Ernestinas second trip to the U.S.
was made in 1950 with eleven passengers including six
women and three children and fourteen crewmembers. She
arrived in Providence with tow assistance from U.S. Coast
Guard at Castle Hill on July 18 after a 38-day passage
under the command of Richardo Azerado Pinheiro.
Henrique
Mendes taught his passengers some basic English phrases
and the Pledge of Allegiance. They had fresh vegetables,
lobsters, live pigs, a lamb, goat and cow aboard; and a
good cook named Michael Rosario. They celebrated all the
saints days and everyones birthday, the young
sailors made cakes and serenaded the women. A romance
started between Henriques son, Arnaldo and his
wife-to-be, Maria.
Once again the U.S. Immigrations and
Naturalization Service detained fourteen crew members and
three young children until citizenship status could be
determined. The children were later allowed to depart
with their mother who was headed for Falmouth, MA and the
case was referred to Washington officials.
According to the Providence Journal on October
30, 1950:
Bid Packet Godspeed: Several
Hundred at Pier for Religious Sendoff for Ernestina
Several hundred persons gathered at the pier near
Point Street Bridge this morning to see the
two-masted Schooner Ernestina begin its 3500-mile
voyage to the Cape Verde Islands.
In charge of the vessel was a
new skipper, Capt. Antonio Miguel Evora, 38-year-old
Cape Verdean, who came over as first mate when the
Ernestina arrived here on July 12. The
schooners regular master, Capt. Richardo
Azerado Pinheiro, 47, died unexpectedly last Tuesday
in Rhode Island Hospital and buried only three days
ago.
On board to say a last minute
good-bye was Capt. Evoras bride of seven weeks,
the former Anna Alves, of 88 Pike Street, Providence.
They were married Sept. 11 while Evora was still only
first mate on the schooner.
The schooner is carrying,
besides its crew of 11, seven male passengers and
cargo which consists of mostly used clothing for
people in the Island of Brava, destination of the
schooner.
Sailing was delayed at least
until late afternoon because several of the
passengers did not have their papers in order.
The ship was to be towed down
the Narragansett Bay by the small tug Laura IV which
would bring the vessel to the Brenton Reef Lightship
where the Ernestina would raise her sails and begin
her long voyage home.
The owner, Henrique Mendes, who
is aboard, said he hopes that the northwest winds
will take them back in 25 days. On the trip to
Providence, the Ernestina took 39 days. Navigator on
the trip back will be the owners 23-year-old
son, Capt. Arnaldo Mendes.
Though the vessel carries in its
hold a 16-ton diesel engine, it has no power of its
own. The engine, donated by the Church of the
Nazarene in Providence, is for a fishing vessel in
the Portuguese Islands.
As last minute preparations were
made for casting off, a large group of members of the
Church of the Nazarene, which has adopted the cause
of the Island people and their packet boat, gathered
on the dock for religious services and songs.
The Rev. Charlton Gleason,
pastor of the church, led the services on dockside
with the reading of the 91 Psalm. As customs
inspectors, immigration officials and internal
revenue agents made their last minute checks, people
on the dock were singing "Jesus Savior Pilot Me
Over Lifes Tempestuous Sea" lead by the
Rev. Armand Doll, a former missionary in Trinidad.
The vessel was at first
scheduled to sail with the tide shortly after 10
oclock but routine clearances delayed it for
some time. Mendes said, however, that the vessel,
which draws only 11 feet, could sail regardless of
the condition of the tide.
The owner said that although
there was a calm on Narragansett Bay this morning,
they expected good weather beyond the coastal area.
He said that the vessel should be back in Providence
next May.
Among the passengers on board
was Aurelio Costa, 63, of 13 Blackstone Avenue,
Pawtucket, who said he is going back to visit his
wife. He said he will come back when Ernestina does.
Passengers aboard were Manuel Veiga,
69, of 381 North Main St., Providence; Aurelio Da Costa,
63, of 13 Blackstone Ave., Pawtucket; Laurenso Barbosa,
65, of Bridgeport, CT; Manuel Antonio Avelino, 68, of
Taunton; Benjamin Rodriques Garcia, 49, of New Bedford;
Casemiro Almeida, 55, of Onset; and Carreca Jose
Gonsalves, 72, of New Bedford.
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