Machine Guns in Narragansett Bay : The Coast Guard's War on Rumrunners.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

McBurney, Christian M.

Series:

The History Press Series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Prohibition--Rhode Island--History.

Rhode Island--History.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (178 pages)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Chicago : The History Press, 2023.

Summary:

During World War I and World War II, Rhode Island was dotted with coastal forts filled with large caliber guns. Yet they were never fired in anger. By contrast, from 1929 to 1933, during Prohibition, U.S. Coast Guard vessels frequently fired machine guns at rumrunners in Narragansett Bay. Machine gun fire killed three rumrunners and wounded another on the notorious Black Duck. Despite the incident drawing national protests, the carnage continued. The Coast Guard fired machine guns at dozens more rumrunners in Rhode Island waters, killing another man, severely wounding two others, and causing several boats to explode or sink. Join author and historian Christian McBurney as he explores the use of excessive force in Narragansett Bay and other Rhode Island waters.

Contents:

Intro

Half Title

Title Page

Copyright

Contents

Acknowledgements

Introduction

1. Prohibition Comes to Rhode Island

2. 1924: Rumrunners Enjoy Success (But Not Vereign and Herreshoff)

3. Rumrunning in 1929: The Speedboats and Tactics

4. The Coast Guard in 1929: Its Weapons and Tactics

5. Laws and Policies Authorizing Coast Guardsmen to Fire Their Large-Caliber Guns

6. Summer 1929: Coast Guard Fires Machine Gun, Hits House in Tiverton (Idle Hour)

7. Winter 1929: Machine Gun Kills Three Crewmen, Wounds One (Black Duck)

8. Winter 1930: The Aftermath of the Black Duck Killings

9. Winter 1930: The Shootings Resume (Monolola and Madame X)

10. Summer 1930: The Carnage Continues (Mardelle)

11. Fall 1930: Machine Gun Tracers Fill the Night Sky at Watch Hill (Helen and High Strung)

12. Winter 1931: Machine Gun Fire Interrupts the Night on Aquidneck Island (Monolola and Alibi II)

13. Spring 1931: Judge Lambasts the Coast Guard for Another Death (868-G, Follow Me and Whispering Winds)

14. Summer 1931: Two Rumrunners Are Machine Gunned, Catch Fire and Sink (Yvette June and Eaglet)

15. Summer and Fall 1931: More Complaints of Machine Guns Endangering Civilians in Narragansett Bay (Mitzi)

16. Fall 1931: Four Rumrunners Are Machine Gunned on the Rhode Island-Massachusetts Border (Rhode Island, Overland, Je T'Aime and Nola)

17. 1932 and 1933: The Last Rumrunners Are Machine Gunned in Narragansett Bay (Kelble and Mitzi)

Appendix. Coast Guard Shootings of Rumrunners in Rhode Island Waters, 1929-1933

Notes

Bibliography

About the Author.

Notes:

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

9781439678398

1439678391

OCLC:

1402446733