It was in nineteen hundred and twenty nine When smuggling liquor was a profitable pastime Many a Maritimer didn't see why, he shouldn't turn a penny Uncle Sam was dry Many a family took a style Prohibition made it very worthwhile to be a good Samaritan To long suffering, thirsty Americans.
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And the schooner's captain was a wild Newfoundlander A hard-drivin man name of John Thomas Randall A decorated veteran of the First World War, a sea-going gentleman adventurer To the coast of Louisiana and anchor south of the Trinity Shore Where he would meet his man and discharge his cargo according to plan
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And it was all clear sailing for the Imalone With the profits from 6 or 7 trips salted down The coast guard had bothered them a couple of times But skipper John's seamanship had left them behind One march morning in the wind and the squall She was reaching along under jumbo jib and storm try sail When the cutter Dexter cut in on the Imalone's starboard quarter
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The Dexter's captain was a very rough man He swore he'd never lose the Imalone again He ran a stream of signals saying' "how do you do?" Ya know that I'll fire if you don't heave to Skipper John semaphored immediately, I'm on the high seas You have no jurisdiction over me The Dexter's captain sent several vollies through the Imalone's rigging
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The bullets tore the booze and the sails and the lines They even tore a hole in the red ensign When Skipper John saw it he was fit to be tied At the disrespect shown to his national pride The crew said sir don't you trouble your mind We'll all go down together with the red ensign a flying' He signalled to the Dexter to shoot and be dammed to you I'll not surrender
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The Dexter opened fire and it didn't take long When her guns stitched a seam along the Imalone's waterline Skipper John ordered every man to the sea There was water on the bridge when he himself jumped free Stern in the air the Imalone went down Heavy seas a running it's a wonder only one man was drown The bosun was the one who was pulled aboard the cutter when his life was gone
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And that's how it happened and there isn't much more The Imalone became an international affair Skipper John and his seamen were all released The US government couldn't make a case That kind of violence is bound to happen When a law like prohibition sits up and begs to be broken We still remember the story of the Imalone and Skipper John Randall
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Mike Corbett Box 173 Bear River, N.S. BOS 1BO Phone: 902-467-3871
