For twelve years the schooner sailed the Gulf
of St. Lawrence from southern Newfoundland to Cape Breton
and the north and eastern coasts of Prince Edward Island.
Rum-running included smuggling of whiskey, gin, brandy, wine
and cigarettes, all cargoes being readily available at
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| St-Pierre and Miquelon, the French islands off
the Burin Peninsula of Newfoundland. Off the shore of PEI, the
vessel brought its cargo close to the three-mile limit at pre-arranged
locations and times. A network of onshore “bootleggers”
ventured out by boat, watching carefully for Customs |
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patrol vessels (known as “cutters”). They received
the customary welcoming drink of thick dark rum before doing
business which seldom amounted to more than 5 five-gallon kegs
at a time. The risk of being caught increased over the years
as Customs, and after 1932 the RCMP Marine Division, became
better equipped but relations between smugglers and enforcement
officials always remained cordial. Captain Lillington of the
Nellie J. Banks had formerly been a Customs official in Newfoundland |
| The little schooner became the symbol of the illicit
industry during a court case in 1927 after being seized illegally
outside the three-mile limit by frustrated officials. The colorful
courtroom drama was avidly followed by newspapers and provided
unparalleled entertainment for Maritimers, especially when vessel
owners won damages from the government. Her notoriety was thus
firmly established and later a large stain on a forward sail
became her trademark |
| The legal limit for enforcement of the Customs Act changed
from three to twelve miles in 1938 when the schooner was at
sea and prompted another seizure of the vessel and cargo. Courtroom
drama again drew large audiences, but although the jury found
in favour of the captain, the |
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| cargo was seized and the ship sold by tender.
It was renamed the Leona G. Maguire and sailed the Northumberland
Strait for almost a decade before being permanently anchored
in Murray Harbour. She was hauled out of the water in 1950and
subsequently burned unceremoniously in 1953. |
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