The Ondina

The Ondina moored in Burnt Island

Zane Grey chartered the Ondina, a motor schooner from the northeastern side of the Rock to take them from one river to the other on the southeastern coast of Newfoundland.  The ship picked up Zane Grey, R.C. Grey, Captain Laurie Mitchell and Bob Carney on June 27, 1929 at Port aux Basques and returned on June 30, 1929 to pick up Romer Grey and George Takahashi. 

R.C. Grey described the ship in less than glowing terms, “It was perhaps 60 feet long and had a couple of dinky engines which occasionally achieved the miracle of working together.  Our accommodations were a public space below deck which normally was used for transporting dried codfish.  That man is my enemy who mentions codfish to me now.  There was scant room for six bunks, three to each side of the hold, laid end to end.  By the time we stored our supplies and camping equipment in the remaining space, hurdling was the only adaptable mode of locomotion.  George Takahashi’s remarks when he first saw the galley were fortunately expressed in his mother tongue… after a couple months cruising on the boiling Atlantic in this codfish purveying ark I myself would be fit for nothing else but the salt works.   The threat of tragedy I bore in silence.”

Our thanks go out to Captain Clarence Vautier for his help in identifying the Ondina and other questions about the ships and ports in Grey's photos.