The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-04-13
He TALKED
A WHOLE DAY.
Doomed to Be Mute, Champion
Made a Speaking Record.
SPOKE INTO PHON0GRAPA.
That win Tell The Stoy Of His AdsntuTous
Life Must Lose Tongue Because
Of CapCsTOus Growth.
SPOKE INTO PHoNOGRApH.

William w. Champion soldier and sail
or policeman and clergyman, daredevil
and lecturer talked yesterday as ne has
never talked before in the htty-three
years OF his life.
From murnng unul night he poured
forth his own exciting experiences into a
monograph RE told of his adventures
ia war and at sea, and OF his perils
among savages.
tse ,alked all day because the sound Of
his voice will not be heard today His
tongue is 10 be taken out by the phy-
sicians in Seney hospital. Brooklyn, and
from Men on he viii Doe known AS The
mute lecturer. or the tongueless lee
turer.
he must either give mp his tongue or
his lie, and he has decided that life IS
dearer than speech. By the medium OF
the phonograph his lectures viii continue.
FROM POLICEMAN To LECTURER.
MIR. Champion lives At No. iee Thir-
teenth street. brooklyn. and Is known IN
thai borough as the preaching police
man. For years he was ON the Brooklyn
police fierce before he resigned In lssa
10 b~corse "a lecturer. CHAMPION married
TWENTY-FIVE years ago. Ills wife de-
veloped cancer and tor seventeen years,
until her dUath. ia February 1900, she was
a sufferer. tie VAS her constant attend
ant. and Il Is Supposed that he contracted
the aiseasc from her
About fVe months ago hard lump ap-
peared on the end of Champion > tongue.
lie thought nothing of II AZ first, but
when the lump continued to grow he con-
suited "A physician. lie was then told
that the lump was cancerous growth.
ON Friday of last week Champion was
xniH hxf "a GEnQN lIgSnifal
that The only means Of saving his life
was 20 cut out his tongue. He remained
AZ the hospital preparing for the ordeal,
and on Monday obtained leave OF absence
untl last night at $3.50 o'clock.
He said he wanted 10 arrange matters
SO that his lectures could he continued.
even though ne wgs 70 lose his speech.
lie began talking into the photograph
early In the morning His articulation
was clear. his voice without tremor-
but with every word he uttered stab OF
pain caused his face to twitch and
brought tears to his eyes.
He told his life's story, going Into the
details OF his exciting experiences. lie
was never interrupted. for he was talk
3ng against time Every SECOND was dear
10 him
Promptly at 5:15 r. IN. he left the phon-
ograph. put on his hat and coat and
started for the hospital. There he must
remain for weeks. and when he is well
and strong again he will appear on the
platform and the phonogrsph will lecture
for him. His son Sherwood is his assist
ant
When only a hoy Champion enlisted In
Sherman's army and was on the march
~ the sea- He was In every battle Sher-
mans army fought and many times was
wounded. He was made prisoner by
the Confederates and sentenced 10 be
shot. but escaped.
FOUGHT WITH MALAY PIRATES.
War over. he became a sailor lie
was captured by Malsyan pirates, and
after desperate fight he escaped with
many wounds AZ Singa pore fanatical
mob almost killed him. lie was caught
In wafer spout in the Indian ocean
and nearly persisted For three days he
was i'm the bottom OF coal mine IN the
island of Labuan without food or water.
When he escaped he became a Christian.
As a policeman he was as fearless as
ne was kind and gentle There was never
complaint against him.
There's no use feeling badly about n
" has 20 he done and ! am q Christian
man" Champion said last night "l am
ready FOR the ordeal"