Emory A. Richardson, Sr., 38, plant guard, rescued Harold Esslie, 48, steelworker, from burning, Niagara Falls, New York, December 4, 1949. At night while Esslie was on the ground floor of a barn, a fire broke out near him and spread to the second floor, which contained heavy farm implements and a large quantity of hay. Esslie reached a runway between two stables at one end of the barn and fell to the floor. Richardson saw flames 40 feet high issuing from the barn roof and alighted from his automobile at a farmhouse nearby. While attempting to arouse the occupants, he heard screams of Esslie from the barn. Richardson ran 150 feet to the runway door and opened it. Dense smoke filled the runway, and flames extended downward from the ceiling. Guided by the screams, Richardson, who was unfamiliar with the interior, stepped inside and holding his breath groped along a runway wall to Esslie, whose clothing was in flames. Heat was very intense. Burning particles fell from the ceiling and repeatedly struck both men. Grasping Esslie’s wrist, Richardson dragged him 10 feet to the door and thence outside where burning embers fell around them. He continued dragging Esslie 40 feet from the barn and extinguished the latter’s clothing with snow. The barn was consumed by the flames, its walls collapsing 30 seconds after Richardson had reached the outside. Esslie suffered severe burns and died five days later. Richardson sustained second-degree burns of the neck, ears, hands, and wrists but recovered in two weeks. 41878-3707
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