The times-news., 1938-09-30
CHARLESTON'S
DEAD NOW z;
CITY GUARDED
3S of l07 Severely Hurt in
Critical Condition;
ll00 Homeless
TWO TORNADOES HIT
CITY EARLY THURSDAY

CHARLESTON, Sept. 80.
(UP)-Historic old Charles
ton today struggled to re-
move the ravageS of two tor
nadoes which struck within
a few minutes of each other
from opposite directions yes
terday and killed p persons.
Four companies of nation
al guardSmen. soldiers and
marines are guarding 30
block area of destruction
from lOOterS.
Of 107 severely injured.
SO are in critical condition.
The Red Cross workers
found u homes and build
ingS demolished, and more
than 100 others damaged.
The loss today was eSti-
mated at S2,000,000.
Eleven hundred people are
homeless and are being shell
tered in schools and other
public buildings.
The first tornado struck the
northern section OF the city few
minutes after s a. m. Its intens-
ity was felt only momentarily.
There was brief luU and anoth-
or violent tornado hit the battery
and business section.
The storms wrecked and dam
aged manufacturing plants, old
buildings and colonial homes dat
ing back to the Revolution. Trees
and communication poles were
snapped; roofs were blown off;
automobiles overturned; power
cut off. and streets Uttered with
debris.
Torrential rains preceded the
tornadOeS and continued for SIX
hours aftcrward.
President Roosevelt, in Wash
ington, ordered the army, navy,
marine corps, works progress ad-
ministration, civilian conservation
corps and other federal agencies
to aid the city in clearing the
devastated area and giving relief
10 those in need.
Bodies of y victims-l5 white
persons and y ncgroes-had been
recovered early last night. Fire
men and emergency workers con-
tinued to dig through ruins Of
buildings.
Soldiers from Fort Moultric-
on Sullivan'S Island across from
CharleStOn-and miltlamen were
posted around the area hit by the
twisters. They kept out the curl
Gus, maintained lookout for loot
ers and established order in the
area.
The weather bureau confirmed
that two separate tornadocS
struck.
The National Red Cross in
Washington sent James CulljnS,
field worker in Columbia. here to
QlfeCJ ltS rCIeI WORK.
President Roosevelt issued the
order for the army and navy to
send aid, after an appeal from
Lieut.. Gov. J. L. Harley. Gov.
Ohn d. Johnston was flying back
TO the state from Oklahoma where
he had been attending confer
enCe.
Small frame houses caught in
the tornado vacuum exploded in
to matchwood. Five dead were
found in the ShambleS of one resi-
dence and four in another
The tornado wrecked the city
market-where slaves were sold in
pre-Civil war days and which had
been used by vegetable truck
farmers Of late years-riPped the
roofs off the century-old city hall
and historic St. MichaelS Episcopal
church. The battery, noted tour
list attraction, was cluttcred with
twisted trees and debris.
Hospitals reported that approx
mately $50 had been treated. Doc
tors and nurses were called out
on an emergency basis. Officials
of the hospitals were confident
their facilities, including medical
supplies and food, would be suf-
ficient.
The heaviest damage was done
along the waterfront where the
mill of the Charleston Paper COM
pany was leveled.
All power was cut off by the
Tornado. Communication systems
were disrupted for more than six
hours. The Charleston Post, an
afternoon newspaper, was unable
to publish until last night, because
of the power failure. The power
company restored electrical serv-
Continued on page six)