Russell H. Bowdoin, 41, farm superintendent, rescued Bobby J. Manziel, 45, oil-producer, from burning, Whitehouse, Texas, September 27, 1950. Manziel and Bowdoin were on a cabin cruiser moored in a boat-house beside a board-walk just off shore of Lake Tyler when a violent explosion, resulting from the ignition of gasoline fumes below the deck, occurred. Manziel, who was in the cabin near the bow, fell stunned to the floor. Flames broke out in the cabin and cockpit and at a hatch amidships opposite the rear door of the cabin. Momentarily dazed by the explosion, Bowdoin walked seven feet from the stern to the cabin. He stumbled into the hatch within a foot of the flames but quickly withdrew his foot. Bowdoin stepped into the cabin, where heat was intense, and groping through dense smoke found Manziel on the floor and pulled him outside. Manziel fell part way into the hatch, one of his feet descending to the engine, which was hot. Bowdoin lifted Manziel from the hatch and dragged him to the stern, where flames rose in gusts two feet high. Stepping from the boat to the board-walk, Bowdoin pulled Manziel from the cruiser and assisted him to shore. The boat burned to the waterline and sank. Manziel sustained severe burns of the arms, legs, and face and was hospitalized six days. Bowdoin had second-degree burns of the hands, arms, neck, and face but recovered in three weeks. 42212-3711
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