The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1909-01-07
AN ENGINEERS
SELF-sACRIFICE
Ran Oft With Burning Cars of
Dynamite.
TWO CARS LOADED WITH EXPLOSIVE
The American Society Of the Cross of
Honor Recognizes the Noteworthy
Bravery of Jesus Garcia, a Plucky
Mexican, Who Deliberately Gave Up
His Own Life 10 Save His TOwnspeople

Washington (Spe eci a D.-Jesus
Garcia. a Mexican locomotive engi-
neer, met his death in a most hor-
rible manner that he might save the
lives of many others and prevent the
destruction OF town.
With the certainty that he must
forfeit his own life, Garcia quickly
coupled his locomotive to two cars
loaded with dynamite while the cars
were burning fiercely and ran them
rapidly to the suburbs, when the
flames reached the dynamite. A ter
rible explosion followed. The brave
engineer was blown to atoms.
This in brief is the story of the
unparalleled heToism OF a man who
died by his own choice that others
might live.
The American Society of the Cross
of Honor was quick to act when It
was learned through newspaper dis
patches of Jesus Garcia's sacrifice. At
the first meeting OF the board of gov
ernors of the society In this city,
held after the tragic occurrence, re-
solutions were adopted commencing
the conduct of the Mexican engineer.
President Thomas II, Herndon, OF
the American Society of the Cross
Of Honor sent the resolutions to the
Mexican ambassador. That official
had the reported act Of Garcia In
vestigated and found It was true as
reported by the press
Mr.. Herndon has received from
Jose F. Cooley, charge de affaires of
Mexico, dated at the embassy in this
city, the following communications:
ftNVifh 20 h.
ence had with you relative to the
resolution adopted by the American
Cross of Honor regarding the brave
deed of Jesus Garcia, 1 beg to in
form you that l am directed by my
government to tender you its thanks
for said resolutions and for the terms
in which it is expressed.
Likewise / am directed to in
form you that subscription has been
opened at Nacozari, in order to col
lect funds for the erection, ut the
principal square of said town, q mon
ument commemorating the heroic
sacrifice of Jesus Garcia; that the
local authorities have cooperated to
that end and that the federal gov
ernment will do likewise"
From the company by which Jesus
Garcia was employedztiie Monte
yuma Copper Company, OF Nacozari,
Mexico-came the particulars of the
locomotive engineers sacrifice.
The two cars loaded with dyna-
mite were near the Smelter of the
company in the thick OF the town.
The cars caught fire In some manner
and the flames were almost licking
the explosive when Garcia backed his
locomotive up TO the burning cars
and coupled his engine to them.
He realized that the explosion
there meant death to hundreds of
people, and the destruction of the
town. Grasping the throttle. he
threw it wide open, and. with the
blazing cars attached, made a streak
for the open country,
The train of dynamite had but
reached the little section house in
the suburbs when came the terrific
explosion. The section house and
cars were reduced to splinters, while
the body of Garcia was blown TO
pieces, only the smallest fragments
being found afterwaN.
Twelve Mexican section hands and
an American boy were also blown TO
atoms. But the town and many
precious lives had been saved by the
Jim Bludsoe" of the Mexican mines.