Synopsis
Machine Guns in Narragansett Bay: The Coast Guard's War on Rumrunners by Christian M. McBurney is a meticulously researched historical account that delves into one of the most violent and lesser-known chapters of Prohibition-era America, focusing on the intense naval confrontations in Rhode Island's coastal waters between 1929 and 1933. The book opens by contrasting the relative peace of Narragansett Bay during World War I and II, when coastal forts bristling with large-caliber guns stood silent and unused, against the chaotic final years of Prohibition, when U.S. Coast Guard vessels unleashed thousands of rounds from Lewis machine guns and Hotchkiss one-pound cannons on fleeing rumrunners. McBurney, drawing from newspaper archives, Coast Guard records, and personal accounts, paints a vivid picture of how Rhode Island's expansive bay, numerous inlets, and proximity to Rum Row—a notorious offshore supply line beyond the 12-mile limit—made it a prime smuggling corridor for bootleg liquor transported from Canada and Britain. These rumrunners, often local fishermen from immigrant families desperate for extra income amid economic hardship, operated speedy powerboats like the infamous Black Duck and Monolola, navigating foggy nights and narrow channels to deliver illegal alcohol to speakeasies and wealthy elites who eagerly flouted the Volstead Act.
Central to the narrative is the shocking escalation of force authorized by federal policy, which permitted Coast Guard patrols to fire on vessels refusing to stop, leading to a series of deadly skirmishes that McBurney documents in detail across 29 incidents. The most sensational event, the machine-gunning of the Black Duck on December 29, 1929, off Jamestown, exemplifies the brutality: Coast Guard cutter CG-290, under Boatswain Alexander Cornell, riddled the boat with bullets, killing three crew members and wounding a fourth in what became a national scandal, sparking protests and congressional inquiries over the perceived murder of American citizens. Despite the outcry, the violence persisted, with McBurney recounting subsequent chases where gunfire sank boats, ignited explosions from ruptured fuel tanks, and claimed additional lives, including a drowning after one vessel burst into flames. He humanizes the rumrunners, portraying them not as hardened criminals but as ordinary men—like Portuguese and Italian immigrants—fulfilling a booming demand for liquor, often protected by mob figures who supplied armored boats in response to the escalating arms race on the water. The author also examines the Coast Guard's perspective, highlighting the frustrations of under-equipped patrols facing faster, more agile smugglers, and the broader context of Prohibition enforcement, including Rhode Island's lax state laws that undermined federal efforts.
McBurney's exploration extends beyond the shootouts to the socioeconomic undercurrents fueling the rum trade, such as the Great Depression's grip on fishing communities and the hypocrisy of Prohibition, which criminalized a popular vice while enriching organized crime. He details tactical innovations, like the rumrunners' use of decoy boats and hidden coves in places like the Sakonnet River, and the Coast Guard's retaliatory strategies, including night patrols and intelligence from informants. The book critiques the excessive force as disproportionate, noting how it targeted low-level operators rather than the syndicates behind them, and reflects on the human cost: at least four deaths, multiple severe injuries, and boats reduced to wreckage, all in pursuit of enforcing a failing amendment. Through engaging storytelling, maps, and photographs, McBurney brings these high-seas dramas to life, revealing untold stories of survival, betrayal, and resilience among the bay's working-class participants. Ultimately, the narrative culminates in the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, which abruptly ended the "war," leaving Narragansett Bay to return to peacetime pursuits, but not without McBurney's poignant reminder of how a misguided policy turned American waters into a battlefield. Praised for its depth and accessibility, the book appeals to history enthusiasts interested in Prohibition, maritime lore, and Rhode Island's gritty past, offering a compelling case study in the perils of overzealous law enforcement.