Shelby, N. C., Aug. 28.--Eight per-
ecns were killed, 15 injured and an
undetermined number are m
in the collapse of the First Nati
bank building during a rush hour
today,

The death toll may rise as three
hours after the crash workmen had
been able to clear away the debris
only at the edge of the building, |
The known dead: '
| Miss Ora Ehtridge, secretary to
the bank president; Guy Green,
bank clerk: Alex Boyd, bank clerk;
Deb Blanton, a farmer; Carl Blans
ton, his son; an unidentified
man and two other men,

Death Toll May Mount
Police estimated the death toll
would mount steadily as rescue
crews dug deeper into the debris in
the search of bodies. :

No accurate check up could be
made of the missing persons, butdt
was known that a dozen or more
had not been accounted for,
| Barly this afternoon the crews
‘had searched only the edges of the
‘huge pile of debris, and it was feare
ed many more bodies would be
, found toward the center,

Workmen Feared Killed
| It was feared that a crew of 17
/negroes who were working in the
center of the building were all killed.
‘The reseue crews had not been able
jas yet to get to the place where the
jnegroes were working
| It was known that 15 persons were
‘injured, several of whom may die.
They were all taken to a ~~
lhere as they were extradicated
Sage fallen structure.
: avation work at a

buil iiding = L genes uy =
the cause of the collapse of mo Ps
building. Tt was known that several
persons were in @ grocery and a
tailor shop which were a part of the
building, but it was expected to be
hours before that part of the strue-
ture could be searched thoroughly,
; dmoniessbaasil
; Shelby, N.C, Aug. 28—An un-

determined number of persons were
‘entombed, four were known to have

been killed and 15 were injured
| when the First National Bank build-
> img here collapsed today,
.| While no accurate estimate could
| be made of the number of dead a
few minutes after the crash, four
| bodies were recovered from the de-
» bris. They were unr
., Several were injured and were re.
: (Continued on Page 4)

 
 
 

(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.

 
  
  
 
  
 
 
 
   
   
   
 