The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-15
--:-- --::-- By Edith Stevens

however, the excitement proved so allur- ing that could not give it up. Perhaps my passion for this life of danger was due to my allegiance to Antonio Cassesse. I was infatuated with him. was only IS when we first met in August, 1921.
 I had thought Cassese to be a wealthy tobacco merchant. l was rather mystified by the fact that man of his apparent means should look so overworkeG. Often when he called to see me he almost dropped asleep. I used to throw pillows at him to keep him awake. I once said to him:
 "Why do you work so hard when yo1> have all this money? What joy do you get out of life?"
 My question was answered some days later at dock in Brooklyn. There he showed me the most beautiful boat l ever saw It was the steam yacht Edith" as luxuriously fitted vessel as any multi-mil- lonaire could dream of.
 little thought as l looked at this trim craft that the course of my whole life would be intermingled with the fate of that boat. Cassese interrupted my meditation:
 Edith, you see l have named this boat for you. It is my plan that we sail away together on it. l will give you anything you want-everything. Furs, jewelry-ask anything from me and it is yours. On this boat we will have the most wonderful time you ever dreamed of.
 I was-earried away with the words of this magnetic personality, and by love for him. l took colored maid with me aboard the yacht.S My sister was unable to go. Cassese had told me he would have been glad to take my mother also, but feared she could not withstand the storms of early winter on the seas.
 We made one memorable voyage to Palm Beach and elsewhere in southern waters before it dawned upon me that Cassese was engaged in rum running on a gigantic scale. I later became acquainted with Dap per Don Collins, spend amillion liquor plunger. However, Cassese was far more daring and able performer than Dapper Don. The other man, sensational as were and are his deeds, is what sporting men would call an in-and-outer He won for tunes, only to "blow" his riches on unfor- tunate deals
 Moments Weakening
 When we went aboard the Edith" ready to start our first voyage together, l suf- fered an attack of conscience" Antonio could see that was threatening to weaken He launched upon lengthy description of the boat, telling me that she draw nine feet of water, was 126 feet long over all and was 171a feet in beam
 There were two marvellous cabins in the Edith" one in rosewood, the other in ma hogany. Antonio asked me to choose which state room l wanted for my own. l chose the malDgany one. The whole boat was a symphony of rosewood, mahogany and brightly shining brass. Her decks were inn maculate. Her hull was snow-white. It cost $250,000 to build her.
 Early one morning, on snappy cold November day, we sailed out of New York harbor headed for Palm Beach. As we got further south, the waters were calm. The sunsets were ravshingly beautiful.
 You have no idea of what they are like unless you have/been as fortunate as l, and have seen them.
 The "Edith" was so luxurious that never had to see the stoking room as the rum runners on the small boats must. We were at home on the sea, with everything that we wanted. The equipment for comfort was perfect-what a darling boat the "Edith. was, and how did love her.
 We stopped at Norfolk for coal and then we went to Jacksonville. Antonio Cassese, my colored maid and I went on land and travelled by rail to Palm Beach. We frolicked there for while. I was having