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.

Celebrating South Australian's – Yett Soo War Way Lee

Celebrating South Australian's – Yett Soo War Way Lee

 Yett Soo War Way Lee was born in Tungkun near Canton in China in 1853. The son of a rice-miller, Way Lee married early and had a son with his wife, named Yett King Sum.

By 1874, Yett Soo had made his way to Sydney Australia. He had travelled alone, and whilst in Sydney lived with his uncle Way Kee. He travelled the eastern states seeking education in schools in Sydney and Brisbane, before making his way to Adelaide.

  In Adelaide, he studied English language at the Adelaide City Mission and founded his own company “Way Lee Co.” an import company bringing in Tea, china and other imported goods and fireworks.

Way Lee's business was hugely successful in an era when the rise of racism against the Chinese in Australia was steadily on the rise (which would eventually lead to the anti-Chinese riots in gold mining towns like Ararat in Victoria )

 Way Lee's business was incredibly successful he opened stores right across the South Australian colony and in the Northern Territory and New South Wales. In South Australia, his main store was located in Rundle Street, but he also had a store in Currie Street. Stores could also be found in South Australia at Quorn, Hawker, Millicent. In New South Wales at Beltana, Broken Hill, Wilcannia, Wentworth and Menindee and in the Northern Territory at Daly River.

Way Lee was a supporter of his community often giving money to local charities, and supporting local events. He always supported Chinese New Year, offering dinners for Adelaide's dignitaries and politicians and supplying fireworks for  celebrations.

Way Lee was the first Australian to really open the way for trade between China and Australia. A fighter for the rights of Chinese immigrants, he fought for Chinese settlers to be offered a district solely for Chinese use.

 Way Lee also offered to bring to Australia, Chinese labourers to work at the Daly River Plantation in the Northern Territory.
 Way Lee was a great promoter of education to the  Chinese community, and worked hard to improve the working conditions and rights of his Chinese compatriots in Australia. He also worked to stop the import of Opium into the colony.

 Way Lee also raised money, and donated much of his won money, to be sent back to China to help feed people after chronic flooding, then droughts that were decimating the people of his homelands.

Way Lee was a Freemason and a respected member and leader of the local Chinese Community. He offered homes for many Chinese immigrants in Adelaide, way houses until they could afford better homes themselves.

 In 1889 Way Lee married Margaret McDonald, and together they had 4 children, Vera, Pretoria, Lily and Jack.

He spoke openly in the public about the treatment of his fellow-countrymen in Australia by the Government, law and people and is quoted as saying “The Australian people are always very kind to me, but the law worse then the people”.

Way Lee died in 1909 of chronic nephritis and amyloid disease on August 21^st 1909. Many of Adelaide's population travelled to West Terrace cemetery to witness the funeral of Way Lee, expecting odd Chinese death rites, but they were bitterly disappointed, as Way Lee was buried under common Presbyterian funeral rights.

For more on Yett Soo War Way Lee, please visit the following links:

adb.anu.edu.au/biography/way-lee-yet-soo-war-9015

www.chia.chinesemuseum.com.au/biogs/CH00005b.htm

migration.historysa.com.au/biography/yett-soo-war-way-lee

© Allen Tiller 2015