John L. Kellogg rescued Edward P. Corcoran from burning, Chicago, Illinois, June 24, 1931. Corcoran, 38, manufacturing plant manager, entered the kettle room of a paper products plant to turn off gas from burners under a large kettle, after a slight accident had interfered with the proper flow of the gas. The kettle, the open top of which was seven feet above the floor, contained boiling sodium-hydroxide acid. As he ran alongside the kettle, a large surge of acid splashed over the top and fell on him, and he fell on his hands and knees to the floor. He was in acid that had splashed on the floor. There was but one doorway to the room and not much space between the kettle and the walls of the room. Kellogg, 48, manufacturer, who realized the danger involved in coming in contact with the acid, hurried 10 feet into the room to Corcoran. As he took hold of Corcoran to drag him away from the kettle, boiling acid showered down on them. Kellogg dragged Corcoran out of the room, and several more splashes fell on the floor. Corcoran died 24 hours later from his burns. Kellogg sustained serious burns and was disabled for several months.
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