In 1924,
Captain Robert
Bartlett, Harold's cousin, bought
the Effie M. Morrissey for $6,000 (same as her building
price) thanks to a gift of $10,000, from the Commodore
of the Larchmont Yacht Club, James Ford who was Vice President
of the United States Rubber Company.
Bob Bartlett was born and grew up as a Newfoundlander when
Newfoundland was Great Britain’s very first crown colony, he
was never a Canadian citizen. Captain Bob was 50 years old
at that time and had more than 30 years at sea behind him
and many famous exploits in the far North.
Robert
Bartlett had won worldwide acclaim as the
"ice navigator" who had skippered
Admiral Peary's ship, the Roosevelt, on
the famous expeditions to reach the North Pole in
1905 through 1909. He also was well known for his
leadership and courage during the Karluk
Expedition of 1913-1914.
However, during the summer of 1925,
"Captain Bob" tried his hand at fishing
"down the Labrador." He sailed the Morrissey
into coves where her crew set traps or, later in
the season, jigged for fish out of motor boats.
Icebergs posed a constant threat; Bartlett
recounted several episodes when the engineless Morrissey
just missed wrecking by threatening bergs.
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