Esperanto (schooner)
American fishing schooner
Esperanto was a fishing schooner based in Gloucester, Massachusetts.
Esperanto was designed by Thomas F. McManus of Boston and built by James and Tarr Shipbuilders of Essex, Massachusetts. She was launched on June 27, 1906, and measured 107 feet (33 m) in length, 25 feet (7.6 m) in beam, and a draft of 11 feet (3.4 m) with gross register tonnage of 140.
The Esperanto was used in several races and is one of only two undefeated champions at the International Fisherman's Cup.
International Fisherman's Cup, 1920
Under command of Captain Martin Leander Welch, Esperanto became the first winner of the International Fisherman's Cup on November 1, 1920, when she beat the Canadian fishing schooner Delawana of Riverport under command of Capt. Thomas Himmelman. In the next race, in 1921, the Canadian sailing ship Bluenose, built in Lunenburg after the model of Esperanto, won against the schooner Elsie from Gloucester, Massachusetts.
Her crew for the 1920 race included:
Captain Martin Leander Welch
R. Russell Smith, Gorton-Pew Fisheries Co.
Isaiah Gosbee, Cook
George E. Roberts
Harry P. Christianson
George Young
Benjamin W. Stanley
Roy P. Patten
Raymond "Rusty" McKenzie
James McDonald
Wallace Bruce
John Batt
John F. Barrett
Thomas Smith
Michael J. Hall, Masthead man
Stephen F. Whitney
Hugh Young
Benjamin H. Colby
James B. Connolly, Writer
John J. Matheson, Mate
Thomas S. Benham
Leon G. Murray
Lawrence F. Percival
Ernest Hendrie
Robert W. Sawtell
Morril Wiggins
Sinking
On May 30, 1921, Esperanto struck a submerged wreck near Sable Island and sank. The crew was rescued.
“Esperanto (schooner)” enters the record as american fishing schooner. Crown Archives preserves that source wording while asking what Esperanto, schooner and American can confirm, complicate or overturn.
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