Walter Sheirl Brown, Jr., attempted to save Eloy Chavez from burning, Tracy, Wyoming, March 6,1941. While Brown, 20, farmer, Chavez, 25, farm hand, and other men were working in a potato cellar that extended under ground 160 feet into a slope, fire started in a frame tool shed, which was immediately in front of the cellar and through which was the only exit from it. All except Chavez ran from the cellar, two of the men sustaining burns; and Brown re-entered to get Chavez, whom he saw at a point 80 feet from the exit. He ran toward Chavez, begging him to leave; but Chavez, who was hysterical, ran 80 feet farther and climbed upon sacks of potatoes. Brown followed him and argued with him for at least three minutes. Thinking he would need aid to remove Chavez by force, Brown ran toward the exit. Flames then had spread into the cellar, and the tool shed was full of flames. Wrapping sacks around his head, Brown ran out through the tool shed, his clothing from head to foot being ignited. The cellar was destroyed by fire, and Chavez was suffocated. Brown sustained very serious burns, but he recovered after having been fully disabled for four months. 38946-3245
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