I was given a bundle of old photos which were taken by my late father many, many years ago. I found the attached one which I have fiddled with a bit to make it more presentable. It was originally very yellowed and only 7 X 12.75 cms. On the back it says:- "Historian" at Chalmette, New Orleans, La. Feb 15th 1920.
That is a long time ago.
My father would have been just 19 years old and a very new third mate at the time. Whilst it is hard to see, the ship had no wheelhouse, just a chartroom with for'd facing windows which looked out over the back of the helmsman. I looked her up and find she was built in 1896 by Harland and Woolf Ltd. in Belfast. Believe it or not she is described as:- A Steel steamship rigged as a four masted schooner, with two decks and seven holds. The ship cost £70,538 to build and had Marconi's wireless apparatus installed on 18th February, 1913. I could hardly buy an expensive car for that price.
I thought this to be an interesting find.
Angus.
