Jesús García
| Jesús García Corona | |
|---|---|
 Jesús García Corona riding a horse days before his death | |
| Born |
Jesús García Corona November 13, 1881 Nacozari, Sonora, México |
| Died |
November 7, 1907 (aged 25) Nacozari, Sonora, México |
| Occupation | Railroader |
| Years active | 1898–1907 |
| Known for | Saving the town of Nacozari |
| Children | None |
Jesús García Corona (13 November 1883 – 7 November 1907) was a Mexican railroad brakeman who was killed trying to keep a train loaded with dynamite from exploding near Nacozari, 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. 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.
Jesús García was the railroad brakeman 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 in reverse downhill at full-steam six kilometers out of the town before the dynamite exploded, killing him and sparing the population of the mining town.
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", sung by Pancho "el Charro" Avitia, and Mexican railroad workers commemorate 7 November every year as the Día del Ferrocarrilero (Railroader's Day).
- 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
See also
References
- (Spanish) Portal INEP
- (Spanish) Jesús García, Mexicanos Ilustres
- E-Book on Nacozari and Jesus Garcia