The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1921-06-04
TRUCK DRIVER SAVES LIFE OF
GIRL; WALL OF FIRE BARS RE.
TURN TO OTHER VICTIMS.
Knocked Flat on Back by Explosion
in Fertile Attempt to Rescue Others.

Scranton. Pa. June 2.--"I'm no hero.
just did my best, but I'm sorry
that couldn's get all those poor
folks out of that fire"
These were the words of Willard
Oldham, thirty-two, the Colored truck
driver who was one of the heroes of
the explosion and fire that wiped
out the plant OF the Diamond Oil and
Paint Company and exacted a toll
of four lives. oldham lives in the
rear Of the 300 block Madison avenue
and he has been employed by Swift
and Company for thirteen years.
He is a fine husky type Ct fellow
and speaks modestly Of his heroic
acts
0ldhams truck was nearing the
oil plant on Seventh street when the
explosion occurred.
IL was just under the bridge when
the bowup came and 1t bounced me
up off the seat of the truck and
knocked my hands off the steering
Wheel" said Oldham. II realized
there was smoke and fire | knew
the fire companies would be coming
SO / pulled the truck against the
curb and ran down to the burning
building"
Went Back After Others.
Oldham said the first person be
saw was Miss Jenie MCGEE. She was
crying for help and staggering out
toward the street, but she fell before
she could get out of the wrecked
Il picked up that woman and she
was hyserical as | walked out of
the place with her in my arms, ]
got her clear of the fire and some
one else took her and | went back,
said oldham
The truck driver said the second
person he saw was William MCGEE |
Jr., the sixteen-year-old son of
William Niece. manager of the COM
pany. and Who died samely.
At this point Oldham. the hero.
who was walking along the street
stopped and put his hand on bis left
hin which panied him considerably.
Oldham's hands are cut ana bruised
4 little. He suffered these injuries
while trying to save young McGee
md Miss Nan Cummings Oldham |
hen went on describing what happen
I'd later and he said he viii never
,orget what took place while he
tried with all his strength to save
.we Young people but was, forced
o rive mn when the fire licked his
Nack and second explosion knocked
i'm down.
~ saw that hov next" said oldham
He was caught under bricks and
,oards. hut his arms were free and
zig bead was clear and he looked
N nt me as started to dig him
,utp
McGee Real Hero.
Never mind about me- Get Nan
tut FIRST" young McGee said accord
ng to Oldham, as the youth pointed
o Miss Cummings, who was pinned I,
inder debris a few feet from him.
II let go q the boy and rle6 to
ret the girl OUT the truck driver
continued Just her head and shout
iers were all could see aud her
ace was covered with dirt. She
vaan't saying anything then, but
,ent down and wiped her face off
ind could see her forehead and mouth
covered with blood, l julled beam
Up from her beck and the girl moved
Ter arms out and looked up.
please get me out" she said
While | was digging away at her
he boy kept Juggling at my ankle
md leg trying to pull himself out
&c kept telling me to work fast and
,et the girl out There was some
me else crying for help. too, but /
couldn't see them"
Oldham paused in his story and
hon went on
ut was hard then. boy he said
o the reporter. II had that girl
feared almost to the waist and was
soing to grab her under her arms
md give one hard pull when some
III or something blew up and shot
he fame right at us, bent low
md turne- my back so as not TO
ret burned and then something tum-
lied me over alsa had to crawl out.
PlteOus Final Pleas.
The girl said please, mister.
axe me out and the boy said:
Don't let us burn up. It's getting
lot. Get Nan OUT
but couldn't get back again. !,
laid Oldham. 1T was like furnace
md / had no chance: If my helper
Toe Lemon. had been on the truck
With me ! think we could have pulled
he boy and girl out 1t was hare
o see that game boy and girl dying.
'ut no power on earth could have {
ayed them after that second blow :
ID and that big 6ame.'