 

(INS) — Six persons were
killed, 15 injured and an un-
determined nuruber are mizsing
in the collapse of the First Na-
tional bank building during a
rush hour today, The death tolt
may rise as three hours after
the crash workmen had been
able to clear away the debris
only at the edge of the build-
ing.
e . e
SHELBY, N. C., Aug. 28—(AP)
—Four peopis were known to
have been killed and an unde-
termined number fnjured here te-
ay when three buildings in the
business district collapsed. The
dead are: Miss Gra Eskridge, a
clerk in the First National bank;

one unidentified white man and

two unidentified negroes.

| The buildings that collapsed

were ths First National bank, in
temporary, quarters; Goodes grec-
ery store. aid &, tailér. shop” No
cause for the collapae wat given
witho workmen were said to have
been excavating under, the buiid-
Me. : My

George Blanton, acting vice
[president of the bank, escaped
with «minor injuries, as did“ For-
est Eskridge, cashier. Ciarencs
Mull, assistant cashier, was sert-
ously injured.

"Two other clerks were sald to
have been buried in the debris.
The proprietor cf the tallor shep
was missing and was reported to
have been buried in the ruins ot
his shop.

Four bank clerks were unac-
counted for but {t was thought
‘| possible. that they were in the
| crowds about the scene. A physt-
cian climbed thru dangerous orer-
| banging walls to treat 2 woniad

bank clerk who was pinned under
twisted steel and brick. a
‘ ‘Tle two dead negroee were
members of the excavating crew
‘at work under the buildings
Others of the crew are missing.

Construction gangs from al
parts of the city were workin
desperately to clear the wreckag:
and extricate those who may atil
be allve. Physiclans from all cit:
hoenitals were called.

 
  
  
 
  
 
 
 
   
   
   
 
Shelby, N. G.,-Aug. 28,--Six persons were Killed, 15'in-|
ed-and an. undetermined: number-are. missing: in. the -col-
se of the First National Bank building during @ tush hour

ay. : : bs Penh aid tugt | : a
‘The-death toll may rise as three hours’after the crash
vykmen had: been able. to clear away. the debris ‘only vat

pace of the buildings
 i JHE DEAD Pee

“Muss Ora Ehtridge, secretary to .
tlie bank president. ~ et

Guy Green, hank. clerk.

Alex Boyd, bank’ clerk.

Deb. Blanton, ‘a ‘farmer,

Carl Blanton, his son. -

An ‘unidentified white man.

Pollte “estimated the. death’. toll
Would ‘Thount steadilyas resctiz crews
dug deepér into the debris in .the
search: of bodies. :

No accurate chéck up could be made
of the ‘missitig persons. but. 1s was
known thet a.dozen:or more? had not
been accounted « for.” F

Farly this aiternoon. the crews. bac
searched. only the ‘edges. of the hugé
pile of debris, arid it was feared man}
more bodies would-be found towarc
the center,

It, was feared that a. crew of
savenicen . negroes who were
 avorking in. the’. center: of (the
} building were, all kified. The

réscue crews had not beer, able:
ws. yeo to.get to the place where
the negroes wefe working.
. It-is known that. fifteen per~
sons ‘were Injured, Several of
whom may died. | They: were all
taken’ to a hospital here as they
qwere extticated from the fallen
structure,

Excavation work ut a .nearb
puliding was. generally assigned a
the catise of the collapse of the ban
pullding. It’ was--known’ ‘that’ stv
etal persons were in-@ procery an
a tallor's shop. which ‘were & part .c
the building, ‘but it was, expected t
je hours’ before ‘that part of th
structure could. de searche
thoroughly. * g ‘

The bullding was on. a° prineip:
business, corner ‘here.’ ”

There were a dozen persons. em
ployed In the bank and as the crag
occurred during a rush moruing ‘bus!
ness hour, it was .helleved, thab ;
least “that. many others were In 4

pullding., Four persons were employ
shed’ in.‘the grocery and:+wa in’ it
itallors':shop, * a a ee
: it: was believed that.j¢ would
{| . bechours before rescue crews could
bring out the hodies.of all tae
persons. either, dead or. trapped
° the, piles of debris, and
ni of the death toll def-
aseertalmed. ~~

  
  
 