Rumrunner: The Life and Times of Johnny Schnarr

by Marion Parker, Robert Tyrell

Rumrunner is the story of Johnny Schnarr's career as the most successful rumrunner to work the Pacific Northwest during the Prohibition era in the United States. For twelve years Schnarr was able to outwit and outrun the Coast Guards and Customs Agents of both the United States and Canada. Always aware of the risks, he did it with daring and with speed! On the darkest nights, and in the worst winter storms Johnny Schnarr ran his illegal cargoes of good liquor from Southern Vancouver Island to numerous points throughout Puget Sound and the Olympic Peninsula. He even made trips down to the Columbia River and to California. The hazards in the rum trade were high. The Coast Guard cutters were armed with one-pound cannon and machine guns. And the hijackers who preyed on the less wary of the rumrunners were well-armed and even more dangerous. Johnny Schnarr tried to stay out of trouble by designing and building the fastest boats on the coast. But even with boast capable of more than 40 knots, he didn't always get away clean. Repairing bullet holes in the hull of his boat was part of the job! Schnarr's story of his twelve years of rumrunning is a true story of excitement and adventure! --- from book's back cover

225 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1995

Reviews

[Brian Clements · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice corner of a little known Pacific Northwest history. The story is full of excitement and danger. Highly recommend!

[Lynne]

Found this book in a junk pile at work. I can't wait to read about Prohibition in the Pacific Northwest!