 

(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. C., Aug. 28,—Six. per>
sons were killed, 15 injured, and, an
undertermined number ate missing in
the .collapse of the First National
‘Bank building here late this forenoon.

The death toll: may rise as three
hours after the crash workmen had
been unable to clear away the debris
only at the edge of the building.

Police. estimated the death toll
would mount steadily as rescue crews
dug deeper jn the debris. :

No accurate checkup could be made
jof the missing persons, but ‘it was
\xnown a dozen or more have not been
accounted for, °: ce ; ;
| It was feared that a crew of seven-
|teen Negroes, who were working in
the center of the’ building, were all
‘|xilled. The Tescue crews have not
lpeen able as yét-to get to the place
where the Negroes were working. -

It‘ is known that 15 persons were
‘injured,’,several of whom m.ty die,
They were all taken to a woopital
here as they. were brought fre. ‘the
fallen structure. oe ot

excavation work at a nearby bulld-
ing is: generally assigned .as_ the
cause of the collapse of the bank
building, 9° |

It was known several. pérsons werk
jin a grocery and a.tailor shop, whict
{were a part of the building, bat i
| will be hours before Urat part of th
structure can be searcand.

   
 
  
 
  
  
    
   

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