Eddie C. Brown, Sr., 42, truck driver, saved Lillie Davis, 67, and four children, 2 to 9, and attempted to save Sheila R. Hartford, 8 months, from burning, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, December 30, 1959. Fire broke out in the front room of a one story frame dwelling in which Mrs. Davis was asleep, and her four grandchildren entered the house from the rear to waken her but stumbled about in the smoke filled bedroom. Attracted by screams, Brown also entered the dwelling from the rear, found the four children, and led all to safety. Told only that Sheila still was inside, Brown reentered the dwelling and, crouching beneath the increasing smoke, returned to the bedroom. He was surprised to find Mrs. Davis and quickly led her outside. Informed that Sheila was in another bedroom nearer the front of the house, Brown made his way to the second bedroom, which was filled with dense smoke. Flames extended as much as three feet from the ceiling and upper walls, and heat was intense. Holding his breath, Brown crawled into the room and reached a bed but could find no one on it. Choking and coughing from smoke he had inhaled, Brown ran outside briefly and then entered the house a fourth time. By then flames had broken through the front wall and roof. Brown made his way to the second bedroom again but still could not find Sheila, who was in a crib. Again forced to inhale smoke, Brown crawled from the room, passing within a foot of flames, and left the dwelling. Firemen arrived and extinguished the flames, but the dwelling was a total loss. Sheila died in the flames. 45028-4343
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45028-4343