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Shem Bartley Pearce
From the book: History of Monmouth County, New Jersey 1664-1920 Volume III - Published in 1922

There is no follower of motor boat racing who does not have at his tongue's end the races and records of the "Dixie" boats, I, II, and III, in American and English waters, and by these devotees Captain S. Bartley Pearce is numbered among the leading racing skippers of his time. Captain Pearce is known not alone for racing exploits familiar to sportsmen the world over, but as the owner of one of the largest boat-building and repairing yards in Monmouth County, and is a familiar figure to the residents of the district and the summer colony who find their vacation places in the North Jersey shore resorts. Traditions of the sea and sailing are a part of his heritage, and his knowledge of boats, of the scientific principles of their construction, and of their sailing, is of vast proportions. His long experience as a builder and captain of boats of all kinds, has given him ability to sail any vessel that floats, and it is upon this wealth of technical knowledge that hundreds of owners of boats built by him have drawn when Captain Pearce has designed and built their craft. The intimate story of his career is replete with interesting and often thrilling incident, which can be only indicated here, and Monmouth County's history contains no more representative name.

Shem Bartley Pearce
Captain Pearce is a son of Captain Shem Pearce, who was master of a sailing vessel all of his life, and who doubled Cape Horn many times, particularly after gold discoveries in California started a line of travel to the west coast. He married Lydia Longstreet; she died at the age of eighty-two years.

S. Bartley Pearce was born in that section of Wall Township, Monmouth County, now known as the borough of Brielle, formerly Manasquan, and there attended public schools. After the completion of his education he became employed as a youth in the shipyards at Manasquan, learned boat building in all of its branches and has found in this calling his life work. He is a skilled draftsman, and although his yard has grown to a size that places it among the leading establishments of its kind in the country, Captain Pearce is still able to perform any duty in connection there with. His home on the bank of the Manasquan River is a beautiful residence notable even among the imposing structures that great wealth has erected in the district.

In the course of a career as a dealer of vessels of all kinds, designed for a wide variety of purposes, Captain Pearce became interested in motor boat racing, and in the annals of this sport has left a record that will long be cited by followers of aquatic sports. In 1907, Captain Pearce, representing Commodore E.J. Schroeder, owner of the racing motorboat "Dixie" and the Motor Boat Club of America, journeyed to England, and at Southampton was skipper of the "Dixie" in the race that brought the British International Cup for motorboats to America. The other contestants were "Daimler I" and "Daimler II". "The Car" and English sporting journal wrote of this race as follows: "The resulting win for the American boat, 'Dixie' although disappointing, as yet another addition to the long list of reverses sustained by British sport this year, was achieved in a struggle of such square and fair nature that it was obvious to everyone that the victory was gained by merit alone." This great trophy, competed for by America for the first time, had been first won by France and then won back by England. While in Great Britain, Captain Pearce was the honored guest of many famous English sportsmen and was entertained by numerous noted personages, being accorded the regard that an Englishman is second to none in yielding to a worthy opponent.

In 1908, Captain Pearce was skipper of the "Dixie II" which successfully defended the Harmsworth Trophy in a race on Huntington Bay, Long Island Sound, that "Motor Boat" described as the "greatest motor boat race the world has ever known". In this race "Dixie II" beat "Wolsely-Siddeley", "USA" and "Den", with "Dixie II" averaging 27.75 nautical or 32 statute miles per hour. A thrilling finish of this race is described in part as follows in "Motor Boat," Volume V, No. 15:

On came that glorious little boat. Our hearts were in her. Everyone crowded to the stern of the tug to see the finish. There was Pearce at the wheel; we could see the tense outline of his head and shoulders, even in the distance. As she came nearer, she seemed to swerve this way and that, as if reeling under a heavy strain. Mr. Davis and I were at the "Raymond's" stern on a line with the finish. "Dixie" came careening across, Pearce clutching the wheel with one hand. As he passed, the winner with all that that meant, we saw Pearce shaking Rappuhn desperately. Mr. Davis turned quickly and said, "He's sick or hurt; we must get him." With one hand on the wheel and the other sinewy arm holding and shaking the unconscious Rappuhn, Pearce guided the "Dixie" safely through a row of boats. He could not stop the mad rush until he had her clear. He headed her for the open waters up towards Northport, and about a mile from the "Raymond" he managed to bring her to. By this time we had jumped into the "Astacus" and were off. "Tuna", "Dixie's" tender, was ahead of us and a fleet of other boats rushing to the assistance of "Dixie's" crew. When we arrived, "Tuna" had taken the unconscious hero-engineer on board where he received the attention of a physician. Captain Pearce, unstrung now that his work was done, was helped aboard the "Astacus" and we ran at once to the float. With little assistance Captain Pearce walked to the Casino, not willing to have a show made of his condition, bearing up before the crowd, and even acknowledging the congratulations of hundreds. He was weak from the strain and excitement, and sick from the gas from the mufflers, and as soon as his lungs filled with the fresh salt air, aided by artificial respiration, which was applied by the physician in charge, he recovered almost completely.

When Rappuhn felt himself losing consciousness, just before the turn of the last mark, he instinctively opened the throttle to its limit. It was then that we saw "Dixie" jump ahead. For four miles or more Pearce ran that boat and held up the helpless man shaking him and throwing water on his head. For four miles, he held "Dixie" on her course, half senseless himself, with one great thought on his mind - to cross that finish line.

For "Dixie" we all have praise. She is the fastest motorboat in the world and won the race with her engine turning 750 r.p.m., whereas it is capable of half the power of the "Wolseley" and went into the race with her 200 h.p. against the "Wolseley" with 400, and the "Daimler" with 525. Rappuhn, asked why he had kept "Dixie" down, replied, "If we'd let her out, we'd have felt lonesome."

The story is told. No, not all, for the nation owes a tribute to all who were concerned in the splendid boat. Here is the honor roll: E.J. Schroeder, owner; Clinton Crane, designer; H. M. Crane and Allen E. Whitman, builders of the engine; Captain S. Bartley Pearce, helmsman; Albert Rappuhn, engineer; B. Frank Wood, builder.

Captain Pearce piloted the "Dixie II" in numerous other races in eastern waters, and at Hempstead Harbor made a world's record of 36.04 miles an hour.

Captain Pearce has long been prominent in public affairs. For twelve years was treasurer and for sixteen years committeeman of Wall Township; also served as clerk of the school board of Brielle at the time when the members of the board were elected by popular vote. He is a member of the Asbury Park Lodge, No. 128, Benevolent and protective Order of Elks; a charter member of the Manasquan River Yacht Club; a lifetime member of the Ocean City Yacht Club and a member of the Motor Boat Club of America. He was brought up in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His circle of friends is a wide one, made through willing helpfulness in all movements for the common good and through a sincere goodwill that is felt by all who come into contact with him. In connection with his sporting activities it is interesting to note that Captain Pearce erected the first amateur wireless receiving station on the Atlantic Coast. He created the first fire department and street lighting system in Brielle, and was its first Chief of Police; also was the means of Brielle becoming a borough.

Captain Pearce married in Baltimore, Maryland, July 31, 1884, Eleanor M. Tyson, daughter of Captain James A. and Marie (Farnham) Tyson. Her father was captain of a full rigged sailing ship of the clipper type, sailing from New York to Australia, and Mrs. Pearce was born on this vessel about sixty miles off the Australian coast. Captain Tyson at one time was away from home for eleven years, although strictly speaking, his vessel was his home, so long and numerous were his voyages. Mrs. Pearce, who has lived in England and in Ireland, has crossed the ocean seventeen times. Captain and Mrs. Pearce were the parents of: James E., born April 24, 1886; Ralph Tyson, born September 16, 1887, inspector of State Bridges, residing in Brielle; Wheaton S., born June 21, 1890, owns and operates a garage in Brielle; Mary M., married Harry H. Kroh, an advertising agent of New York City and Asbury Park

© Copyright 2007 Trish Cox at TheSunnySide.biz