Jesús García

Jesús García Corona (13 November 1883 – 7 November 1907) was a Mexican railroad engineer who was killed trying to keep a train loaded with dynamite from exploding near Nacozari de García, Sonora, in 1907. As el héroe de Nacozari he is revered as a national hero and many streets, plazas, and schools across Mexico are named for him.

García was born in Hermosillo, Sonora. In 1898 his family moved to Nacozari, where his father worked as a blacksmith. García, too, learned the trade, and at the age of 17 got a job with Moctezuma Copper Company, but due to his age, he was made a waterboy. He was promoted to switchman, then to brakeman, and finally to fireman. By the age of twenty he was machine engineer.

Jesús García was the railroad engineer for the train that covered the line between Nacozari, Sonora, and Douglas, Arizona. On 7 November 1907 the train was stopped in the town and, as he was resting, he saw that some hay on the roof of a car containing dynamite had caught fire. The cause of the fire was that the locomotive's firebox was failing and sparks were going out from the smokestack. The wind blew them and got into the dynamite cars. García drove the train at full-steam six kilometers out of the town before the dynamite exploded, killing him and 12 other railwaymen and bystanders, but sparing the population of the mining town. Jesús told the fireman to jump off the train and the man survived.

In his honor a statue was raised and the name of the town of Nacozari was changed to Nacozari de García. He was declared Hero of Humanity by the American Red Cross, many streets in Mexico carry his name, and the Estadio Héroe de Nacozari sports stadium in Hermosillo is also named after him. García's sacrifice is remembered in the corrido "Máquina 501"("Locomotive 501", although the real number was #2), sung by Pancho "el Charro" Avitia, and Mexican railroad workers commemorate 7 November every year as the Día del Ferrocarrilero.

The song in free translation:
LOCOMOTIVE 501 (Corrido)
Five -0- one locomotive
which ran thru Sonora land,
and of the railroad switchmen
who does not sigh, he cries
It was a Sunday, gentlemen,
at about three o'clock,
and the young Jesus Garcia
caressing her mother was
-"Within just a few moments
mother I have to depart,
I see my future is coming
for the train whistle is heard,
When he arrived at the station
a train was whistling already
and a car with dynamite
was already set afire
The fireman then says to him:
"Jesus, lets take down at once
look that the car behind us
comes burning in fire ablaze"
"I have a whole different thought"
Then Jesús Garcia replied:
"I do not want to be the cause
For many people to die"
So he turned back his engine
because it was uphill road
and by kilometer six
he went to the hands of God
Since that unforgettable day
You have won the glory cross,
You have won the honor laurel,
You are a hero, Jesús.
Five -0- one locomotive
which ran through Sonora,
and of the railroad switchmen
who does not sigh, cries

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