moment is unforgettable…. Baba’s face with blood pouring
from his head, the extraordinary expression on Baba’s face, his eyes just
staring straight ahead as if into unfathomable distances. He made no
sound or sign...just lay there motionless…. Elizabeth was in the car
doubled over the wheel. Her first question had been, ‘Is he alive?’”
--Kitty Davy, Love Alone Prevails, p. 398.
The injured are rushed to the Prague Clinic
When the ambulance
came, they went to
Baba with a stretcher,
but he motioned toward
Mehera, asking that she
be helped before him.
After arrival at the
hospital, again he
refused assistance until
Mehera had received
attention. Mehera was
unconscious at the
time, having received a
very serious head
injury.
This image shows the emergency room
entrance looking about the same as it
did in the early 1950s. Kitty recalled,
“The whole Prague Clinic was turned
upside down to make the party
comfortable.”
Dr. Ned Burleson later wrote:
“When I finally got around to attending
to Baba, I was surprised to see an
individual who was injured as badly as
he was still smiling. I was also
astounded to find that he did not speak
a word, or make any sound denoting
discomfort….
Dr. Burleson standing in
front of the Emergency
Room entrance in 1959.
The most attractive quality of his
personality that first day was the way he
looked at me with those big brown eyes
as if he were reading my mind. Later, I
determined that the most astounding
quality was that something which made
it possible for him to receive such
profound devotion and loyalty from so
many fine and educated people. That
quality cannot be forced. Such devotion
can only be possible because he
deserved it or earned it.” (p. 400, Love
Alone Prevails)
During the twelve days that Baba,
Mehera, Meheru and Elizabeth were
cared for in Prague, the townspeople
expressed such loving helpfulness that
all the party were deeply touched.
Baba’s connection with the Burleson
family continued through the years
primarily by way of correspondence
through his sister, Mani. Baba did not
forget the Burlesons. Once, much to
the delight of Mrs. Burleson and the
children, he sent the family a leopard
skin from India.
Mani and Mehera