James W. Marble, 32, assistant manager of gasoline and oil company, saved William A. Johnson, 64, president of gasoline and oil company, from burning, Willoughby, Ohio, September 24, 1936. Johnson lowered a lighted lantern into a large tank that had been drained of gasoline, there was an explosion, and Johnson was thrown to the ground. Thirty inches from each side of the tank were tanks containing 8000 gallons of kerosene and 2000 gallons of gasoline, respectively; and 15 feet from the tank of accident was a tank containing 14000 gallons of gasoline. Outlet-pipes of the other three tanks were torn loose, gasoline and kerosene flowed on the ground, and flames rose three to ten feet. Johnson, who was dazed, walked to a point 18 feet from the flames and then fell. Immediately after the explosion Marble ran behind a warehouse and was 55 feet from the nearest tank. Noting Johnson’s position, he ran to him, running 50 feet across open ground. He aided Johnson to his feet, and both fell. Marble again aided Johnson to his feet and then aided him 80 feet to an automobile and drove from the scene. When they were 750 feet from the scene, the tank containing 2000 gallons of gasoline exploded. The other two tanks exploded five and ten minutes later. Johnson sustained burns but recovered.
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