The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1912-10-19
Capt. w. H. Chelton Held Record
as ReScuer.
Took Many Desperate Risks, Drawing
Gales and icefIows In Chesapeake
Bay to Get Perishins Crews
Ashore.

Chelton, a Chesapeake bay command
er. died at his home in Lawsonia.
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 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 a 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 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 also taken a life. This
was when he was a 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 field.
where he was found dying with bull
let In bis 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 of
chest which betoken great strength
and a 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 ungrateful. for
he joined the Union army at the out
break Of the Civil war. expecting a
bounty of $500 besides his pay for a
long service When his term OF en-
listment was over and he settled up
with Uncle Sam he received q check
for IS which, he was told. was 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 plotted three gunboats in an attack
on Cherrystone. the fight lasting from
early afternoon until the next morn
ing.
Rescues by Capt. w. II. Chelton:
Observation-Disclosures girl at head
of basin.
1Sss-Fourteen United States SOL
diers.
1S6s-Two men at Pungoteague.
swimming 100 yards to reach them.
ls71-Man clinging to North point
buoy.
1s71-John w. Crisfield at Crisfield.
Nd.
1s72-Girl at Crisfield.
1s74-Girl. fifteen years old. Girls
field.
1s7s-Nine men from boat Oh
Sharpe island.
1S7S-Nine members of crew OF
schooner Northampton in .Magothy
| river
1Ss7-Captain and crew OF five from
sloop Samuel Bruster at Hog island in
he Potomac.
iS9s-Captain and crew Of three OF