Caust's Angel
Charles Arnold Caust was born on August 11 1878 at Chain of Ponds in the Adelaide Hills. Caust’s family were devoted Methodists. Caust left the Adelaide Hills, and for five years lived with his sister at Goodwood and later Hindmarsh.
At age 19, Caust had a vision of an Angel. The Angel told him “You will not live another ten years.”
Although he was not a superstitious man, the visitation made him uneasy.
Two years later the same angel appeared, saying the same thing. In the weeks before his death, Caust spoke to his wife and his brother Ray about the Angel vision, stating he was not troubled by it, as he believed it was God calling him to work.[1]
William Strapps took his sons Claude and Frank, and Frank's friends Gordon Miller and Leslie Heming out for a sail in a canvas canoe at about 4pm. As the boat turned, it capsized, spilling all inside into the sea. Witnesses on the shore and jetty watched on as Claude Strapps swam to the shore, and the others struggled in the deep water.
Caust was sitting at Henley Beach on Saturday 8 January 1906, with his friends and family. A boat with five people aboard capsized a fair distance out. Caust, who was holding his child kissed her and said ‘God will help you if I fail." He handed his daughter to a friend, ran down to the water, stripped off and jumped into the sea. He swam towards the upturned canoe in heavy seas. Large waves tumbled him, but he struggled on. Another wave crashed over Caust, and he disappeared from sight. His wife, now standing on the shore watching, screamed in uncontrolled grief – her husband was gone…
The boys and their captain, nearing exhaustion were rescued by Stanley and Herbert Scrymgour. In a newspaper interview, William Strapps called Caust ‘one of nature’s noblemen,’ and went on to state,
as being unacquainted with boats or with the sea he was unaware that we were in no immediate danger. Our craft is a good life raft when capsized, and none but swimmers are ever allowed aboard. The fact that he could not manage a boat, and was not an expert swimmer, only increases one's admiration of his futile efforts.[2]
Causts body was found the following day at Grange Jetty.[3]It had been nine and half years since the angel visited Caust, foretelling his death. He was buried at Hindmarsh cemetery.
A monument was also erected at Chain of Ponds in honour of Charles Caust on 15 December 1907. Between 200 to 300 people attended the dedication service. The monument is of Italian marble and is erected adjacent to the gate of the Methodist church.[4]
Front Inscription
A tribute to the heroism and self-sacrifice of - Charles Arnold Caust who was drowned on Jan 6th 1906, at Henley Beach while endeavouring to rescue others in peril
Aged 21 years.
He being dead yet speak.[5]
In 2003, Chain of Ponds Winery in the Adelaide Hills released a single vineyard shiraz called ‘The Ledge’ in honour of Charles Arnold Caust. You can find out more about it here: https://www.chainofponds.com.au/our-wines
Researched and written by Allen Tiller ©2023
[1] 'In Memoriam.', Australian Christian Commonwealth, (26 January 1906), p. 5.
[2] 'DROWNED AT HENLEY BEACH.', Chronicle, (13 January 1906), p. 39.
[3]'HENLEY BEACH DROWNING CASE.', The Age, (9 January 1906), p. 5.
[4] 'A MEMORIAL TO THE LATE CHARLES ARNOLD CAUST.', Australian Christian Commonwealth, (4 January 1907), p. 11.
[5] ‘Charles Arnold Caust’, Monument Australia, https://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/people/tragedy/display/116440-charles-arnold-caust#:~:text=The%20monument%20commemorates%20Charles%20Arnold,Henley%20Beach%2C%20on%20Saturday%20afternoon.
