Oleta Harrison saved Ida McGowan from burning, Talihina, Oklahoma, January 18, 1940. While Mrs. McGowan, 80, was asleep in a bedroom on the second floor of a frame house, the house caught fire. Throwing an overcoat over her head as a protection, Miss Harrison, 29, housekeeper, ascended the stairs to an upper hallway. Pieces of burning paper fell from the ceiling, and flames extended two and a half feet out from the wall of the hallway. Miss Harrison entered the bedroom, roused Mrs. McGowan, put the coat over her head, and aided her into the hallway. They began to descend the stairs, Miss Harrison supporting Mrs. McGowan from behind and leaning over her to shield her. Flames struck and burned Miss Harrison’s face, dropping bits of paper ignited her hair, and flames developed on her clothing at the back. She pushed Mrs. McGowan ahead, and they reached the foot of the stairs, two feet from the entrance door. Suffering great pain, Miss Harrison then ran outside, rolled, and extinguished the fire on her clothing. A man carried Mrs. McGowan out and then extinguished the fire on Miss Harrison’s hair. Mrs. McGowan sustained minor burns. She died 10 days later from shock and infirmities. Miss Harrison sustained very serious burns, suffered from nervousness, was under a physician’s care for 15 weeks, and was advised not to work for a year. 38212-3194
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