Tristan da Cunha
RMS Caronia will approach Tristan da Cunha in the morning and, weather permitting, will stand off the main settlement of Edinburgh. There will be no facilities for going ashore because of the primitive means for landing passengers on this harbourless island, but some islanders will come aboard the ship, and gifts, mail and other supplies will be landed.
Tuesday
31 January 1950
The inhabitants of Tristan da Cunha rarely have any contact whatever with the outside world. The “Caronia” will be the largest vessel they have ever seen.
The Lonely Island
Tristan da Cunha is of volcanic origin and is the largest island in a group of three others situated in the centre of the South Atlantic Ocean 1,508 miles from Cape Town on the one side and 1,504 from Rio de Janeiro, in South America, on the other.
The island rises sheer out of the sea and has a circumference of 21 miles at its base. But only a couple of small strips can be regarded as flat land, the remainder of the island rising steeply to a height of about 6,760 feet.
Gifts From Passengers
Many passengers are donating old clothes (throwaways) that would be suitable for the islanders of Tristan da Cunha. Some are giving surplus candy and fruit.
The Chief Steward's Department is gathering a collection of useful food supplies, while tools and implements will be contributed by the Chief Engineer's staff. In addition, medical supplies and still one more sewing machine will be included in the “Caronia's” gifts to the islanders on her visit.
Articles that passengers wish to have donated to the island will be gratefully received in the Cruise Office on Monday afternoon, 30 January, between 3.00 and 5.00pm
At its feet crash and curl the treacherous swells of the Atlantic Ocean, continuously echoing the roar that must have proclaimed its unwonted upheaval from the sea many centuries ago. Tristan has no harbour of any description, and it is not likely to have one in the future for nature has thrown up out of the sea a piece of land so awkward and forbidding in shape that no engineering skill could possibly fashion any part of it into the semblance of a harbour.
On this island a fascinating and unique story has unwound itself. First discovered by a Portuguese mariner, who gave his name to it, it remained lost in its mists for three hundred years until the vicissitudes of world conflicts reached down to end its solitude.
Napoleon's wars in Europe brought Britain into control of the Cape of Good Hope, and when the war of 1812 brought American armed ships into these waters to prey on British commerce, the Admiralty in London decided that Tristan da Cunha must be occupied to prevent hostile ships from making any possible use of it.
Passengers’ Mail
A sack of mail will be sent ashore at Tristan da Cunha for dispatch to the outside world. Letters and postcards need not bear stamps, but will be cancelled with a Tristan da Cunha date mark. This mail will be accepted by the International Mail Service for forwarding to its destination.
At this same time Napoleon's empire fell, and the Little Corporal was exiled to St. Helena. Britain decided to add further to its security by sending a garrison to Tristan da Cunha.
Early in the year 1816 this garrison landed - 87 soldiers strong, picked men of various trades, bringing their wives, possessions and livestock. In the ensuing years whaling ships and commercial sailing vessels brought new settlers, and the population gradually grew.
A Quite Unique slide show!
Here are 12 black and white photographs taken by the ship's photographers on Caronia's first visit to Tristan da Cunha in January 1950 along with another 8 from a crew member.
While passengers and most crew were confined to being on board, it appears that some selected crew including the ship's Surgeon, Nursing Sisters and ship's photographers were given permission to go ashore. In any event, these pictures are an exciting find!
slide show
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Sewing Machines For “The Lonely Island”
Dr. Clinton Babcock, formerly Cruise Director for the American Express Company, received a letter from Mrs. Swain, of Tristan da Cunha, postmarked November 29th. It arrived the day before sailing. She told him that there were only six sewing machines on “Tristan” at present. Therefore most of the sewing has to be done by hand.
So he suggested that it might be well to buy a machine in Rio. After I had mentioned this to Colonel Woodward the night of our Head-dress Ball on the “Caronia”, he told me to buy a machine. When I told Mr. Kent Darling and Mr. Gardiner Kline of this, they too offered to get another machine.
After arriving in Rio de Janeiro, I scouted around for these machines. The Singer Sewing Machine Headquarters suggested a little shop in the outskirts, where I purchased two old footpower-type sewing machines for 6,668 cruzeiros. Then I was advised it would be impossible to get an export licence for them within two years.
However, that was overcome. Now you will find these machines on the Promenade Deck Square for your inspection (use if you must!).
I was also told to bring plenty of needles and thread, as the little shop outside Rio (which was only six feet wide and eight feet deep) had no thread. The man told me to buy it in town. Forty-five minutes before sailing time I realised I had no thread, and did not dare risk sending a staff member ashore for it.
So, when you are looking at the machines, kindly drop some extra spools that you may have into the bucket
which will be there, as I know they can always use thread on “The Lonely Island of the South Atlantic”.
Ross Skinner,
Cruise Director
NY Times: 03/04 February 1950