The Daily News Leader from Staunton, Virginia • 1

f. The Staunton News-Leader mil jicua or not audit UVKMAV OT CntCXTLATIOMa STAUNTON, VIRGINIA, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1959 PRICE FIVE CENTS VOL. 110, 1 I ft prat y-ifywv?) iwwtWVW' -V fi 'V 'gfi n7 mmmtJ I ir LI LI KmS VJ IJ fiSSP orris family dead were (AP) I The ham community near Palmyra in CHARLOTTESVILLE 4 Ervin his wife Frances, also The sleepy little community of Fluvanna County about 5:30 p.m. The tornado which struck in Green County some 25 miles Ivy counted its dead at 11 today in her late 40s; their children, Wilmer, 15, Ruby, 15, and James, 18; Mrs. Ervin Morris 18, and from a tornado which flattened from Ivy; ripped the roof off Mrs.

Womble at Home Today (Staff Photo by Sutton) her two children, Peggy, Vh, and two dwellings yesterday five miles west of here. Ten of those killed were members of the same family. Michael, 7 months; and George Morris, 40, a brother of Ervin a State Highway Department building on State Rt. 609 and crumbled part of the structure's cinder block walls. It also picked up a state em ORDEAL DESCRIBED Morris Sr.

r- The savage twister, born of dy The body of Shirley Ann Morris, ployee's late model automobile and 4 -A, ing Hurricane uracie, swooped down out of torrential rain about 3, was discovered today. The fam ily relationhsip could not be im 4:30 p.m., two hours after a rel hurled it through the air. The vehicle was dumped on its top nearly 200 feet away. mediately established. atively minor tornado1 had struck mm Ervin Jr.

and two children of -v -4 not far away. Twelve of the 14 members of Fluvanna Hit The twister that hit in Fluvanna the families of Ervin Morris liBltiiS County tore off the roofs of sev about 48, and his son Ervin i V.I AwiTHf' iiL iTiiffitfflf eral homes, destroyed a church, the elder couple, Frances Anne, 5, and Herbert, 8, were hospitalized. Mary, 12, and Georgia, 13, were waiting out the rain at the home of friends and escaped. They earlier had been reported missing. 21, were at home in the duplex PICKING CP TOOLS was a big job today at the John W.

Clayton farm near Mechums River. Tornado yesterday flattened barn, scattered tools, wrapped up farm equipment with debris, unroofed residence. (Staff Photo by Vancleave) they shared. Nine perished al (See 11 Killed, Page 3) most instantly, their bodies thrown with explosive force upon 1 At Tornado Scene a wooded hillside. The remaining A neighbor of the Morrises said he saw small child "just three were injured.

disappear right up into the air" A hundred yards distant, the roof blew off the house of Ray timismo mond C. Bruce, 58, as he and his i 'IN wife Lilly, 56, and their son sought refuge in the kitchen. A stone chimney toppled and Mrs. Bruce was killed. with valuable equipment and feed scattered far and wide these were only a few evidences that night searching for missing bodies.

At last, shortly after six a. m. today, they found the last when the tornado hit.i A number of outbuildings near the duplex were flattened. Portions of the wreckage were found many hundreds of yards away. Lines Knocked Out Word of the tragedy spread slowly because telephone lines into the rolling countryside of Ivy, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, had been knocked out by the earlier Eight ambulances eventually "I heard a roaring up the back orchard it sounded like a train.

By NORRIS E. VANCLEAVE Leader Staff Writer "Dad will clean it all up somehow." Thus five-year-old Mike Clayton shrugged away yesterday's Mechums River tornado from Mechums River was hit hard. I saw Ervin Morris running into body, that of three-year-old Peggy Jane Morris. The body was his house, and then the roof started coming off my house," said Bruce, who with his son suffered hanging in a tree) head down, very neaf a path searchers had followed frequently throughout 0 But miraculously there were no casualties. So people were cleaning up this morning with a will.

Death Scene In sharp contrast was the secluded, scene of multiple deaths, a pair of shattered frame houses only minor injuries. atop his springy play horse a limb of a tree toppled across his sent to the scene had to be 'The roof went up about 50 the night. father's drive way. yards. My wife' and I ran back pushed and pulled over portions This brought the official and toward the kitchen.

Then the of U.S. 250 submerged by the final death toll to 11 10 in the Erwin M. Morris family and rain. chimney came down. More of it But although Mike's nonchalance accurately reflected an attitude of optimism hovering over tucked away several miles from hit my wife than me, the family of his son, Erwin L.

Both the Morris and Bruce dwellings were on a farm owned the mam highway. Here scores of officers state policemen Witnesses said the Morris du Morris. All of the Morris dead the Mechums River scenes of destruction, it would have seemed plex disintegrated. Rescuers who and Virginia national guardsmen by W. E.

Lindsay on rural Rt. 708. Bruce is employed at a bot fought their way to the scene over kept watch to keep the nar flooded and almost impossible totally out of place a few miles down the highway. No Death There impassable roads said the largest tling company here. Most the Morris men worked at a lumber mill near Ivy.

row, muddy country road from becoming too clogged, with traffic, while relatives and friends resided in one house, which was blown apart with hardly a trace left. The other fatality was in the nearby Bruce home, a part of which was left standing. Area. Witness H. V.

Herold, a farmer locat A TORNADO OR SANTA CLAUS It's all the laratto five-year-old Mike Here he tides his born left by tha storm. Staff Photo by Vancleave) There was no death at Mech piece of its furnishings they found was a twisted refrigerator. Two other twisters were report of the. deceased poked jeflective- ums River. So not know Staunton Couple Hurt in Tornado A Staunton couple was in the midst of yesterday's death-dealing tornado in the Mediums River-Ivy section.

He is in University Hospital; she is at home with a broken arm. Mr. and Mrs. T. Glenn Womble, 207 Archer had gone to Charlottesville yesterday on business, and were returning when the tornado unexpectedly and suddenly caught their car in its grip.

Mrs. Womble this morning told a Leader Gave fio Warning "We left Charlottesville about 4:15 p.m. in a light rain and proceeded toward Staunton at a very reasonable speed. The fury, of the storm struck us as we were under the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway overhead bridge at Mechums River. We thought at first the bridge was falling.

All around us timbers, tin, signs, trees, paper, gravel, sand, were flying, beating on our car. We did not know what had happened but we cannot explain how terrible it was. "As we went under a bridge, a truck was headed eastward on the wide curve, approaching the bridge. The truck was rocking and swaying like a piece of tissue paper. Windshield Pierced "Pieces of wood and rock smashed our windshield.

My husband's outershirt and undershirt were torn to shreds. He was not wearing bis coat at the time. He was dazed by the impact. "We realized that it would be fatal to keep, moving. We pulled over to the side of the road, seeking what protection an embankment could afford.

Meanwhile the truck driver stopped his vehicle and also sought shelter near the "I just cannot explain how terrible it was. We thought our car would be lifted any moment and thrown into the river, "The terrible wind lifted the truck right, up and it was thrown in front of our car. The heavy vehicle must have been thrown a full 50 yards by the force of the storm. "Our car may be a complete wreck, although we did not top to examine it very carefully. Both of us were under great stress as a result of the terrible experience.

Both of us were in pain, too. Taken To Hospital "A passerby put us in bis car and took us to the University -Hospital, where my husband remained overnight. He has a broken finger on his right hand, chest injuries, which may prove to be broken ribs, and suffered -shock. A bone in my right arm was broken and I am wearing it in a sling today. I was able to be brought home last night, but my husband remained in the hospital.

"It was a harrowing experience. We had no Idea we were approaching a torrn, until we felt that the bridge was being destroyed and falling upon us. The noise was awful. Then things began beating and breaking and penetrating our windshield. My husband's shirt and undershirt looked just like I had cut them to ribbons with 'a pair of scissors.

"It was a terrible blast. We expected to be crushed to death any second. Today we can count our blessings. God, certainly was good to us." The Wombles have been residents of Staunton for years. He is 52, a native of North Carolina, and a salesman for Fiesta Sales.

Mrs. Womble. 46, was born at Tarnassus, but spent her youth in the Churchville area. She was Miss Josephine Ashhy before marriage. She returned to Charlottesville today to be with her Over the foundations of the du ed the central Virgin area.

ing of tha tragedy a few miles ly about the ruins. distant, near Ivy, could play with As this morning's sun climbed ed about one mile north of Ivy One struck about 4 p.m. not far from Stanardsville in Green plex lay a tangle of fallen trees. Bodies were found scattered over an area of 400 yards. and a former resident of this higher in the sky, bringing a sense of well being and contentment, his very toy a product City -County Area Escapes Serious Effects of Hurricane County.

Another hit the Cunning summer-like heat to the scene area, saw the deadly tornado of the storm. of death and destruction, ap in action. He said he watched a "big funnel-shaped" cloud for But at Ivy it was different. proaches to the remote area be Death had struck 11 times in came clogged with sight-seer traf several minutes after two p.m., Officials at the State Highway that neighborhood, and was no and that it picked up trees and respecter of persons. In fact threw branches and trucks about Per Pound Price Drops At Sale Here three tots smaller than Mike lit like sticks.

erally were blown away. fic. But officers set up a screen at the entrance to the muddy road, more than a mile from the scene, ana-admitted only select persons, such as reporters, close friend? of the deceased. Officers spent much of the Two of the Morris family, Mary Mechums River was hit and hit Department district office in Staunton and authorities speaking for the various utility agencies today expressed thanks that a good drenching was just about all that this area suffered as a result of Hurricane Gracie. i' I 1 y- -I 1 and Georgia, escaped the terrible destruction, but only because they were away at school.

Spot trouble was reported In this area, but no widespread damage was done by the storm and its accompanying rains and winds. Residents report eastern Augusta seemed to be harder hit than the section around Staunton and to the west. Roads Open Highway Department Resident Engineer HomerL, Chryssikos bad. A demolished church, unroofed houses, flattened barns Average prices per pound on yearling cattle fell a little more than a half cent lower than the 1958 average at the annual yearling sale held last night at the Three Potential Candidates For Treasurer's Post Listed It was learned today that three I treasurer's post. The same holds Staunton Union Livestock Market.

xm 11. fcji Mr -mr "71 i -i III -s-k Eight hundred and twenty-seven head were sold, with an average Augusta County men will seek true for the office of supervisor Democratic committee endorse in South River District. Ike Arrives In Sandstorm PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (AP)-A deeply embarrassed Chamber of Commerce promised President Eisenhower good golfing weather today the arm sun prescribed for his Tlie President flew across the- continent from Washington Wednesday, out of the fringe of tropical storm Gracie, only to arrive in this desert resort country in the midst of a gusty sand price of $25.58 paid per hundredweight. The steers averaged 722 pounds.

The deadline for candidate fil ment for the office of Augusta County treasurer. ing Is Wednesday, Oct. 14, ac DR. MOODY The sale netted $152,777.24, com Frank C. Hanger, of the Mid- cording to an opinion given Circuit Court Clerk R.

L. Shaver by the State's attorney general. diebrook area, told a Leader Pa pared to a net sale of $134,781.47 in 1958. However, there were only 707 head sold last year, some 120 Mr. Hanger has been super pers' reporter this morning that he is definitely interested in the position! head less than yesterday's sale.

visor of assessments with the said this morning all primary highways between Staunton and Richmond are open and passable. He said low water bridges in eastern Augusta, especiallynm Rt. 865, had some roads blocked for several hours Wednesday, but that most are open now. He reported considerable minor flooding in many areas, but in nearly every case, water receded and caused little or no damage. It was reported this morning that Rt.

622 northeast of' Waynesboro was still impassable today. "We were lucky to escape with damage only to a minor extent," Mr. Chryssikos said, 4.02 Inches R. L. Cason, co-operatrva weather observer at VSDB, ra-x)tted this morning the storm commissioner of revenue's office The 1958 sale average per hun He will appear at a Democratic dredweight was $26.17, To Participate In Dedication OfVFWHome Representing the national or committee meeting the first storm.

There just wasn't any sunshine. I since Jan. 1. Ho has been a deputy commissioner for some seven or eight years in the Beverley Manor Magisterial District. part of next week, possibly Mon The top lot in yesterday's sale, day or Tuesday.

a pen ot eight choice Herefords, But Eisenhower, trying to shake Mr. Reamos has been associat brought $28.50 per hundred. This a nnRBine cold he has had since It also was understood, that was the first lot sold. The calves Labor Day, obviously was pleased John H. East, a Churchville average 558 pounds in this par ed with farm loan groups for 20 years, with 12 years of this time having been spent in the Staunton by a hearty welcome and the farmer, and A.

Meade Reamcs, ganization of the Veterans of ticular pen and were purchased prospect of plenty of golf during Foreign Wars at the dedication the next week. area. a Middlebrook farmer and businessman, intend to seek the support of the Democratlcs for the ceremony of the home of Augus by W. H. Myers.

C. S. Switzer, secretary-treasur At Verona Diner ta-Staunton Post No. 2216 Sunday office. afternoon will be Dr.

William dumped a total of 4.02 Inches of Moody, surgeon general, of Due to the death of Hugh Me Scottsville. rain on Staunton during the two- Clure, who was unopposed, er of the Staunton Union Livestock Markpt said that Hurricane Gracie may have affected the number of head brought to the market but that he did not think the prices were affected by day period. Wednesday's total The ceremony will begin at two Objections Voiced to Request For Permission to Sell Beer special ballot may be printed and anyone may qualify to seek the p.m. on Oct. 4 in front of the (See City-County, Page 3) home at 17 South Lewis Street.

Dr. Moody served the Depart thu create "more of a traffic ment of Virginia as department commander in 1957-58, and prior hazard." Woathor Wiso to that time had fillod the of Dr. Samuel Spencer Speaks For United Fund "In the early days of our country, when a new family came, into the community, the neighbors got together for a barn-raising. If a family were burned out, the neighbors provided food and clothing. It has always been an American tradition to help a neighbor when he needs help.

"The United Fund carries on this healthy tradition in a modem, efficient way. By giving the United way, we not only get the satisfaction of helping where help Is need-" ed; we also get the benefit of living in a healthier happier, community. Give generously to the United Fund." fices of commander of the Eighth the storm. County Office May Be dosed For Two Weeks a i Residents who objected because they felt the granting of the license would "affect real estate values and Interfere with the quietude and tranquility" of the District, department junior and senior vice commander, served on various committees, and is now department surgeon, chairman of the budget and finance NET PAID CIRCULATION of The LEADER PAPERS Today Is 13,300 (Unaudited as yf.) Total Press Rut 13,900 area were Lester MitU, Steele, the Rev. C.

E. N. Hall, and Mrs. Margaret Wilson. a memner of the seven man committee and commander of Scottsville Post No, 81(59.

Testifying also at the hearing State auditing team said today that the Augusta County treasurer's office may be closed, for 11 At the 37th anmial convention was J. R. Hall, ABC Inspector, who conducted an Initial invest! of the Deportment of Virginia, 10 days or two weeks. Dr. Moody was unanimously en The auditors arrived here short gation to determine the feeling of the residents after the applica ly after the death of County Two law enforcement officers and several area residents expressed objections to the granting of a license to Verona Diner to sell beer on and off premises when a hearing was conducted in Staunton by a representative of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, Alter Mrs, Helen S.

Pasarhale ami Nick Cbulnuri applied for a license to beer at the establishment on Rt. 11 in Verona, residents expressed objection and thus under existing state laws, a hearing was necessary before any action could be taken by the board. Officers Object Officers expressing objctions 'at tb hearing conducted by Howard G. Siple, Richmond, in the Corporation Court room Wednes-day were Augusta County Sheriff John E. Kent and State Folica-man J.

W. Smooth Jr. Both expressed tM thought that if the establishment is permitted to (mil tr, there would he conaidcrably dorsed as a candidate for na Uonal surgeon general. tion wan submitted. Treasurer Hugh McClura and His campaign for this office have been working continuously Representing Mrs.

Pasachale and Mr, Coulouria were William (Includes employees' orA was carried to the nations con to compMe the necessary audit before the newly appointed vention in Los Angeles where he advertisers copies, a Scbmid Staunton attorney, and Paid Gani, attorney from treasurer, Mrs, Sue Link, takes WEATHER OBSERVATIONS By R. L. CASON VSDB Ohwrver From I a.m. Wdof idey aa-Ui I a.m. May) Maximum ..,.,,...72 Minimum 4 Prerlpllatloa WliwW WVit FORECAST News Insido S.

Lexington. over. Attorney for the opposition was Robert Rhea, Staunton, The Augusta County Board of Supervisors has passed a resolution authorizing banks to ac Fge 12 Page i rears ond service copies,) This nt paid circulation is a gain of 1,233 sine July 1958. No Or Nawspapar Equals tk Covtrag of Staunton, Augusta and Highland Found In Youth News Ohllnark Editorials Sports Women's Nrw was again unanimously elected to fill the offire. He is a medical doctor in Scottsville, and has shown considerable interest in the VFW since be first joined overseas.

Mrs. Eleanor his wife, is department president of the ladies auxiliary and will represent bt organization at ba ded Page 4 Pages f-10 Pago 11 cept the new treasurer's sign ture on checks, etc. AH testimony given at the hearing Wednetdny was reeordod and will ba forwarded to the ARC Mrs. Link will he able to make Fair awl cooler tonight and Fri Classified rKt 14 13 Markets Pago 3 Theater Fagn Board, Richmond, along with i raeornrnendation from lb hear day, lows tonight In uppr 40t 1 nvmnUtm mt low (As aar payments, but will not be allowed to receive money until the audit PATH OF DESTRUCTION mVi hf tnrmi4 iMtar frj, Final more traffic to 9m dry aw lrakni pa eomploted. ton vm Comk Pago )s:.