The Wreck of the Casper, 23 December 1928
Life Saving Medal – Presented to A. Mölder for actions during the sinking of the American ship Casper, 23 December 1928. AV Medal (35mm, 33.98 g, 12h). Philadelphia mint. Dies by George T. Morgan. PRESENTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, wreathed and diademed head of Liberty left / Engraved:
To A. MÖLDER/
SEAMAN OF THE/
ESTONIAN/ STEAMSHIP/ METEOR/
IN RECOGNITION OF THE HEROIC/
SERVICES IN EFFECTING THE RESCUE/
AT SEA, ON DECEMBER 23, 1928, OF THE/
MASTER AND CREW OF THE/
AMERICAN/ STEAMSHIP. CASPER, all within wreath. Suspended from bar decorated with shield and E · PLUR S UNUM. Julian LS-3. A few hairlines, minor edge marks and scratches. Near EF. Struck in standard (.900) gold.
On 13 December 1928, the American steamship Casper, en route from New York to Gothenburg, Sweden, ran aground on rocks near Utö Light in Pargas, Finland. The crew remained aboard, hoping to dislodge and refloat the vessel. On the 23rd, a fire broke out in the ship’s engine room. The flames spread with such great speed that there was no time to lower the boats, and the crew was forced to jump into the cold Baltic waters. One fireman drowned, while the remainder were picked up by salvage vessels that had been standing by.
