Loading the sch. H.L.Marshall at Jamaica

Loading the Schooner H.L. Marshall with rum and gin in Jamaica for a cruise north to Rum-Row off New York and New Jersey. This was the first... more

by Bill Hubbard

Title

Loading the sch. H.L.Marshall at Jamaica

Artist

Bill Hubbard

Medium

Drawing - Acrylic, Pen & Ink On Canvas Board

Description

Loading the Schooner H.L. Marshall with rum and gin in Jamaica for a cruise north to Rum-Row off New York and New Jersey. This was the first schooner that Bill and Ben McCoy bought when the entered the rum-running trade in 1920 during Prohibition. The Sch.Marshall had been a Gloucester fishing schooner before purchased by the McCoys. Built in Essex, Mass in 1918 she was a 90' Semi-Knockabout fishing schooner with an auxilliary gas engine. The McCoys paid $16,000 for the boat and spent an additional $4,000 to refit her with new sails, twin prop engins, new rigging and painting. She had a top speed of 7 knots, fully loaded with 1,500 cases of liquor. Of Bahama/British registry she carried liquor to Rum Row off New York and New Jersey. She was the first of six fisherman schooners Bill McCoy entered into the trade.. McCoy, a former steamboat owner/operator out of Halifax, Florida was known as "The Real McCoy" because he refused to sell anything but first quality un-cut liquor.

Uploaded

August 21st, 2013