Newfoundland's Captain Bob and the 'Little Effie'

Newfoundlanders and Labradoreans are proud of their maritime history, as well we should be! Ours is a legacy of brave sailors and fishermen who, over the centuries, navigated vessels all around its 18,000 miles of island and mainland coastline. Our finest mariners, including my grandfather Captain William Dillon, sailed ships to distant ports.

Captain Robert A. Bartlett of Brigus, Newfoundland is considered a leading ice captain of the 20^th century. Where did he sail? What was he best known for? And why did he return so often to western Greenland?

Robert Bartlett was born into a long line of British mariners who settled in Brigus during the early 1700’s. Even though his mother hoped he’d become a minister, he could not resist the charms of the sea.

Robert commanded his first ship at 17, and six years later became the youngest Newfoundlander to become a certified master mariner. In addition to his voyages in and around the island, he sailed dozens of Arctic voyages. At every opportunity, he revealed a rare degree of bravery.

Admiral Peary and Captain Bartlett

His most infamous assignment was sailing Robert Peary’s ships for the famous 1906 and 1909 expeditions. In the latter voyage – Peary’s successful venture to the North Pole - Bartlett not only sailed the Roosevelt. He also guided Peary and Henson by dog sled for most of the final leg of the journey to the pole.

In 1924, Bartlett performed an incredible feat. He saved the crew of the Karluk. Ice had crushed the ship in the Pacific Arctic. Bartlett led the men on a long trek across icefloes to the relative safety of desolate Wrangle Island. He and an indigenous guide then navigated by foot and dogsled for 700 miles to the Russian coast. It then took him a few months to navigate his way on various ships along the Russian coast and across to Alaska. Bartlett was then able to notify the Canadian Government, the expedition’s sponsor, about the stranded crew.

While in Alaska, Bartlett met a stranger who accompanied him back to the abandoned crew. They sailed as close as possible to the ice-blocked island, and he continued to the island by dogsled and by foot. Finally, he led the men to safety. Captain Bartlett is credited with saving their lives.

The Effie M. Morrisey, c. 1894

In 1925 Bartlett purchased a schooner, The Effie M. Morrisey, out of Massachusetts. The ship had worked the Grand Banks and other northeastern fishing grounds. He sailed this schooner for twenty years.

Many of Bartlett's expeditions were spent exploring the west coast of Greenland. He had a scientific interest in the places he visited, chronicling the land, ice, flora and fauna. Along the way he met the native population and studied their customs.  On his 1940 expedition, he brought the Effie M. Morrisey to within 378 miles of the North Pole, the closest a ship had ever come.

Captain Bartlett spent much of his later years New York City, where, at the age of 70, he became ill and passed away. He was laid to rest in Brigus, Newfoundland.

If you’re in the area, mosey on down to beautiful Brigus, Newfoundland. While there, visit Bartlett’s childhood home, Hawthorne Cottage.  

The weekend of September 12-14, 2025, was quite special for the Brigus community. Captain Bartlett's "Little Effie", now the SSV Ernestina-Morrissey , visited the home port of Brigus. The sailing ship is the official schooner of the State of Massachusetts.

Several special events welcomed the schooner during this, the 150th anniversary of Captain Bob's birth. It was a great weekend for Newfoundlanders to celebrate their maritime history!

Massachusetts Maritime Academy's SSV Ernestina-Morrisey

Josette Abruzzini is an educator, writer and poet who builds bridges and nudges perspectives. She's a native Canadian and a naturalized American citizen who visits her home province of Newfoundland and Labrador at every opportunity!