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

their hands freezing 10 the lines by which
CAPTAIN Chelron. who was then in COM
mand of the schooner Jennet. He hailed
several captains and asked them why they
did not try to do something. but was told
This did not deter Captain Chelton. and
he determined to take OFF the men. Ills
crew objected. saying that he was abso-
luteiy sure TO destroy his vessel and his
men with it.. but without hesding theiy
protests re anchored near the FleetwinS
ana lowered a boat In the violent wind 4:
was a marvel that the anchor held, and
had it begun TO drag Captain Chelton's
career as a hero would have ended right
there
Sixth Attempt succeeded.
The small boat left the Jennet. with q
line by which 1t was to be pulled back 20
the vessel; Five attempts were made to
was a failure. hut on the sixth attempt the
capsized pungy was reached.
By this time the men who were on the
sides of the vessel were so nuInbed with
cold that they paid no attention to the ef-
forts TO save them, making no attempt to
catch the lines thrown to them. In fact.
their misery when the Jennet landed. 1t
was rather strange that they did not see
Captain Chelton's craft until she did an
Choir. and just at that moment thu mate
said to Captain William J. Hall of the
Fleetwing:
There's no use continuing our misery by
holding on longer, and We may "a well
drop OF"
1t was then chat Captain Hall saw the
Jennet and replied:
Don't let go. There is Bill CheIton's
boat. and II any man on Gods earth can
save Us, re can; We will not give up hope
until he has had a trial"
II was with difficulty that the grips
which the half-frozen men had with their
numbed and stiffeEed fingers could be bro
ken, and that the crew could be transferred
10 the yawl. the operation being rendered
especially dangerous TO all concerned by
the high sea and fierce wind.
Fight for Life.
At last all were taken off and then be-
gan the hight for life to get back to the
Jennet with the overloaded yawl. but il
was finally accomplished. the anchor was
taken up ana the rescuer'S vessel sought
q safer harbor.
Captain Hall and his son. William Rich
fidsvi's telling of their rescue and praising
Captain Chelton In the most fatterin5
terms for his gallant work.
while se of the the eeast se Of Sspld,h C Sneli0R'
picked up "A small boat in which were two
men who had been blown out to sea while
along the coast. He put them ashore. but
does not even remember their names.
In 1855 the Captain made the first of his
Of three men off the schooner Steifull.
which had been cut through and sunk by
the lee at Tally's Point. Md. Captain Chef-
toms boat was also locked in the ice, and
when The Steifull sank he carried lines to
her. by which her men were pulled over
IIe TOUCH INS 10 Ile vessel.
In lssa. at Taiisier Island. a man named
Cooper. his TWO small sons and a daughter.
were thrown into the water by the capsiz-
ing of a boat from which they were fish
ing. Mr.. Cooper had a hard time keeping
the children from being washed of the
boat, and was apidl becoming exhausted
when Captain Chelton went after them in
q yawl-
Frozen in the Ice.
In 1895, Captain Chelton was the hero OF
q series OF rescueS of men who were i'm
periled by the ice. In February of that year
his vessel and several others were frozen
UP in the ice at Piney Point. in the Po-
tomac River. They could not get out and
field, in which they were imprisoned broken
loose and begun to drift about the river.
For several days they went back and forth
their own relief.
The working OF the iceneld was a serious
menace TO the vessels. and on February u
the schooner E. II. Thomas was cut through
and SUM at Point Lookout. Her Captain.
Fred Atwell, and crew OF five men, were
taken off by Captain Chelton. Shortly after
hat a rug appeared and got out all the
other vessels except two and carried them
into the harhor. Two schooners-the r. Fl.
Dougherty. on which, among others. were
and George Smith. and the Lightning.
Captain Thomas Kirwin. remained in the
ice, which was blown out into the bay and
disappeared, headed for the Capes. Cap
tain Cheltcn offered large inducements to
the Captain of the tug to go after the miss
ing boats, but he declined. as his services
were already taken.
Taken In Tow.
AZ thia HWs the tug Laura Eta speddea