Elijah B. Whatley rescued Albert R. Barnard from a fatal fall, Purdy, Oklahoma, December 14, 1947. While working on a derrick, Barnard, 35, oil-well derrick man, who weighed 185 pounds, fell from a platform 80 feet above the floor. Whatley, 45, oil-well floor man, on the floor stepped under Barnard, whose body somersaulted in descent, and held out his arms to catch him. Barnard’s body in a horizontal position struck Whatley on the arms and chest, and both men fell to the floor unconscious. Barnard was gravely injured but recovered. Whatley sustained fractures of his right ankle and a rib and other serious injuries, being disabled for five months. 41255-3561
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