Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-06-03
HESAVED 200 LIVES
TIE SPLENDID RECORD on CAPTAIN CHARLES
R0AGH.
Sailed Ii. Great Lakes for Thiriy-Si1 Years, and
Much Of That Time has Commanded Tug.
Began BY Rsscuisg Grew in 1867.
CHICAGO Record.

When the tng Chicago cast of her
line and headed for the open lake yes
terday there stood in the door OF the
pilot house man whose name Is dear
| 70 every sailor on the great lakes. The
man at the wheel was Capt. Charles
Roach, and he was just starting out on
the first trip he has made since the
storm OF Friday night, when, with the
Mollie Spencer aud brave and efficient
crew, be took the three fishermen OF
the government pier aud Aiterward sue
ceeded in reseuihg four OF the crew Of
the Rainbow, which subsequently went
to pieces. In the performance Of the
latter act Of heroI ism Capt. Roach was
badly shaken up.
Capt. Roach has had wonderful ex.
perience during the thirty-six years 10
which he has been identified with the
shipping interests OF the lake, aud on
more than one occasion has been found
in positions where ia required courage,
. cool head and thorough knowledge
OF the situation TO come ont without the
loss OF life. In those thirty-siX years
Capt. Roarch Is credited With having
saved the lives Of mere than 200 per-
sons who had either been shipwrscksd
or had found themselves at the mercy
OF the waves from other causes. He
takes great pride In the fact that
through 1t all be has never injured Ahu.
man being or lost a life.
SHIPPED ON THE SCHOONER wINsLow.
Captain Roach is 81 years old and q
native OF the State OF New York. Al
the age of Is he began an apprentice
ship as a ship carpenter at 0swego, and
worked ut this calling for five years
One bright April day ne shipped with
Captain Jesse Hulburt on the schooner
Winslow, which was bound for Chicago.
When the boat arrived here Captain
Hurlburt found the shipping business
IN a bad way. In consequence the
schooner was tied up for some time.
During this time young Roach wAS
constantly on the lookout" and finally
found employment with Captain John
Prindivlle on the wrecking tug Walter
McQuan, He continued on this boat
until the following spring, when he was
given charge OF the tug MulfoTd, In the
service OF the same line. This tug was
afterward given TO the United States
government by the Sturgis estate and
during the war did service on the Mis-
sissippi river as dispatch boat.
Capt. RsRch's next commands were
on the tugs Rumsey aud Monitor Be-
Ing OF steady habits and thrifty DISPOSE
tion he succeeded In saving consldera.
bic money, aud finally took the COM
mand Of the tug Union as part owner.
He remained with this tug for ten
years, and sold bis interest In her only
TO purchase an interest In the tug
Shields, with which be remained two
years Following this time BIO WAS for
two years assistant superintendent Of
the Vessel Owners Towing company,
and then cast his lot with the Durham
company with which he has remained
ever since. He was the first captain Of
the Moford. owned by this company;
later was on the Perfection, the new
and powerful tug which the company
placed In the service last spring. and
his last command was on the Mollls
Spencer.
BEGAN his CAREER OF LIFE-sAvING.
Captain Roach's Arst experience In
saving human life was on the 18th Of
Dacem DER, 1867, when during heavy
storm the bark David Morse went
ashore OF Evanston. There were
eleven persons on board and Capt.
Roach succeeded Ia taking them al OF.
For this work he was presented With =
gold watch, which he still has and
which Is valued at S575. IL was bitterly
cold at the time the wreck took place,
and before those on board were taken
of the ice had reached the foremost
head and the eleven persons we're near
ly frozen to death. They we're so be-
numbs that they were unaols to do any
thing to assist Themselves. and all would
doubtless have persisted but for the
prompt measures taken for their relief.
Since that occasion there has not bees
"bloW" that has not found Capt.
Roach and a good strong tug cruising
about the harbor and Ia the open lake,
ever on the LOOKOUT fer signals Of dis
tress and ready at a moments notice 10
90 TO the assistance OF the imperlled
ones.
Ten years ago, during a stiff gale, the
Mary A. Cook, not content with houn.
dering about Ia deep water. Jumpsd
over the government pier and would
have gone 10 pieces but for the presencs
In the basin OF Capt. Roach. He went
to her assistance, and getting a lioe on
her stern, towed her 20 a safe place, Az
chors and all. The crew had previously
been taken Of.
About nine years ago the schooner
Persia went against the pier stern on.
II WAS la the night aud the storm was
nearly as severe as the one OF Friday
night. The lake was full OF vessels and
the life.sayiDg crew was kept busy.
Capt. Roach went 20 their assistance,
and after they had failed 10 do any,
thing for tho Persia he 70 Capt. 50.
Peters hAwssr and toWed the schooner
20 the harbor with her anchors drag
Ring. The vessel would soon have gone
to pieces The owner OF the vessel was
Capt. Peterson, who also sailed her. After
the crew had been taken 10 place OF
safety Capt. Roach asked Capt. Peter.
son what be had Intended 70 DO. The
captain OF the schooner replied that be
could have escaped from the boat, but
that he had intended 70 20 20 the bot
tom with her, % she was all he had In
the world. The Persia was sfterWArd
owned and sailed by the mate Of the Ill
fated Rainbow. who was saved By Capt.
Roach Friday. The mate was q mem
Der OF the Salvation Army, and ~ thu
time Of hls rescue wore the Army uni-
| form.
Five years ago the schooner Lsvendi
was caught by Capt. Roach OF the
marine hospital 10 q disabled condition
aud badly waterloRged. He succeeded
| IN towing her In and saved the crew OF
| Eve sailors. About three years ago The
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