Seeking banana boaters - Letters

Cruise Travel, July-August, 2003 by Donald Nicholson

Thanks for a great magazine! My wife and I enjoy each issue and have gotten some excellent ideas for the cruises we have taken.

The "Liberty/Victory Ships" article in the June issue last year brought back memories of my former neighbor, Earnest Fous. He served on the Liberty Ships during World War II and was instrumental in getting the proper recognition for the men who served in that service.

I am in possession of a photo of one of the United Fruit Company's passenger ships, decked out in its full regalia, about to dock at Pier 1 in New York City. There were six of these "Mail Ships" built under the subsidy provisions of the Jones-White Merchant Marine Act of 1928. The purpose of this act was to encourage American shipowners to build their vessels in domestic shipyards and operate them under the American flag. These ships were the Talamanca, Chiriqui, Antigua, Veragua, Quirigua, and the Segovia (completed as the Peten, then renamed Jamaica). These were up-to-date ships in every respect, with luxury accommodations for 100 passengers.

The "mail ships" were an immediate success. They provided excellent banana carriers, efficient general cargo ships, and popular passenger vessels. They also proved their worthiness as naval auxiliaries in case of war.

I'm wondering if any Cruise Travel readers were ever passengers or crew on these ships or on any of the other "Great White Fleet" banana-passenger vessels. Any historical data that Cruise Travel might publish in a future issue would be greatly appreciated.

Donald Nicholson, Fort Myers, FL