James R. Stirnes saved Dorothy J. Stirnes from being killed by a train, Granville, Illinois, November 13, 1933. While walking across a railroad track with her mother, Dorothy, 5, tripped and fell, straddling the rail five feet from a car of a train that was just starting toward her. Stirnes, 32, brakeman, who was the child’s uncle, ran 27 feet to Dorothy, and, standing at the rail, he bent over and grabbed her. As he straightened up, a grab iron and drawbar handle on the end of the car struck him on the mouth and nose, causing him to fall backward with his legs below his knees between the rails. As he fell, he threw Dorothy off the track. Although he was dazed, Stirnes rolled from the rail with the exception of his right foot. The wheel of the car ran over his foot, and his leg later was amputated half way between his knee and ankle. 33627-2767
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