The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-01-19
A HERO OF THE STORM
Details Of Captain Casto's Rescue of
he. Cherokee's Passengers.

To Captain Mark Casio. of the fish,
ing schooner Alberta, and his two aids.
Nelse and Busch, belong all credit for
enecting the rescue OF sixty-nine per-
sons, when the ~life-saving organiza-
tons Of the Jersey coast was power
less, and wrecking tugs, which had
stood by until the tremendous seas
overcame them, had scudded out ocean
ward for safety.
1t was a tremendous spectacle
drama OF the ca played out before
the eyes Of thousands who lined the
Atlantic City beaches.
The Cherokee struck on the Brigan-
tine Shoals at noon on Friday. Life
saving crews went out TO her, but
mighty waves were running, and they
were unable TO take the passengers
and crew off
Two ocean-going wrecking tugs, the
Merritt and the North America, which
had come alongside. were powerless.
The people on shore could see the
great vessel, helpless. and could make
out the despair of the crew and pas
sengers.
Aside from the original crew aud
passengers, there were fourteen men,
bers of the life-saving crew, which
had fought their way to the vessel,
only to have their boats smashed and
carried away, and find themselves ma.
rooned there.
Two big wrecking tugs had been
started from New York by the Moran
Company, and desperate eyes searched
the sea for their appearance, but they
did not come. Saturday night the fury
Of the storm increased treble. All
through the long hours the end ap-
peared sure and speedy. The boat
was apparently going to pieces. The
fires had been out for twenty-tou'
hours; the decks were washed with
huge, sweeping waves, which had car
ried all before them; the foOdstufT
aboard had been destroyed by sea
water.
Almost frozen, hungry, thirsty and
with the vessel under them slowly
breaking UP, those aboard had about
given uD hope when the intrepid Casio
put cut in spite of the raging sea.
Casio is known all along the Jersey
coast as a daredevil seaman He lives
at Pleasantville. His little fishing
schooner, the Alberta, is a familiar
sight to the coastwise seamen.
About noon Saturday, with his crew
of four, he put out to try and make
connections with the battered wreck.
He swung his little vessel loose from
the inlet and struck out for the Brig
antine Shoals, where the Cherokee
was remorselessly pounded by great
rolling seas.
The giant waves were breaking in
clouds of spume over the shoals, and
the roar of thunder of the mammoth
waves were hurled back as If a warn
ing to keep away.
Casto's little boat, pitifully made
uuate it seemed, tackled right into the
raging sea. 1t bobbed up and down
like a chip. One moment it was car
ried aloft on a great, rolling wave
and the next moment it was complete
iy lost 70 view in the restless trough
Of the sea.
Inch by inch the boat gained, and
those with field glasses, and others
with straining eyes, watched its pro-
gress. Slowly but surely it was seen
to fight it's way onward. For two
hours it battled with the sea-. 1t was
seen that Casio had approached close
to the wrecked vessel, and hove 700.
On the Cherokee anxious eyes gaZed
with a CLEAN of hope at the struggling
dory. and half-frozen arms were held
out in wild appeal.
The sturdy captain went right about
his business. When he had approach
ed the ship as closely as the heavy
sea running would allow, he cast out
a deep-sea anchor and made ready 10
launch a dory. The moment OF heart
breaking anxiety had come.
Gould it do it," was the 1narHSte
late question framed OIL every lip.&>h
oilskins Captain Caste took charge OF
the work. Nelse and Busch, HARDY
men OF the sea, knowing their cap
tain and trusting him, stood by, clear
eyed and with steady nerves and firm
muscles. They tied life lines around
themselves first, then they swung the
dory to the sheer rail and waited a IA
orable moment. They carried another
line with them for the Cherokee to
take on.
Like craven images the three brave
ssamen. in their oilskins, stood by the
dory. With practiced eye, Captain
Caste watched the great rolling waves,
and noted their direction. They were
washing over his fragile little vessel
and rolling on in great masses and
breaking and tumbling over the Chero-
kee.
Suddenly, one bigger, perhaps. than
any of it's predecessors came along.
"Let go!" sang out the captain. The
little dory was thrust Over the side
of the schooner. The three men them
selves faced downward in it ana the
great wave carried it swiftly toward
the Cherokee.
Just as the dory was swung by the
wave against the rail Of the Chero-
kee, Captain Casio and his two aids
Jumped from the dory toward the
steamship, Willing hands reached out
and grabbed them, and ropes were
thrown over. They caught hold OF me
ropes and climbed up the WOODWORK
hy-1 ~ r "a