 

(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.

 
  
  
 
  
 
 
 
   
   
   
 
 

... yphedby, NOC. Auge 28.—Kight
persons were killed, fifteen in-
jured and ajl undetermined num
.ber are missing fin the collapse. of
the First National bank building
during a rush hour ‘today.

The, death toll may jrise three
hours after the -erash ‘workmen
had been able to clear away the
anly at the edge of thy

 

 

 

   

 

  

The known dead are; Miss Ora
Ethridge, seeretary to the bank.
president; Guy Green, bank clerk;
Boyd, bank clerk; Del) Blan-
ton, a farmer; Carl Blahton, his
‘son; two unidentified white men,
and an tiidentified negro,

Police .estimuted. the’ death,-toll
Would ‘mount steadily as rescue
crtws dug flecper into the debris
in the search df bedies. '

No Accurate Check. +

Nozpeenrate, check, “codild » be
jraade of the missing persons, but.
hit was known that a dozen or more
had not been, accounted , for.

! Early this afternoon the etews
‘hail searched only the edges of
the huge pile of debris, and it was
feared: many more Wodics would
be found: teward| the center.

Tt was. feared \that a crew of
‘seventern negroes|who were work-
ing incthe center\of the buildin;
all wert, killed....T. OSCUG. CLEW!
had "ngt* been ahle! as yet to pet
to thé/piaee wiere the negros: had
been jorking.

It. was. known that fifteen per-
sons were injured, several of
whom may dic. They were all
[taken to a hospital here as they
were extricated: from the Lal
structure, oa

Excavation work at aciearby
“building was gencrally! assigned
us the cause: of the collapse of
the bank buildings "It was known
that several pefsons wert: in a
i grocery store and ‘h-tailor’s shop
which were a ‘part of the build-
; (hg, but it was—expected: ‘to che
| hours befate t part of tm:
tstructure—eould—pe-searched d-ther
oughly. » at Beak 5,

   
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

 

  

 

 

 
 