The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1899-06-01

| ~ the citizens generally. Inc medal,
attached to a blue ribbon, is of solid
silver, of considerable size and weight.
1t bears on its face the figure of the
reclining goddess OF Liberty, and
around the margin are inscribed the
words, In testimony of heroic deeds
in saving life from the perils of the sea"
On the opposite side is the following
inscription:
Act of Congress
June 4, 1874,
To Benjamin G. Cameron, for gallant
conduct ia saving lives from ship
wrecks on various occasions.
1875-1897."
With the medal came the following
letter:
TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Office of the Secretary.
Washington, D. c., March l6, '99.
Capt. Benjamin G.. Cameron, Keeper
Kenosha Life Saving Station, Keno
sha, Wisconsin.
Sir-I transmit herewith a silver
life saving medal awarded to you under
the provisions of the Acts of June 20,
1874 and June Is, 1873, in recognition
of your heroic services in saving life
from the perils of the sea on various
occasions from 1875 to 1897.
1t appears from evidence on file in
this Department that on December 10,
1875, the schooner William III. Hins-
dale, stranded three miles south Of
Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Lake Michi
gan, during severe northwest biz
card and that her crew of four men
were dashed to the rigging, covered
with ice and barely alive. AS soon as
she was discovered you procured a
Doat and caused it to be transported
along the shore until abreast of her,
where you and other volunteers
launched it over formidable ice bar
rier several feet in height, in face of
very dangerous sea, aud pushed brave
lY out to the rescue. Upon reaching
the vessel you mounted the rigging,
with your own hands unlashed the
imperilled men and passed them one
by one into the boat below, which
under your command conveyed them
to the shore. Medical aid and other
proper treatment we're quickly afforded
them and all survived, but it is highly
probable that except for your prompt
and efficient conduct some if not all of
them would have persisted.
At the wreck of the steamer Amazon
near Grand Haven, Michigan, October
| %, 1879, you rendered valuable assist
ance.
November II, 1881, as keeper of the
Kenosha Life Saving Station, you &C
complished the rescue of the crew OF
six men and one woman, of the water
logged schooner E. P. Royce, which
lay in a helpless condition ten miles out
in the lake. The captain of the vessel
stated that without your aid all on
board would probably have persisted.
On November Ii, 1883, you effected
the rescue of the crew of the schooner
Rockaway while that vessel was adrift
and unmanageable ten miles from
shore, all hands having been nearly
frozen to death and without food or rest
for forty eight hours.
On the Oath of November. 1887, under
circumstances of extreme difficulty, you
rescued twelve men from the steamer
Scion 81. johnson and scoW wrecked
about ten miles south of the Kenosha
station. A severe snow storm was
prevailing and the conditions generally
were of such a character that they were
overcome only by remarkable resolu-
ton and perseverance, and the situa-
ton of the imperilled men was so
critical when you reached the scene
that in the opinion of multitude of
eye. witnesses they would all have per-
ished had you been delayed another
hour
On December 2, 1890, under condi-
tions similar to those of the preceding
case, you conducted the rescue of ten
men from the steamer A. G.. Van Raalte
wrecked two miles south of your station.
This achievement was signally meritor-
ious because it was accomplished in the
night during binding snow storm &C
panied by heavp wind and sea.
On the night of December of Deem
cember7, 1895, with the aid of volun
teers, you rescued the crew of the scow
Harry Johnson, wrecked near the
breakwater, at the mouth of KenOsha
harbor. You first set out in the
surfboat, but the ice was so heavy
and accumulated on the boat and
oars and men so rapidly that
you were compelled to return and
take your boat overland abreast of the
4 IL g.