Goddess Fish Promotions Presents

I’ll Go the Length of Meself
The Story of Newfoundland’s Daring Rascal, Captain Guy Earle, North America’s Youngest Master Mariner
by CS Hale

A randomly drawn winner will receive a $15 Amazon/BN GC – Enter Below

“Guy’s life was a living adventure: he was a mariner and navigator of the first order, a character with the bravery of a Viking and the kindness of Robin Hood. Generous to a fault, he could never turn his back on someone in need, and would risk his life in a flash to save the life of another. He was like a godfather to the coastal people.

– Philip Earle

“Guy Earle commanded ships when he was a boy. He had the qualities admired by Newfoundlanders, and created maximum employment in the family business wherever he could. He was truly a Newfoundland hero.”

– Geoff Stirling, (1921–2013), founder, CJON-TV (NTV)

“Guy had a mind of his own. He was a terrific leader and he played hard to win at anything he did. He was quick to size up a situation and quick to take action. He never, ever accepted the word ‘can’t’; if it was possible, it had to be done.”

– Fred Earle (1924–1999), Guy’s brother and partner in business

“Skipper Guy could take charge on anything. He had no fear and believed in himself. He could make friends with the Queen, as they say, if he wanted, and get anything he wanted.”

– Fred Rossiter, (1905–1985), shipmate and friend of Guy.

“It must be a beautiful thing to know you saved someone’s life. Guy Earle saved me. I’ve had a long life, a successful business, and raised a family because of him. He was a great man.”

– Ed Wahlen, businessman and friend of Guy

“Guy Earle was the exemplification of courage in everything he did. His trade was with people and his warmth spread as widely as his countless business negotiations. He gave his life to his vision of the fishery; it was his gift to his homeland, a gift few men can claim to better.”

– Maurice Quinlan (1910–1983), co-founder, Quinlan Brothers Ltd

“Guy Earle was sent here by God to give to people.”

– Pasteur Harold Slade

“Captain Guy was a daring seafarer whose legendary adventures rivalled those of the heroes in such Hollywood films as Captain Blood, Down to The Sea in Ships, and Captains Courageous.”

– Gordon Lore, author

“There will never be another Guy Earle; there couldn’t be.”

Fighters liked to be known, and they prided themselves at being good at the time. A fight then was like playing a game—a game that all fighters wanted to win. When Guy was a teenager playing hockey for Carbonear, he was the team enforcer. He loved to fight and was there to protect his teammates if someone picked on them. If he heard of a fight somewhere he had to check it out, hoping he could get involved. He didn’t start fights, but if one started he wanted to be in it! By the time of this encounter on the wharf, the skipper had been in hundreds of fights. When I was a boy in the 1950s, I saw three or four fights a week on the streets of Carbonear! Men settled arguments with their fists, especially if they had been drinking. That’s the way it was.

In mid-July of 1964, Doug Pike of Harbour Grace was in charge of a small boat owned by the Earle Freighting Service. He gill nets fished out of Conception Bay. In midsummer, a tall, hulking raw-boned thirty-five-year-old man—about six-foot-five and 280 pounds—was hired to help him fish. On returning from their second trip, Doug was very nervous. He said the man had lit the engine room on fire and took over the boat! When Skipper got the news, he came down on the wharf, called the man out on deck and told him he was fired. With that, the man came up on the wharf and started to argue, questioning the skipper.

“Why am I fired?! Why am I fired?!” he repeatedly asked as he looked down on Guy.

If the skipper gave a directive or order to someone for doing something wrong, he would never follow-up by answering a question from that person—especially if they worked for him. If he told you something, it was best to listen to it and move on. If you didn’t, you were stepping into the unknown. I was surprised that Guy said more, but he did.

“I hired you, and I fired you.”

I think he was hoping this giant of a man would accept this remark and the matter would be over. However, the man wasn’t satisfied! Instead, he pressed the issue further by getting out in front of the skipper, slinking and nudging him with his shoulder, pushing him sideways—a bad thing to do to Captain Guy. Apparently, the man was well-known in Newfoundland; he had a reputation of fighting, brawling, and cleaning out bars all over the island. When drinking a few weeks before, he took over a club on Bell Island and dispatched four RCMP officers who were sent there to take him to jail. It was very likely he heard about Guy Earle and wanted a fight with him, and that’s why he looked for a job with the company. He caused a problem on the boat thinking it would lead to a confrontation with Guy.

He was about to find out about Skipper Guy.

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My father lived an exhilarating life. With I’ll Go the Length of Meself, my hope is to showcase his legacy as a great mariner, businessman, humanitarian, and exhibitionist, along with many other attributes. There will never be another Guy Earle, there couldn’t be. This is his story, and I’m proud to share it. 

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