Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1912-10-09
Capt. W. H. CheIton Held Record
as ReSCuer.
Took Many Desperate Risks, Drawing
Gales and leehows In Chesapeake
Bay to Get Perlshlns Crews
Ashore.

Baltimore, Md-Capt. William Il.
Chelton, a Chesapeake bay command
er, died at his home in Lawsonia, a
suburb of this city. the other day.
aged sixty.nine years. Captain Chel-
ton had been a sailor from his youth
and commanded vessel when he was
fifteen years old
Captain Chelton had a record I'M
equaled in America for saving human
lives, the score to his credit being SO.
and his work in this direction begin
ming in August 1859. when, as a boy
Of fifteen years, he leaped into the ba-
sin in Baltimore, at the foot of Cal.
vert street and saved a girl who had
fallen overheard An effort was made
to raise purse for the lad, but he re-
fused to accept anything and he never
for his subsequent rescues earned a
cent.
To his dying day, however. he was
proud of United States medal
awarded by congress in 1902. follow
ing the publication in the Sun of an ac-
count of his lifework of humane en-
deavor.
Captain Chelton, though a great life.
saver, has ilso taken a life. This
was when he was deputy sheriff OF
Somerset county. On May g. 1907,
he attempted to arrest Frederick
Long. who WAS wanted for larceny. He
ordered Long to surrender. but the
man fred twice at him and then Chel.
ton used his pistol. The man shot
twice again and ran through field
where he was found dying with bul,
let in his lungs. On that occasion
too, he drove several miles with the
wounded man to get medical aid.
Captain Chelton was born in North
cumberland county, Virginia, in 1874
but lived in Maryland during nearly
all of his life.
He was OF medium height, but had
the breadth of shoulders and depth oil
chest which betoken great strength
and pair OF sturdy legs which stood
him in good stead in many feats Of
swimming by which he saved men or
the deep. He also made several res
cues on land and saved three women
from being killed by trains.
He is said to have had ample cause
for believing republics ungratefuf, foi
he joined the Union army at the out
break of the Civil war, expecting g
bounty of $500 besides his pay for {
long service. When his term of en-
listment was over and he settled III
with Uncle Sam he received a checl
for Sc which, he was told was all thai
was coming to him. He never casheC
the check, but kept 1t as souvenir.
During a greater part of his time II
the army he was plotting federal gun
boats in Maryland and Virginia wa
tiers on blockade duty In this service
he piloted three gunboats in an attacl
on Cherrystone. the fight lasting from
early afternoon until the next morn
Ing.
Rescues by Capt W, H. Chelton:
Observation-Disclosures girl at heat
OF basin,
1863-Fourteen United States sol
diers.
1S63-Two men at Pungoteague
swimming 100 yards to reach them.
1S71--Man clinging to North puin
buoy
1s71-John w. Crisfield at Crisfeld
Md.
1872-Girl at Crisfield.
1s74-Girl, fifteen years old. Girls
field
1S7S-Nine men from a boat ID
Sharpe island.
1S78-Nine members of crew o
schooner Northampton in Magoth
river.
1887-Captain and crew of FIVE fror
sloop Samuel Bruster at Hog island il
the Potomac
1SS8-Captain and crew of three @