Robert W. Pittman saved William A. Jinnette from burning, Goldsboro, North Carolina, August 13, 1940. While Pittman, 28, farm foreman, and Jinnette, 41, farm superintendent, were sprinkling an inflammable disinfectant, the fumes of which could cause suffocation, on sacks of grain in a one-room warehouse, there was an explosion in the room, which blew off most of the roof. The room was filled with flames, the exposed portions of the sacks having ignited. Pittman, who had sustained some burns, ran out through the only doorway. Jinnette fell to the floor three feet from the doorway in a passageway that was four feet wide between the piled sacks. Two sacks fell on him and covered him from his waist down. The upper part of his clothing was afire. Stooping, Pittman stepped to a point just inside the doorway. Flames rose four feet from the sacks, and heat was intense. Pittman tried to pull Jinnette but could not move him. Stepping two feet farther into the room and close to flames, he pulled a sack from Jinnette; and then he backed out of the door, dragging Jinnette from the room. Both men became unconscious. Jinnette suffered severe burns and other injuries. He recovered. Pittman, who had sustained more severe burns while aiding Jinnette, was revived and was disabled for five weeks. 38616-3207
38616 – 3207
38616-3207