The evening times., 1901-04-12
LECTURER TO Be A MUTE
Jses a Talking Machine Before
Submitting to an Operation.

He Thus EecOrds the Thrilling story
of His Life and Hopes to Perpetu-
ate 1.-THE Strange Case Of w. H.
rGuptOn-Tongue to Be Removed.
NEW YORK. April l2-William H
Crampton. soldier and sailor. policeman.
and clergyman. daredevil and lecturer
talked yesterday as le has never talked
before in the fifty-three years of his life.
From morning until night ne poured forth
his own exciting experiences into a talk
ing machine He told of mis- adventures
in war and at sea, and Of his periIs among
savages-
lie talked yesterday all day, because
the sound of his voice VIII not be heard
today His tongue is to be taken out iy
the physicians in Seney Hospital, Brook
lyn, aud from then on he viii be known
as the mute lecturer. or the tongue
less lecturer He must either give up his
tongue or his life. and he has decided that
life is dearer than speech. BY the me
dunn of the phonograph his lectures will
continue.
Mr.. Champion lives at No 426 -hir-
teentb Street, Brooklyn. and Is known
in that borough as the preaching police
man. For years he was on the Brook
Iya police force before he resigned in 1895
to become lecturer. Champion married
twenty-five years ago His wife deyeI-
oped cancer and for seventeen years, IN
I'll her death, in February. 1899, she was
sufferer. He was her constant attendant.
and it is supposed that ne contracted the
disease from her.
About five months ago q hard lump ap-
peared on the end of Cramptou's tongue
He thought nothing of it at first, but
suited a physician- He was then told
that The lump was q canceruUS growth
On Friday of last week Champion was
told by the physicians at Seney Hospital
that the only means of saving his life
was to cut out his tongue. He remained
at the hospital. preparing for the ordeal.
and on Monday obtained leave of alb
sence until last night at $50 O'Clock He
said he wanted to arrange matters SO
that his lectures could be continued even
though he was II lose his speech.
He began talking into the machine
early in the morning. His articulation
was clear. his voice without = trernor
but with every word he uttered his face
tWitched and tears came to his eyes. He
told his life's story. going into the details
Of his every exciting experience He was
never interrupted. for he was talking
against time Every second was dear to
him.
Promptly at 5:15 p. m. he left the phono-
graph. put on his hat and coat and start
ed for the hospital There he must re
main for weeks. and when he is we'll and
strong again ne viii appear On the plat
form and the phOaOgraph viii lecture for
him His son Sherwood is his assistant
Wi..r only a boy Champion enlisted in
Shermar's army and was on the march
to the sea He was in every battle Sher-
mans army fought ard many times was
wounded He was made q prisoner by
the Confederates and sentenced to be
shot, but escaped.
War over he became . sailor. He was
captured by MaIayan pirates. and after
a desperate fight he escaped with many
wounds at Singapore a fanatIcaI mob
almost killed him. He was caught in
water spout in the Indian Ocean and
nearly Derished. For three days he was
in the bottom of a coal mine IL the island
-of Labuan without food or water When
he escaped he became a Christian
As q policeman he was as fearless as
he was kind and gentle. There was never
a complaint against him.
There's no use feeling badly about II.
It has TO be done and I am Christian
man" Champion said last night 4 az
ready for the ordeal"