Hugh O. Blaugher rescued John L. Crawford from burning, Bridgeport, Illinois, December 21, 1930. John, 17, schoolboy, was riding in a sedan automobile with three other youths when a larger automobile collided with it, causing it to swerve and finally rest bottom up against a bank at the side of the highway. Two of the youths were dazed but crawled out of a door, and one youth was almost decapitated and was beneath the steering wheel. John’s chin and neck were pinned to the ground by the dashboard. Dripping gasoline ignited, and flames rose in front of the dashboard. In darkness Blaugher, 31, machinist, ran to the automobile, opened a door, and tried to extricate John but was unsuccessful. Then getting a spade, he got on his knees and leaned into the automobile as he dug a hole under John’s head and shoulders. The flames were 18 inches high, and the heat was so intense that he had to stop digging for a second or two. John then worked his way toward the rear and crawled out of the door. Almost immediately afterward the automobile became a mass of flames. John was seriously burned but recovered. 31154-2618
31154 – 2618
31154-2618