Roy Lee Tinney, Jr., 18, schoolboy, helped to save Roy C. Murley, 33, grain-elevator hand, from suffocation, Brinkman, Oklahoma, May 18, 1950. Murley, who weighed over 100 pounds, entered the pit of a grain-elevator extending 14 feet below ground-level to bail out water four to 12 inches deep which had seeped through wheat that had been treated with an insecticide in an adjacent bin. He was overcome by carbon tetrachloride fumes rising from the water and fell to the floor, sustaining a head injury. He lay inert with his face submerged in the water. A co-worker of Murley’s descended a ladder to the floor and attempted to tie a rope around him but was affected by the fumes and climbed from the pit. Tinney ran 500 feet to the elevator, arriving in a winded condition at a trap-door opening at the top of the ladder. Although warned by Murley’s companion that the fumes were strong, Tinney took a deep breath and descended to the pit floor. Grasping the rope, one end of which was attached to the top of the ladder, Tinney walked four feet to Murley and kneeling lifted Murleys face from the water. He attempted to place the rope under Murley but had difficulty because of the latter’s weight and was forced to breathe. He experienced dizziness but continued his efforts to raise Murley. Murley’s brother and several other men arrived at the elevator. Descending the ladder, the brother made his way to Murley and Iifted him from the floor. Tinney quickly thrust the rope beneath Murley and tied it around him, jerking on the rope to ascertain it was secure. Tinney in a dazed condition climbed slowly and unsteadily to the top of the ladder and was assisted outside. Murley was drawn from the pit, his brother ascending the ladder and guiding him to the trap-door. Murley revived and was hospitalized 12 days. Tinney recovered. 42167-3701
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