The morning news., 1892-01-04
A REWARD OF BRAVERY.
Capt. w. G. Lees Testin onial Sor Gal.
lantry as a Life Saver.

Capt. w. G. Lees Testimonial Cor Gal
lantry as Life Saver.
Capt. W. G. Lee, United States inspector
Of steam vessels for the Savannah district,
and who has proud record as a life saver,
rescued fourteen persons from drowning
during his career as a steamboat officer. for
which he wears numerous medals,
returned from Florida yesterday.
He was presented at the Seminole
Clubs fancy dress ball at Tiusvile
on New Years eve a beautiful pair of alum.
inium opera glasses with mother-of- pearl
mountings by the citizens Of Brevard cuua-
ty. in recognition of his gallant conduct
and bravery as life saver during the time
he NINA ded the various steamers on the
Indian river.
Capt. Lee was a guest at the ball At
the close of the supper ne was addressed by
Col. Gaulden. leading attorney of
Breverd county, as follows.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN-On this happy oc-
cassiOn, when the youth and beauty Of Indian
river have met to chase the glowing hours
with flying feet" ask your attention for a mo-
ment only, to surprise you and one Of our num-
Der with New Years gift.
l have been requested by his numerous
friends both of the Indian River Steamboat
Company and Brevard county to present to him
these beautiful silver opera glasses as token
" Viva SoSSS N-N - PASSiesSASL VI AID AAA0hAA-
ness.
The conqueror in battle is not the only hero:
in the humber walks of life are often found the
truest heroes, and such is our friend
He wears seven medals for his daring and
bravery, having saved a score of lives from a
watery grave.
For year or two he was captain of one OF
the steamers on our lovely river faithful in this
as In all tn ngs, h; has endeared himself to our
people. and now holds resi- onsible and hon
ored position in the employ Of the United
States government, which he won by his
merit.
In recogniti n OF your merit and true manli-
ness. Capt. w. G. Lee, and as the old year is
dying and the new year opens, with congratu-
lations and the best wishes of your many
friends, have the honor to present to you this
New Years gift.
The Florida Standard, in its report of the
presentation, says:
Capt Lee gracefully accepted and said no
words Of his could express his heartfelt
gratitude, but as he was more of q swimmer
than speaker. he would call on his friend,
Hon. George M. Robbins, to respond in his
behalf
Mr.. Robbins replied that he was much
surprised, as we'll as gratifed, to be called
upon to express to Capt. Lees conferes on
the Indian river-who had so gracefully
testified to the esteem and admira-
ton il which they held his friend
and their friend, Capt. Lee
his grateful appreciation OF the honorS they
had conferred upon him. We all knew OF
the heroic conduct of Capt. Lee through
the papers before he came to the Indian
river and after knowing the man as a
friend and gallant captain among US, he
was not surprised at the token Of apprecia-
ton presented by the old friends of Capt.
Lee upon Indian river.
He closed by SAYING that he would not,
in the presence of Capt. Lee, venture to
praise hun further, and that the beautiful
| token of esteem received by him WAS a
| guarantee that the remarks he had heard
| in his praise were not empty fla5tery. He
thanked the givers of this beautiful token
| of esteem, not only for Capt. Lee, but ior bis
many friends as we'll.
/ Capt Lee was for eight years a steam
boasman on the st. Johns river-three
wears of the time captain of the steamer
! Fannie Dugan. He has saved nearly a
score Of persons from drowning. Many will
recall the Jump he made overheard at
Psiatka to save the life of a young lady
passenger who went down following the
bannisters which had given way while she
was leaning against them. He is a nstive
| of Virginia, though he was reared in
Georgia. He saved life at Tybee q num-
Der of years ago while he was an
| officer on the sea ner II. b. Plant,
and has received numerous medals
from companies and individuals for
his bravery, but as yet the government has
taken no recognitioh Of his services. 1t is
the custom of the government after any one
person has received medals for saving as
many as six lives, to bestow a gold medal in
testimonial of the hsroism. An effort is to
be made toward conferring on him the
| bonora ha desaryeg