Ernest L. Wall, 53, railroad switchman, saved Kathleen Sue Ross, 17 months, from being killed by a train, El Dorado, Kansas, November 5, 1952. Kathleen wandered onto a track on which a diesel locomotive pulling cars was backing, and she fell prone between the rails as the train approached at a speed of 14 m.p.h. The engineer saw Kathleen and applied emergency brakes. Wall, who was troubled by varicose veins in both legs, left the cab and descended steps at the side of the locomotive. Holding to a handrail, he swung himself onto a footboard nine inches above the track as the locomotive moved at diminishing speed to within 10 feet of Kathleen. From the footboard Wall jumped onto the track just ahead of the locomotive and ran six feet to Kathleen. In full stride he lifted Kathleen and clasped her to his side. Wall then continued running 10 feet between the rails and lunged two feet outside the track with Kathleen, barely clearing the locomotive, which passed them and came to a stop. Wall suffered a bruised knee and ankle abrasions which healed in a week. 3856-42699
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