The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-03-09

began his rescues by jumping into the
water at the foot OF Calvert street. Balti-
more. and pulling a girl out of the dock
who had fallen overheard. The girl was
very grateful. and an effort was made to
take up a collection for the young hero.
but he refused the money and did not even
learn the girls name.
His next feat was the saving of the lives
Of fourteen United States soldiers IN the
Wilcomico River in 1863. He and the sol
Sisrs do %sss patrol Sa the su Rgns < s,a4m Came Mhi Gp
suddenly. and before the sails could be
taken in the boat was turned over All
climb on the side of the vessel. The ex-
ception was a man who was caught in the
hold OF the vessel and WAS about to drown:
Captain Chelton Owed into the hold. and
cleared the man so that he could, join the
rest on the side of the vessel. In the mean
time another man had been washed on
swan after him and brought him back.
Their position. perched on the sides OF a
and something rad TO be done quickly.
Carried shipmates shore
About 500 yards away was a yawlboat
which had gone adrift. and Ca9tain Chelton.
by hard swimming, in the rough water
managed to catch il. He then went back
after his shipmates and carried them ashore
Thu only member OF this party the Captain
remembers is o 5. Tull. who IN 1871
made an affidavit regarding the facts of the
rescue Of John Nichols. a man named Rich
ardson, another named Willis and a musi-
clan.
~goteague. who had gotten adrift in a small
boat and could not be reached by the yes
Sci. The water was icy colo, but the Cap,
tain jumped overheard and carried them a
line BY swimming 100 yards. All hands we're
then pulled to the vessel.
He found no more opportunities for dar-
ing life saving until 1871, when he rescued
a man who was clinginE TO the North Point
buoy. The man had been knocked off the
spsrs Of a brig during the night and could
not be found. He swan to the buoy and Sc
cured himself by means of a long belt which
he wore. There he remained in the freezing
water until Captain Chelton's vessel hove
In sight. The Captain was engaged In an eN-
citing race with a rival captain. but he saw
a dark object on the buoy and thought 1t
shsds b 6n Z tro ma9 stop nis n to examine .rafa t the obs nb-
ing the race for that purpose and he was
repaid by saving a life. The man was I'M
er until after he had been worked on for
two hours in the cabin OF the vessel.
Saved Crisfeld From Drowning.
In 1871 Captain Chelton saw John ". Girls
field of Somerset County fall into the water
at Crisfeld. Mr.. Crisield was almost
drowned when Captain Chelton dived in
after him, got him on his back and swan to
the wharf with him. ]. W. Goodsell OF Girls
field was near by and helped to pull the un-
fortunate Cri.field out of the water. When
he had reached dry land once more Mr..
How am 1 to get home in these wet
clothes?"
Captain Chelton replied that 1t was Get
ter to go home In wet clothes than In a
coffin, and Mr.. Crisfield readily agreed with
MIN. and thanked his rescuer profusely.
The next year. 1872, at C~risield. a little
SRI fell on the wharf and was drowning
when Captain Chelton swan out and saved
her. Two years later. In 1874, he was the
nero OF q similar rescue at the same place,
the girl being one of a party of excursion
istS who were visiting the town.
The year 1878 was an eventful one even in
SO strenuous a life as that of the Captain.
He began by taking nine men of a boat
which was sunk on Sharp's Island. 1t was
winter time and in the middle of a cold
night that he thought he heard voices as
ne was sailing past the island. He put
ABOUT and tried to locate the voices. and
after two hours of lacking back and forth
ne found the vessel with its crew perched
upon its spars. He laid by and took the
men of in his yawl.
Rescue of Nine Men.
His second feat Of the year was a thrill.
ing rescue Of nine men who were on the
schooner Northampton when she capsdzed
In the Magothy River. It was blowing a
gaze ana about thirty vessels passed the
Northampton without trying to save her
crew. having all they could do to protect
themselves Captain Chelton saw the plight
OF his fellow-sailors. and. in spite Of the
protests OF his crew. he determined to risk
his vessel to save the one in distress. Stand
Ing on to wtndward, he lowered his yawI
and scudded down to the Northampton and
took on q portion Of the men.
In the meantime. according to his instruc-
tons the vessel had gone to Ieeward of the
Northampton. and the captain scudded