Evening star., 1938-09-30
CHARLESTON DIGS
OUT FROM STORM
Tornado Dead Now Totals
rs, With 200 Injured and
Big Property Loss.
Sy the Associated Press.

CHARLESTON, S. c., Sept. 30
This historic city by the sea dug out
today from the wreckage strewn by a
raging tornado, and counted the
storms toll at 26 dead, 200 injured
some seriously and property damage
estimated at between 100000 and
100000.
-Four companies of State militia, aug
mented by soldiers from nearby Fort
Moultrie and Marines from the Navy
Yard. aided civilian authorities in
patrolling the debris-covered streets.
along which many of the citys famous
landmarks were destroyed or damaged.
Col. Harry o. Wilmington of the
18th Infantry, South Carolina Ma
tional Guard. commanding the troops,
said there was no disorder and no
looting.
Fourteen of the dead were white
and II were Negroes
List of Dead.
The known dead follow:
Marion H. Josey, As; Grace Belle
Josey. SO; Mary Belle Josey. 18; Walter
Franklin Josey. S; Gardenia Driggers
and Mrs. M. Driggers.
Mrs. Ruth Mertins, 26; Irwin H.
Mertins, jr., 3, and Marian Zeigler, IA.
Floyd Singletary. 9.
Ortie T. Redmond, 35.
S. l.. Westcoast, 65.
G, F. Heathington, 54, of Meggett.
Nathan Williams and Catherine
Grant.
Christiana Oliver
Catherine Simmons, A: George
emalls. So, both of James Island.
William J. Donnell.
Clemens c. Jones.
William H. Grant.
Arthur Pinckney.
Henry Byars.
Three unidentified Negroes.
Search for Bodies.
All through the night searchers
pulled away at the wreckage of build
ings. looking for more bodies. But
early today they said they believed
the death toll would stand at 26. All
but three OF the dead were identified
The Red Cross. in a preliminary
check. reported 70 houses were de-
molished and As were damaged to such
an extent that no one could live in
them. The relief agency reported 90
houses were slightly damaged, but were
still occupied.
The twister paralyzed communica-
tions systems and power facilities.
Electric service was restored to a part
Of the city last night. but for the most
part there was darkness. Relief agen-
cies fed, clothed and housed 1.lOO
homeless persons.
Hospitals listed So of the injured as
seriously hurt. The others were given
f1rst-aid treatment for comparatively
minor bruises and cuts and were dis.
charged
Many history-steeped buildings,
known to thousands of tourists were
SCARED by the furious twister, which
lasted only few seconds
Landmarks Damaged.
Among the famous landmarks that
were damaged were St Michael's Epis-
copal Church and ST Phillips Church.
both Of which were built before the
American Revolution.
AAoo odilldSeu WAS Cne picturesque
little French Huguenot Church. the
only one of its denomination in
America. The reconstructed Dock
Street Theater. one of the first play
houses to be built if America, also was
SCARED by the storm.
The colleges and schools were un-
scathed. But not so the stately old
homes overlooking the famous Battery.
Here shattered windows and damaged
roofs were the rule. Wealthy Eastern
ers own many Of the ancient houses.
Fifteen houses were shattered at
Sullivans Island, a summer resort 10
miles from here. The Weather Bureau
said the storm was purely local. 1t
was the first tornado to strike
Charleston since 1911. The citys
last major catastrophe was the 1885
earthquake.
Shipping and the water front escaped
damage.
City Market Hard Hit.
The greatest toll OF life was in the
neighborhood of the old city market.
Dozens Of Negroes many of whom had
come in from the country with produce,
were injured or killed as the old build
ing collapsed.
In the same section of the city a
two-family residence at As State
street was demolished, and six persons
lost their lives there. Three Negroes
were killed at Fiddlers Green, shanty
section Of the Ashley River flats.
MeteorologiSt j. E. Lockwood esti-
mated the twister probably reached
$50 miles an hour velocity at the
Charleston Paper Co. Building, which
, was crushed like an eggshell, killing
several persons.
Wilmington Flooded.