Carolyn G. Monroe, 15, schoolgirl, rescued Henry C. Snodgrass, 74, construction engineer, and Clifford E. Waddell, 40, painting contractor, from burning, Coleman, Texas, October 25, 1952. In a collision at dusk, a sedan driven by Snodgrass was wrecked and set afire, veering upright into a ditch beside a road. Gasoline trailing from the ruptured fuel tank was ignited, and a line of flames rising in gusts six feet high extended 100 feet along the roadway in the rear of the sedan. An automobile occupied by Waddell was badly damaged in the crash and careened into a ditch at the opposite side of the road 70 feet from Snodgrass. Both men sustained injuries and were stunned. Fire also started in Waddell’s automobile, which carried cans containing 35 gallons of paint, and the flames spread to his clothing. Carolyn heard the crash and ran 250 feet from her home to the Snodgrass automobile. Despite his condition, Snodgrass had crawled from the front seat and was lying prone in the ditch beside the sedan. Flames filled the interior of the sedan and rose six feet above the roof, and heat was intense. Crouching within three feet of the flames, Carolyn lifted Snodgrass to his feet. She led Snodgrass across the road to the other ditch and placed him on the ground a safe distance from the flames. She continued to the other automobile and found that the door beside Waddell, who still sat behind the steering wheel, was open. Waddell’s shirt was covered with flames, and he was groaning and calling for help, being too dazed to leave the sedan. Reaching inside, Carolyn repeatedly tugged on Waddell’s arm and drew him to the doorway. He slid free of the seat and fell outside the automobile, brushing against her. Unable to beat out the flames with her hands, Carolyn tore the shirt from Waddell and hurriedly extinguished it with her feet. Firemen were summoned to the scene and put out all fires. Carolyn wrapped Snodgrass and Waddell in blankets obtained from her home, and all were taken to a hospital. Snodgrass, who sustained hand and face burns, recovered in two weeks. Waddell suffered severe burns of the bead and body and was hospitalized two months. Carolyn sustained hand burns which healed normally. 3843-42702
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