Ward E. Fry rescued Georgia Mae, Della J., and Thelma A. Justice from burning, Mount Vernon, Illinois, June 6, 1949. A two-door sedan in which Georgia Mae, 2,her mother Mrs. Della Justice, 19, her aunt Mrs. Thelma Justice, 27, and the latter’s two young sons were riding swerved from a highway and turned over on its side. Gasoline escaping from the fuel tank was ignited, and dense flames broke out at the rear of the sedan and spread to the interior. The right door was jammed. The mother, who was holding Georgia Mae, became caught at the waist in attempting to climb through the narrow door window and both sustained severe burns. Fry, 37, gasoline bulk-plant operator, alighted from a truck and ran 50 feet to the sedan. The heat was intense. He took hold of Georgia Mae, pulled her from the window opening, and carried her 10 feet from the sedan. He retraced his course to the mother of Georgia Mae and attempted to draw her from the sedan but could not free her. Fry again came in contact with flames rising from the interior of the sedan and was burned painfully. He felt a tug at his legs and saw the aunt, whose hand protruded from a large hole in the windshield. Crouching, Fry seized her arm and aided her outside the sedan and thence to a field 20 feet away. A large number of persons gathered at the scene, but none would approach the burning vehicle. Returning to the mother Fry obtained a hold at her waist and with effort worked her through the window opening and lowered her to the ground. She walked away from the automobile. The flames greatly increased in intensity, rising four feet above the sedan. Fry learned of the other occupants but was unable to save them from the fiercely burning automobile and forcibly restrained their mother in her attempt to do so. The sons perished in the fire. Georgia Mae died that night, and her mother succumbed to her burns the following morning. The aunt was burned seriously and was hospitalized two months. Fry had second-degree burns of the bands and forearms but recovered in a month. 42572-3768
42572 – 3768
42572-3768