Jesús García Corona: The Hero of Nacozari
Jesús García Corona, born on November 13, 1881, in Hermosillo, Mexico. He was a railroad brakeman for the train that covered the line between Nacozari and Douglas, Arizona.
On November 7, 1907, while the train was stopped in the town, García noticed that some hay on the roof of a car containing dynamite had caught fire. The fire was caused by sparks that spread from the locomotive’s failing smokebox.
Recognizing the imminent danger, García made a split-second decision that would cost him his life but save the town.
He drove the train in reverse downhill at full-steam six kilometers out of the town before the dynamite exploded.
The explosion killed him, but his quick thinking and selfless act spared the population of the mining town.
In honor of his heroic act, a statue was raised, and the name of the town of Nacozari was changed to Nacozari de García. 0 reply
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