Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-10-15
he SAVED IS LIVES
Capt. W. H. CheIton Held RECORD
as ResCuer.
Took Many Desperate Risks, sravlne
Gales and fceflows In Chesapeake
Bay to Get 9erlshins Crews
& r A Ashore.

r.
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 he'd been sailor from his youth
and commanded vessel when he was
fifteen years old.
Captain Chelton had a record un-
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 boy
of fifteen years. he leaped into the ba-
sin in Baltimore. at the foot of Cal
vert street and saved girl who had
fallen overheard. An effort was made
to raise a purse for the lad. but he re-
fused to accept anything and he never
for his subsequent rescues earned q
cent.
+. To his dying day, however. he was
proud of a United States medal
awarded by congress in 1902, follow
ing the publication in the Sun OF an &C.
count of his Network of humane en-
deavor.
Captain Chelton, though great life
saver, has also taken life. This
was when he was q deputy sheriff Of
Somerset county. On May %, 1907.
he attempted to arrest Frederick
Long, who was wanted for larceny. He
ordered Long to surrender, but the
man fired twice at him and then Chel-
ton used his pistol. The man shot
twice again and ran through a feld'
where he was found dying with bull
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
ell of his life.
! He was Of medium height but had
the breadth of shoulders and depth OF
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 on
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 ungratefuI for
he Joined the Union army at the out
break of the Civil war. expecting
bounty of $500 besides his pay for
long service. When his term Of en-
listment was over and he settled up
with Uncle Sam he received check
for So which. he vas told. vas all that
was coming to him. He never cashed'
the check, but kept It as souvenir.
During greater part Of his time IN
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 attack
on Cherrystone, the fight lasting from
early afternoon until the next morn
ing.
Resoues by Capt. W. H. Chelton:
observation-disclosures girl az head
of basin.
186S-Foupteen United States sol
diers.
186s-Two men at Pungoteague
swimming 100 yards to reach them.
1S71-Man clinglng to North point
buoy.
1s71-John W. crisfeld at Crisfield
Md.
1s79HGri at Crisfeld.
1s74-GirI. fifteen years old. Girls
field.
1s7s-Nine men from 9 boat of
Sharpe island.
1S7S-Nine members Of crew OF
schooner Northampton in Magothy
river.
lss7-Captaln and crew Of five from
slocp Samuel Bruster az Hog island In
the Potomac.
lSSs-Captatn and crew OF three OF
schooner Steifuu at Tally point Mary
land.
,lSs9-Captain and son and crew Of
-four Of pungy Fleetwing in Tangies
sound.
1SSs-Picked up two men adrift In
boat on coast Of North Carolina.
18e0-Man. two girls and a boy al
iTangier island
1Se5-February ia-Captafn and
crew of five from schooner q. c
Thomas OF Point Lookout.
1Ss5-February 15-Thirteen men
from schooners r. Fl. Dougherty and
Lightning. landing them In the PutuD
ent,
! Rescues on land:
!. Woman at Salisbury pulled from IN
front Of an engine
Misses Mary Tawes and Nettls
Crockett, knocked into ditch al
Salisbury. Md. from in front q 8
train.
Cattle Tsrlve on Splneless Cactus.
Santa Rosa, Cal.-Two COWS put
upon a rigid diet OF spineless cactus