Murl Porter, 16, school-boy, saved W. Louis Morris, 17, school-boy, from burning, Tipton, Oklahoma, March 31, 1938. Porter struck a match, intending to light gas in the fire-box of a large boiler; and there was an explosion of gas that knocked Morris to the floor six feet in front of the fire-box. Porter was knocked farther from the fire-box, and a small part of his shirt caught fire. Flames covered an area five feet square in front of the fire-box and rose four and a half feet above the floor. A few seconds later there was an explosion of less violence, and Morris was knocked farther from the burning gas and screamed for help. Thinking Morris was in the flames, Porter held his breath, closed his eyes, and walked three feet in the flames toward a valve; and groping, he located the valve and turned it until the gas was almost off. His shirt was afire at the front and back, and he ran from the room. Morris sustained severe burns but recovered. Porter sustained serious burns and was disabled for more than seven weeks.
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