Dozen Persons Unaccounted for—Fear Many More
Bodies Will Be Found in Ruins—Believe 17
Negroes Working in Center of Building were
All Killed-——Several of Injured
Eynected tran Me,
  

Oo

SHELBY, N. C., Aug. 28.—(INS) —Collapse of the
First National Bank building here during a rush business
hour this morning claimed an undertermined number of
dead and injured.

At 12:45 this afternoon, when excavation operations
had been under way only three hours, a check-up revealed
six known dead, 15 known injured, and a number of persons
missing.

Police estimated the death toll would mount steadily
ag rescue crews dug deeper into the debris in search of
bodies.

No accurate check-up could be made of the missing
persons, but 1b was known that a dozen or more had not
been accounted for.

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

The known dead:

Miss Ora Ethridge, secretary to the bank president.

Guy, Green, bank clerk.

Alex Boyd, bank clerk.

Deb Blanton, a farmer who was in the bank.

Carl Blanton, his son.

Aw nnidentifiead man
 It was feared that a crew of seven-
teen negroes who were working In the
center of the building were ail Filled
The rescue crews had not heen able
TO get to the place where the negroes
were working at an early hour this
afternoon

It was known that fifteen persons
were injured, several} of whom were
expected to die They were all tak-
en to a hospital here as they were
dragged from the fallen structure

Excavation work at a nearby bulld~
ing was generally assigned as the
cause of the collapse of the bank
puilding It was known that several
persons were in a grocery store and a
tailor's shop which were a part of
the building, but it was expected to
be nours before that part of the
Structure could be searched thorough-
jy

The collapse occurred during a
Tush hour on this little town's main
thoroughfare, and it was beheved
that several persons in the street be-
low were trapped under the ze-
ecunding deluge of stone and timber

The entire fire and police forces
of Shelby, referred to as ‘the sum-
mer capital of North Carolina," were
taaed to the fullest in controlling
the crowds which gathered around
the scene of disaster

Many volunteers aided in the res~
eve onerstions _
 
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. ~~

  
  
 