 

(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. (1
N.S.)—Light persons were
killed, 15 injured and an unde-
termined number are missing
in the collapse of the First Na-
tional Bank building during a
rush hour today,

The death tol! may rise as
three hours afler the crash
workmen had heen abled to
clear away (the debris only at
the edge of the building,

Police estimated the death  tott
would mount steudlly as rescue
crews dug deeper inta the debris in
the search of bodies,

No aveurate check up could be
muade of the missing persons, but it
was known that a dozer or more
had net heen accounted for.

Early this afternoon the crews
had searched only ihe edges of the
huge pile of debris. and it was
feared many more borties would be
fonnd toward the center,

Te was feared that a crew_ of
seventeen negroes who were worke
ing in the center of the building
were all killed The rescue crews
had not heen able as vet in get to
the place where the negroes were
work lag.

Ht was huown that fifteen per-
sons were jnfured, several af shon
inty dio, ‘They were all taken ta 2
hospital were as they were evtract-
ed From the fallen structare.

Excavation work at a nearhy
building was generally assigned ax
the re of the collapse of the
link building, 1t was kuown that
several persmis were in a grocery
and a tatlor’s shop whieh were a
part of the building, but [t was
pected to be hours hefere that part
of the structure could be searched
Lheroughly,

The collapse seeurred during a
lsh hour on this Hitie town's main
thoroughfare, aud it was helleved
that severat persons fn the street
were trapped under the deluce of
stone awd timber,

The entire fire and police forces
rere taxed ta capacliy in control
fnz the crowds, Many voluntiers
lided fy the rescue aperations, ,

The buitting was located in a
msy district, and was one of the
argest In the town,

 

 

 

 

  
 