George D. Nelson, 25, assistant marine engineer, saved Haldor Olsen, 39, master, from burning, Pensacola, Florida, September 5, 1922. Olsen fell to the bottom of one of the holds of a vessel after a fuel oil blaze in the boiler room next to the hold had set fire to the vessel. He was badly injured and lay helpless 26 feet below the shelter deck. He was not discovered until after the fire had been burning for more than an hour. Lumber stored on the shelter deck was burning, and the hold and the shelter deck above it were filled with dense smoke. Nelson was lowered into the hold on a rope held by men on the bridge deck. He located Olsen after taking three or four steps, removed the rope from himself, and put it around Olsen. Nelson then clung to another rope, which had been lowered with him, and men drew Nelson and Olsen to the shelter deck. While he was being drawn up, Nelson’s hands slipped several times on the rope. Olsen died as a result of his injuries five hours later. 22856-1811
22856 – 1811
22856-1811