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To All Who Cherish the Brotherhood of the Sea: One important ship in last year's Operation Sail did not make it to New York: the schooner Ernestina. Built in 1894 as the Gloucester fisherman Effie M. Morrissey, she became famous in her voyages of Arctic exploration under Captain Bob Bartlett. In 1947, she joined the Brava Packet fleet, sailing under Cape Verdean ownership from the Cape Verde islands off West Africa to New Bedford and Providence until 1966. Defying 4,000 miles of rough Atlantic in the hurricane season each year, she became the last ship in the world to carry immigrants to the United States the hard way-under sail. Through the generosity of the President of the Republic of Cape Verde she was refitted in 1976 and began the long voyage home to the United States. She was dismasted in high winds and seas en route, and forced to return to port. Since then, through a remarkable effort involving many people, new masts and sails have been supplied. The Cape Verde Government has acquired the ship and intends to make a gift of her to the people of the United States. As managing director of Operation Sail, and as one of the founders of the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, we have joined in the National Maritime Historical Society's campaign to honor this gift and to see the Ernestina/ Morrissey preserved as a superb monument to a proud seafaring tradition.
The National Society proposes that the Ernestina/ Morrissey be used in marine science and sail training programs reaching particularly the Cape Yerdean communites to whom this vessel means so much, and who have worked so hard to save her for posterity. The cooperation of diverse citizen groups in this effort has been inspiring: • New masts secured through the Providence Corporation have been transported to Providence by Seaboard Shipping Company and Canad ian Transport. Fairhaven Marine has given a boom . Rick Miller of the National Maritime Union, has given three thousand feet of rope for runnin g rigging, a foresail , and other gear. Other sa ils have been donated by ' the Peking restoration al South Street Seaport Museum , Ted Miles of the National Society, and Carl Beam. * The Providence local of the International Longshoremen 's Association has agreed to load materials for the ship free of charge; the port of Providence wi ll provide berthing and water for the ship that picks up materials to take them to the Ernestina. Norman Baker, Thor Heyerdahl's navigator, is organizing a volunteer crew. * The Massachusetts Maritime Academy has agreed to act as custodian for the sh ip and provide berthing and maintenance. A Schooner Authority is being established by the
Massachusetts legislature to provide ultim ate ownership and governance. * The Friends of the Ernestina/ Morrissey , a committee of the National Society, has active chapters in New York , Boston, New Bedford, Providence, Scituate and Wareham. Fund-raising events have been held. A photo exhibition on the vessel and her heritage is on display at the National Society's Brooklyn headquarters, and she is featured in, "The Cape Verde Connection" at the AfroAmerican Institute, United Nations Plaza, New York.
We appeal to all who value the brotherhood of the sea and the proud heritage of the Ernestina/ Morrissey to join in support with contributions in kind or funds to bring her to a new and most productive life. Will you join us in this campaign?
FRANK BRA YNARD
PETE SEEGER
YOUR TAX-DEDUCTIBLE CONTRIBUTION MAY BE SENT TO"NMHS-ERNESTINA," 2 FULTON STREET. BROOKLYN, NY 11201