Seth Ridout, 54, adviser to resort manager, saved Charles W. Edge, 1, from burning, Melbourne, Florida, January 3, 1944. Charles was in a bedroom of a three-room frame cottage when fire started in an adjoining room. Men forced open a door at the north side of the bedroom, but heat and smoke prevented their entering. Ridout forced open a door to the kitchen at the south side of the bedroom, and through dense smoke he crawled four feet on his hands and knees across the corner of the kitchen and 10 feet in the bedroom. He took hold of the bed, which was of metal; and his hand was burned. Flames extended from the ceiling, and heat was intense. Standing, he groped on the bed; and clasping Charles to his chest, he ran toward the kitchen, colliding with the wall. He backed away and took a step forward, again colliding with the wall, and then ran through the doorway and out of the kitchen. His hat and coat collar were smouldering. He was gasping and sustained slight burns. Charles sustained serious burns but recovered. 40110-3353
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