The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-04-23
A MEDAL FOR CAPT. LEE.
The Government Rewards His Bravery
in Life Saving.

PIE saved From Drowning-Secr
tary Carlisle's Complimentary Let.
ter-The First Life Saving Media,
Awarded by the Secretary-Its Pre-.
sentation by Congressman Cooper
of Florida at Jacksonville Yester.
day.
Capt. William c.. Lee has received from
the government the first life saving media
awarded by Secretary Carlisle. The pre-
sentation took place in jacksonville yes
terday at the Jacksonville Board of Trade
Hon. c. NJ. Cooper, congressman-elect
fromthe Second Florida district made the
presentation speech. Rev Father Kenny
OF jacksonville received the medal for
Capt. Lee.
The medal was awarded for the rescue
at various times of eight persons from
drowning. Although but eight are men
TONED in the secretary's letter, Capt.
Lee has, during his life saved
fourteen people from a watery grave-a
wonderful record. OF the eight rescues
which he effected, it is a noteworthy
fact that seven of them were made in the
darkness of the night.
Secretary Carlisle, in his letter of trans
initial accompanying the medal, pays
Capt. Lee this compliment: ''On every
occasion you displayed first almost peer
less courage and then the utmost skill and
resolution in your noble work l heartily
concur in the UnStintcd commentator
bestowed upon you by all the witnesses of
these remarkable achievements"
TROPHY TO BE PROUD OF.
The medal is of the frst-class, of solid
gold and is awarded only in instances
where unusual heroism is displayed. 1t
is of handsome design and contains 5000
worth of gold. The medal itself is some
what larger than a silver dollar, and is
suspended by ribbon from the beak of
an eagle, above which is the bar. On the
face Of the medal is the representation
of life saver standing on boat
and throwing a lifeline to a
woman struggling in the water Around
this is the inscription: "In Testimony of
Heroic Deeds in Saving Life From the
PerilS of the Sea. L. S. Of America, Act
of Congress June 20, 1874" On the re-
verse side of the medal on a representa-
ton OF monument is the inscription =:
wv. G. Lee for Heroic Daring in Rescu-
ing Several Persons From Drowning"
ana on the base Of the monument the
figures 1S78-'S5.
Capt. Lee already holds several medals
and testimonials OF his heroism in life
saving and the award of the government
medal is a merited recognition of his
bravery.
SOME OF THE REsCUEs.
Three of the rescues were made in the
Savannah river, one of them at the foot
of Bull street in 1873. Frank F'yler, act
ing steward OF the steamer Centennial.
was boarding the steamer in the night
time when the gang plank slipped and he
was precipitated into the river. Hearing
cry for assistance Capt. Lee leaped
from his bunk and dashed overheard in
the darkness so quickly that he was able
to seize the man before he was swept
away by the rapid ebb tide, and conveyed
him to one of the paddle wheels of the
steamer, where, with his aid, he held on
until taken on board the boat
The second rescue was one of still
greater merit On June Is, 1880, a large
excursion party was conveyed from Sa-
vannah to Tybee Island on board the
steamer H. B. Plant of which Capt. Lee
was acting mate. About 1880 O'Clock at
night Mary A. Stafford, a 14-year-old
girl, fell overheard in Tybee roads,
carrying with her her little brother of 8
years Hearing an cutlery Capt. Lee
rushed to the side of the steamer where
the children had disappeared, and while
hundreds were helplessly standing bv.
sprang after the drowning little ones. As
he touched the water he caught the girl
and quickly swan with her to the gang
way, where they were both lifted to the
deck. Then for the first time Capt. Lee
learned that the boy had also fallen over
board. The darkness was so intense that
he could not be seen, but he instantly
plunged back into the water, and detect
ing break in the floating phosphate. his
experience told him. that the child was
probably there. He swan with all haste
thatway, reaching and grasping the little
fellow just as he was about to sink and
carried him back in safety to the
arms of the almost distracted mother on
board the steamer. For this rescue Can't
holds medal and testimonial from the
St. Patrick's Total Abstinence and Be
nevolent Society, which had charge of the
excursion during which the accident oc-
CURED.
SAVED THREE AT ONE TINE.
Another rescue was that of three ner-
sons in the St. Johns river in 1888. While
the steamer Anita, of which Capt. Lee
was acting mate, was under way on the
river, he heard voices near the vessel. and
suddenly discovered rowboat
close alongside, apparently filled
with men and women, and before
Roadway could be stopped the boat was
crushed under the port paddle wheel of
Jn6 steamer. Inc weather was so dark
and foggy that the imperiled persons could
not be seen, but Capt. Lee hastily seized
several life preservers and plunged into
the river. With great skill and coolness
he managed to get life preservers to each
of the two women, Mrs. Watts and Mrs.
Stamford, and one of the two men, Mr..
Stamford, there having been four persons
in the boat. The fourth, Elijah Watts.
was drowned, but through no lack of
courage or effort on his part. While he
was brayely encouraging and supporting
the three people he had reached, boat
was sent to his assistance, and all were
finally taken on board the Anita. In this
extraordinary enterprise Capt. Lee nearly
lost his life, having been seriously dis
ablcd by blow inflicted by a chair reck-
lessly thrown from the steamer
These and the other rescues for which
the medal was awarded are spoken of at
length by Secretary Carlisle in his letter.
THE PRESENTATION.
In presenting the medal to Capt. Lee in
behalf of the Secretary of the Treasury,
Mr.. Cooper performed his first official act
as congressman. He alluded to the re-
markable bravery and daring displayed
by Capt Lee in the rescue of
fourteen people from death, and to
the fact that such records are seldom