T.R. Schoonover's Africa-India Travelogue
Embarkation
05 January 1952
At New York
Depart New York 5.01pm
At Sea
Start of 1952 Africa-India Cruise
Log Abstract…
At: 5.01pm (EST) left company berth Pier 92 New York
At: 6.48pm (EST) Ambrose C.L.V. abeam, NYC departure
About Our Ship
T.R.S…
The RMS Caronia, above water, is about as high as the Allen County courthouse roof - as long as from Main Street to
West Street - 91 feet wide and has 10 deck levels. Rates 34,000 gross tons, which means it pushes aside 34,000 tons
of water every time it travels its own length.
It carries a crew of 540 men and can accommodate 700 passengers. There are 270 passengers aboard now. Ship is driven by twin propellers more than 18 feet in diameter and weighing 22 tons each.
Food For 6 Months
T.R.S…
Triple expansion turbines power the ship and produce enough electrical power to supply a city of 150,000 people. It
carries enough food to last six months without replacement and has 12 tenders or lifeboats, powered by diesel motors,
each carrying 60 people. Davits can lower tenders in two minutes.
Each stateroom has a telephone so passengers may call each other or talk by radio telephone to America or England from any point in the World. Three elevators carry passengers from one deck to another. There's a small swimming pool on the sun deck and a 250-seat theatre on the promenade deck.
Air conditioning system keeps restaurants, lounges and staterooms cool and comfortable. While in motion the vessel rolls moderately and creates a pleasant sea breeze.
Passengers come from all over the United States and Canada, and a few are going back home to South American and African ports. Feminine passengers outnumber males almost two to one.
Dining tables are assigned by the head dining room steward. Our table mates are Mr. and Mrs. Lau, Grosse Pointe, Mich. He is a machine tool manufacturer and personal friend of Philip Huber, board chairman of Ex-Cello Corporation; Lima's new industry.
Fellow Travellers
T.R.S…
Visited with Mr. and Mrs. McIntosh. He is the spittin' image of Senator Bob Taft, and both are good friends of Marian
and Dick Fenton who were formerly on the Lima Locomotive staff - now in Berkeley, California. Mrs. McIntosh's father,
Charles Currie, was superintendent of the Lima Street Railway Company back in 1897, later moving to Cleveland.
A man whose name is a good slogan, Mr. B.A. Banker of San Francisco, knows Ralph Warner well. Ralph recently married our own Cotie Clark.
An African Ostrich Farm
[Image: 1952 Africa-India Cruise Brochure]
Chatted with Alexander Sharp, McAllen, Texas, self-acknowledged “Poorest man on the ship”. He operates a 45-acre truck farm in Texas. Think he and I are the only farmers on the cruise. A hearty homespun couple are Mr. and Mrs. Winetrout of Medford, Oregon. He has Ford franchise there.
Attended Captain Thelwell's cocktail party in Raleigh room - all ship staff in receiving line. Master-at-Arms announced each guest in full voice. Very formal and very British. Lord Mayor of London seemingly only dignitary not present.
Captain a grand chap, popular with guests and crew alike. In short address quipped that “Ship staff is prepared to do the impossible, but miracles might require a few minutes longer”.
