Arethusa at Abaco BWI 1921 is a painting by Bill Hubbard which was uploaded on July 27th, 2013.
Arethusa at Abaco BWI 1921
Capt.Bil McCoy's rum running schooner Tomoka, aka Arethusa leaving Hole in Wall, Abaco, BWI in 1923. Known as The Real McCoy the captain was the... more
by Bill Hubbard
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Price
$350
Dimensions
16.000 x 20.000 x 75.000 inches
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Title
Arethusa at Abaco BWI 1921
Artist
Bill Hubbard
Medium
Painting - Acrylic, Pen & Ink On Stretched Canvas
Description
Capt.Bil McCoy's rum running schooner Tomoka, aka Arethusa leaving Hole in Wall, Abaco, BWI in 1923. Known as "The Real McCoy" the captain was the first to use large vessels to anchor outside the US territorial 12 mile limit during Prohibition-1920 to 1933. McCoy had seen the knockabout sch. Arethusa in Gloucester, Ma while there to buy his sch. Henry L. Marshall in 1920. He returned and bought her in 1924. He then had her completely overhauled with new auxilliary engine, masts, spars and rigging. He had a bowsprit added to carry more headsails and the hull painted a brilliant white. He registered her in Nassau, Bahamas under the British flag.
McCoy, a non-drinker took pride in the fact he never paid a cent to organized crime, politicians or law enforcement for protection. Unlike his competition, McCoy sold his products unadulterated, uncut and clean.
McCoy also operated four other schooners in his rum running operations but the Tomoka/Arethusa was his favorite. Because the US authorities never found him inside the 12 mile limit, the finally ordered the Coast Guard to "get McCoy one way or another". In November of 1923 the US Coast Guard cutter Seneca under command of Lt.Cmdr. Perkins found Arethusa about 15 miles off New York and gave chase, finally haulting her after firing several cannon shots across her bow. The charges were trumped up but after a long trial with much perjury by government witnesses, McCoy pled guilter. He spent 9 months in a New Jersey jail and returned when released to Halifax, Fl. to resume his boat building business.
From a 1921 photograph
Uploaded
July 27th, 2013