Richard Robert Eustice, 29, crane operator, saved Leon C., 7; Wanda J., 8, and Bonnie N. Ellis, 6, from burning, Laton, California, June 16, 1946. At night when fire started on the first floor of their home, the Ellis children huddled against a screen covered outside doorway in their bedroom on the second floor. No stairs led from the doorway to the ground, and the drop was seven feet. Eustice ran up a stairway, one wall of which was penetrated by flames, and entered the bedroom of the Ellis children. His own daughters, 5 and 3, were asleep in the room. Meanwhile his wife and the parents of the Ellis children ran outside, and from below the doorway Ellis tried to loosen the screen. Eustice ran to the doorway and kicked the screen loose, and Ellis ripped it from the frame. There was a glow in the room, but those below could see no flames in it. Eustice lowered Leon to his father. Wanda fell out and was caught by her father. Eustice quickly lowered Bonnie to Ellis. A moment later after getting his daughters, Eustice amid flames fell on the floor at the doorway. His hair and shirt were afire. He and one of his daughters were pulled out by Ellis. The other daughter perished in the flames, which destroyed the house within 10 minutes. Eustice and his daughter died from their burns. 40794-3519
40794 – 3519
40794-3519