August Charles Hennig, 47, private policeman, saved Richard H. Rasmussen, 17, schoolboy, from being killed by a train, Maywood, Illinois, March 5, 1943. Rasmussen stood on a crossing between two tracks, the inner rails of which were seven feet apart. On one track a train moved slowly, and a passenger train was approaching on the other track at a speed of 55 m.p.h. Hennig ran 22 feet on rough ballast, crossed the track in front of the passenger train, took hold of Rasmussen, and jerked him backward. Rasmussen stiffened, and one of Hennig’s feet slipped slightly. Hennig ran pulling Rasmussen across the track, and they cleared the path of the locomotive when it was 10 feet from them. No attempt had been made to stop the train. Neither Hennig nor Rasmussen was injured. 39801-3319
39801 – 3319
39801-3319