Laurel A. Iverson saved Raymond E. Jacobs from suffocation, Springfield, South Dakota, September 24, 1959. Fire broke out in a central bedroom of a one story frame dwelling, endangering Jacobs, 54, liquor store clerk, who was crippled and unable to move about without assistance. His wife and son attempted to remove Jacobs from the dwelling, but he fell in the hallway. Unable to lift Jacobs and almost overcome by the dense smoke rapidly filling the house, the wife and son ran outside. Iverson, 41, college instructor, a neighbor, arrived and learned the location of Jacobs. He broke the window of another bedroom but was driven back by the intense heat and smoke, which also thwarted his first attempt to enter by the kitchen door. On his second try Iverson held his breath and crawled into the kitchen. Heat was intense, and he could see nothing in the dense smoke. He then heard Jacobs calling and crawled 14 feet farther to him. Iverson grasped the arm of Jacobs and pulled him along as he crawled backward to the kitchen door and emerged from the dwelling. Firemen extinguished the flames. Jacobs and Iverson recovered from effects of the smoke. 44870-4383
44870 – 4383
44870-4383