Clarion-Ledger from Jackson, Mississippi • Page 1

mm MONDAY FORECAST Partly cloudy and mild. Expect-ed low 38, expected high 65. Sunrise 6:49, sunset 4-56. SUNDAY EECORD Low 51 at 9 a. high 58 at 3:15 p.

m. Rainfall 0.16 inch. Pearl river at Jackson 3.8 feet, op 0.7. INDEX AMUSEMENTS CLASSIFIED ADS 5 COMICi 9, Sc. EDITORIAL Page RADIO LOG Pogt SOCIETY Page 4 SPORTS Pogta 1 WJTV PROGRAM Pogi 3, II Sec.

1 1 4. Sc. II Sec I 3, Sc. II 5, Sec I 2. S.

II 2, Sec II Mississippi's Leading Newspaper For More Than A Century VOL CXVI NO. 236 PER COPY MSI Storm Destroys 380 Vicksburg Buildings; 230 Persons Injured Here is the gigantic toll of the Vicksburg tornado: Damage estimated at $25,000,000. 26 Killed; 78 still hospitalized; 230 injured. 1,200 persons are homeless. 275 dwellings demolished; 328 damaged.

29 apartment buildings demolished; 38 damaged. 76 businesses and service stations demolished; 189 damaged. Total buildings destroyed 380. "stoblished 1837 WHERE THE TORNADO STRUCK i i v. I.

By CHARLES M. HILLS Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer VICKSBURG Twenty-eight bodies have been recovered from the ruins left by the death-dealing tornado which ripped through Vicksburg Saturday afternoon and all available hands Sunday are still digging, cutting and prying for other possibly missing. One major fire is still raging in the warehouse district. A cotton compress with 1000 bales of cotton has burned to ashes. A Negro apartment building was leveled by fire, the terror of the aftermath because of blocked CLOUDY Full AP end INS Reports equipment.

The city today took stock of itself. Fortunate relative have avecounted for their T-, tovea ones. meuraonuMw nes are weeping, hoping a- Col. T. B.

commissioner of public safety. said he believed that all the children had been removed from the ill-fated movie house. Rescus workers are still digging to remove the walls and roof that caved in on the children at their Sat urday afternoon show. But the hysteria is dying. Citi zens who were iranuc uaiuraay night are calmed Sunday.

All are sad but some tears have more grief than others. Rescue workers are under the constant fear that wall3 may crumble on them as they dig through the thousands of tons of debris, looking for bodies. When the wind blows harder. many take nervous glances at the cracked walls above them and all is silent until it is calm again. The national guard has set up their headquarters in the chamber of commerce offices in the Vicks burg hotel which was on the fringe of the tornado area.

Bulldozers Busy Bulldozers, road machines, scrapers and mechanical lifts are chug ging away at the tons of brick. concrete and steel that blankets the streets and sidewalks. It looks as though they will have to rebuild every building on Washington street. A vast number of wholesale houses, including the P. P.

Williams one of the largest in the country, vill have to be rebuilt. One saloon was razed. Whiskey, till on the bar. is guarded by stony-faced sentinels. The Red Cross is trying with srreat difficulty to determine the number of persons who are homeless.

Volunteer workers are searching the ruins all over the city for bodies of persons who might not have had relatives to report them missing. Workers probing ruins came un expectedly upon four bodies of atjNegroes Sunday morning. NeDhGW Of Local 'Hcw i wtui UOCTOr dUrVIVeS Theatre Tragedy Jackson relatives Were re- streets, poor communications and lack of fire-fighting 5c Aerial view along the Yaioo Walker Hall. Jr. II.

F. Rlsher. Mildred llemby. Irving Thompson. Patty Nutt.

Mrs. J. B. Flower. Mrs.

T. Groves. Simmie Harvard. Florence Willis. Preston Gourh.

Charles Carrington. Frank Mitchell. Marrello Walker. Garnet Van Norman. Sherrill Mitchell.

J. L. Versen. Rorer Barnes. Dalton Glatt.

Mrs. Damon Brimmage. Linda Gay Brimmage. Anna Bruce. C.

W. Hatfell. Ella Stanton. Lllla Wells. Liizie Bell.

Lillie B. Bridges. Herrela Brown. Mrs. Leo Cbltto.

J. D. Chapin. Neill Cogan. George Criss.

Mrs. George Criss. Ronnie Criss. Randy Criss. V.

W. Cogan. Aaron Davis. Mary Davis. Mary Raymond Davis.

Vollie F. Davis." Norman Harris. Eddie Heath. J. A.

Henderson. Mrs. J. D. Henderson.

Lixiie Jones. Aria Lewis. Mrs. lone Luckett. Lorenio Rose Lee Mason.

Claudia Mitchell- Jackson, Mississippi, Monday were right on the fringe of the Frances Washington Mamie Williams Betty Dillard Eldora Dungan Mose James Audrey Lawyer Frank Brown Rosie Hopper Catherine Williams Bob Varsen J. B. Flowers Leonard Warren Mrs. Leonard Warren II. G.

Reck R. A. Young, Jr. Clara Davis Mrs. Evelyn Reims Ruth Hunt Mrs.

Robert Hamilton Mrs. Robert King Alvin Beard Margaret B. Stuhhs Fannie Sue Hamilton Mrs. D. B.

Fried Ben Johnson A. R. Williams Marvin L. Kelly Albert Scott Mrs. Mittle Ruth Hunt Roger Powers Flore Williams Arthur Williams Rosetta Smith Emmy Middleton Janice Mitchell Carol Moses Julia Wright 1 HINTS ON Be sure to dry your -hair Immediately after washing to avoid colds, health authorities say.

And be sure to place For Rent ads In Clarion-Ledger Pcrson-to-Person Want Ad Section to find desirable tenants, experienced landlords advise! When your vacancy's spic n' span, ready for renting. Dial 3-2421 for an ad-writcr who gladly helps you word your ad. mm Morning, December 7, 1953 Ike Clears Way For Federal Aid In Storm Area Quickly Proclaims Disaster Area So Funds Can Be Had Dec. 6 (INS) President Eisenhower declared tornado-stricken Vicksburg. a disaster area tonight, clearing the way for federal assistance to aid in reconstruction.

Mr. Eisenhower telephoned his announcement from Bermuda, where he is attending the Big Three conference, to Sherman Adams, assistant to the president. The chief executive also asked Adams to express to the people of the tornado-ravaged area his deepest cympathy. The White House said that Mrs. Katherine Howard, deputy administrator of the Civil Defense administration, left for Jackson.

toniuht and will confer with Gov. Hugh White and other state and local officials on the disaster. Gov. White earlier today had telegraphed the president asking for federal assistance. The Civil Defense agency conducts surveys in such disaster areas and makes recommendations to the president for allocation of funds.

Local civil defense officials are to see to the actual spending of the money. Local Civil Defense officials were awaiting Mrs. Howard's arrival in Jackson. Along- with Col. Harry Brown, of Atlanta, regional CD director, and Hendrix Dawson.

Mississippi CD director, she will confer with Gov. White this morn ing on Federal relief for Vicks-burg. When informed Sunday night by the Clarion-Ledger of the presi dent's proclamation. Gov. White at the mansion expressed gratification that the president had moved so swiftly.

He said that details of Federal relief work for reconstruction would be discussed with Mrs. Howard and the other CD officials this morning. Dawson also expressed his ap preciation of the quick action. He pointed out that the presidential proclamation had come in Just about 24 hours after the tornado struck. It followed a request by Governor White and the Mississippi and regional CD officials.

Dawson said he believed it to be the swiftest action of its type since the law was passed. Dr. Fred T. Mitchell Dies In Hailiesburg President Emeritus Of Miss. State DR.

MITCHELL HATTIESBURO Dee. 6 Dr. Fred T. Mitchell. 62.

emeritus of MississiDDl State College, died at Forrest County General Hospital at 5:45 p. Saturday. Death came after a long illness. Dr. Mitchell, who with his wife moved here about five months aeo.

was president of Mississippi State rom 1945 to April oi mis When he retired, he spent 10 weeks in a New Orleans hospital before coming to Hattiesburg where has a brotner ana sisier. Born In Rankin county July 4. 1891 ho was graduated in 1913 frnm MIUstnn A. Xx. M.

College. which later became Mississippi State. He received his master's degree from Peabody College in Nashville in 1927 and four years later his doctorate in education and ad ministration, earning this degree at Cornell. Soon after this, he Joined the faculty of Michigan State at East Lansing and was there 14 j-ears. becoming dean of men before finally acceDtinir the presidency of the college at Starkville.

He was an ewer in we presDy- from Fj 121 if Ah i $25,000,000 Damage Done To The Ciiv Emergency Help Beinq Sought By Governor By JAMES SAGGl'S and DOUGLAS STARR VICKSBURG. Dec. 6 UV- The death total in tornado-stricken Vicksburg climbed to 28 tonight as searchers continued the hunt for more victims in the wreckage of the desolate city. Disaster officials say 230 were injured when the tornado struck last night, causing damage estimated at 25 million dollars. Harry E.

Brown of Atlanta, re gional administrator of the federal Civil Defense Administration, said he had recommended to President Eisenhower that he declare an emergency. Army and National Guard engi neers estimated damage In Vicks burg at 25 million dollars. This did not include burned cotton in last night's 15-minute holocaust. But the weary men who probed the ruins thought only of the bodies they still might find. Some said they were certain at least seven others were under the debris.

The twister, worst of four that swept into Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkansas, shattered Vicks burg's business district for 12 blocks, set off fires in a dozen places including Mississippi River warehouses and choked off normal life for 28,000 residents of this river city. Gen. W. P. Wilson of the Mis sissippi National Guard, his gutrdsmen augmented by police from nearby cities, declared an emergency last night.

His armed men patrolled the debris-strewn eets but many red-eyed store keepers kept their own night-long vigil against looting. Wilson said today there was little looting. Daylight stirred citizens to at tempt a normal life. Drug stores. eating places and the like opened, even if surroundings looked like an- American Bulldozers and drag lines went to work clearing streets.

Trucks and bucket brigades brought debris from buildings. The devout attended shortened church services and prayers of the sorrowing rose to Him. A particularly stirring craver came irom the Hps of 4-year-old Carol one of many chil dren trapped under the wreckage r7i'--JSU'', kv rtver front in Vkksborg showing where the greatest damage was storm area, just this side or me Dig building, shown at the. top or done small dwellings by Saturday's tornado. The camera is the photo.

The storm struck again northeast of the business dis- polntinr northeast in 'the direction that the storm took. The trlct. This picture was made at an elevation of about 1.200 feet. Saeuger Theater Is among the large business buildings at the top The plane was piloted by Bob Neblett. manager of the Jackson of the picture; the Mississippi Hardware Company's building and municipal alrpork (Staff photo by Bingham.) (Additional Pictures On Pages 7, 8 and 12.) The Casualty List of the Saenger Theater In down town Vicksburg last Eight.

It was dark and stifling and ter- er's front rows alter ine root dropped with a roar. Carol was children wjtli her, "Pray to God. Carol." said the voice of Mrs. George Mitchell. So Carol prayed in her childish.

frightened voice and found assur ance. She began to sing "Jingle Bells." Perhaps the example of little Carol helped to quiet the screaning of other children. Mrs. Mitchell told the story of Carol, one of the incidents of a tprrifvinar burial for three and one- i half hours. Mrs.

Mitchell had taken 16 children to a birthday theater party. "We had no chance to move," she said. "We were buried about three and one-half hours. We were smothering at first. When they started to move debris we could feel cool air.

Sometimes when they moved debris a lot of weight came on us. "Some of the children screamed for awhile, then were rather calm, considering." Mrs. Mitchell, six months preg nant, appeared likely to give birth by dawn, but physicians at Mercy Hospital later reported they were hopeful of staving off the premature event several days. What the theater victims could not see was the terror and confusion outside as parents hunted massing children, as rescuers frantically dug into the ruins in the flickering light of fires and flashlights. Nor could they see the machinery of rescue whirl Into action the Red Cross disaster team heading for the scene with 150 units of blood serum, the sirening ambulances from nearby cities; police CaatiBM Pft been on duty since 9:30 p.m Satur.

day and he was still at his post afternoon. "There arc three kids in the basement nf th. Saenger Theatre." said the Guards- man. "but they say-through many xeet of wood, plaster and one uiai iney are OK. Except." said the soldier, "they said that they were hungry and cold." We understood later, after making the trip through the damaged area, that the three kids were rescued and are now back at home with their parents.

ith the exception of the exhaust noises of the trucks and tractors and the banging of the big machines which were top-ling any of the dangerous walls, everything was as silent as a tomb. Each person went at his or her Job, looking neither to the right nor left. They were silent as well as stunned after the horrible nieht which had been passed without sleep or rest. They just kept right at the Job. Sandwiches, coffee and any other kind of food was brought to the "front lines" with the "food wag on making the some three or four miles of the area.

Everywhere people were right In there helping. Up the street came a truck from Memphis. Across the iCMtinaet rt 11) Bouncing Tornado First Hit The River the Palermo haberdasery building Morris Long. Mr. and Mrs.

Joe Talermo. Lula Mae Reed. Joe Woolfolk. Rev. A.

W. Wilson. 1 AT CHARITY HOSPITAL Carol Owens. Percy Williams. James Velchoff.

Daisy Moore. Leconla Dunbar. Hazel Stone. Henry Hardy. Laura B.

Henderson. Alberta Bowie. Percy Thomas. Tearlie Parsons. Enda Ruth Stone.

Alfreda Sims. Carol Moses. Mrs. Margie Hyman. Mrs.

W. R. Shaw. Johnnie Anderson. P.

S. Turner. Roosevelt Brown. Rosie Lee Adams. Stella Hark.

Mrs. Begina Jacobs. Miss Lillian Jones. J. W.

ilis. Mattie Champion. Lewis Renaud. Charles Buckler. Mrs.

B. II. HUderbrand, of Tokens. Murray Street Percy Llndsey AT MERCY HOSPITAL Mrs. II.

B. Block Mrs. Willie Mae Peck Mrs. B. B.

Evans Albert Scott Rev. Warrick Aiken Gus Holler Mrs. Preston Gouch Mrs. G. M.

Mitchell Mrs. T. E. Greaves Rosella Smith I YICKSBCRG. DEC.

6 Here ts the toll of dead and injured la the storms that truck Vlcksburg Saturday. THE DEAD Nick Cassino. Sr. Harlow Fried AlTie E. Harwood Roberts S.

Glatt L. M. Langran Mrs. Vf. L.

Ingle Mrs. Kelly T. Tingle Brenda Thornell, (killed in theat- rl Loralne Thornell (killed In theat- er) Joyre Barfield (killed fat theater) I.lndsey uwe Claudia Mae Varaad Joseph Winn. Sr. E.

C. Parker Sylvian Powell. 7 Susie Hebraa aUnieI Brown Abe Smith Harry Dtllard Emma Harris Square Harris Kooie Lee Bentley, adult Agnes Martin, 23 Nellie Nelson Lewis Williams Three unidentified bodies Injured List: (Partial) Robert Jones. Elbert Jones. Harp Moor Elbert Taylor Georgia Smith Eryljro Smith Rath Jackson.

Eleanor Donalson. Ben Johnson. Daisy B. D. Emflnger.

Knth Sims. Francis Harris. Mrs. Alice Snyder. By ARNOLD HEDERMAV Vicksburg is the city of Three-D death, destruction and debris.

Homes, buildings, light poles, telephones everything took a terr rific beating Saturday night when the most destructive force since the starvation and bombardment days of the Civil War. struck the Hill City of Mississippi and without a single bit of warning. The tornado, and it was a branch of a big one. struck the canal off the Mississippi River and took a 45-degree angle from the canal to hit with force the city of Vicks burg. We talked with a dirt-smeared rescue agent, and be told us a fellow who was on the river at the time of the tornado.

The boatman stated that be saw the tornado coming and lay on the bottom of the boat. He was In the direct path. However, said the boatman and we were unable to get his name the tornado struck the canal and "it bounced like a rubber ball and struck the river-side of Vicksburg with full force." The railroad work-shops were completely un-roofed by the big gust of wind which struck with the force of the giants of old. When we arrived on the scene, we were able to speak to one of the National Guardsmen. He had lieved to learn late Sunday that Emmett 16, came through the Saenger theatre traeedy unhurt.

The young man. son of M. Ward. of Vicksburg. was sitting near the front of the theatre.

For some unexplained reason he happened to glance upward and saw the balconies caving. That gave him just enough time to get out of the way. Emmett imediately pitched in and helped rescue some of the other children that were buried in the collapsed building. Emmett is a nephew of Dr. Gayden Ward of Jackson, and is-a grandson of Mrs.

M. E. Ward, also of" this city. Incidentally! Mrs. Ward had gone to Vicksburg for a visit in the Ward home there, and arrived Just before the storm hit.

Si the tornado did not hit th-t particular section of the city, the family was unharmed. i.