The Pride of Tortola The Pride of Tortola was a 65-foot island schooner once owned by Rudolph Hodge. She was an important part of the inter-island trade between the British and US Virgin Islands, delivering everything from perishable food supplies to building materials. She certainly had an adventuresome time during her years on the sea. […]
USVI Boats
The Yacht, Diablesse Visits St. Thomas ~ 1914
#OnThisDay in 1914, one of my favorite authors sailed into Charlotte Amalie harbor. Captain Frederic A. Fenger, was an adventurous explorer with several Caribbean books to his credit. Books About the Virgin Islands One of my favorites was his 1926 novel, “The Cruise of Diablesse”. He also wrote Alone in the Caribbean which chronicled his […]
44 Ships Belonging to the North Atlantic Fleet Pass St. Croix ~ 1917
Imagine looking out to the horizon and seeing a flotilla of battleships coming into view. This happened in 1917 on a cloudy, January morning when citizens in Christiansted witnessed an unusual fleet of Naval ships just beyond the three-mile limit. As word spread, residents rushed down to the shore to see for themselves. When they noticed the first battleship […]
How Derrick Barges Help the Maritime Industry ~ 1933
The September 1932 hurricane wreaked havoc on the maritime industry in the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Boat owners were writing to the owner of the Creque Marine Railway to reserve space at the slip. It was shaping up to be a busy season for them. One such letter Mr. Creque received was […]
Rebuilding a Sunken Sailboat ~ 1916
The Schooner, Eagle Last year, I shared a fascinating story about the inter-island sloop, Eagle. Included were rare photographs of her crew and some of her passengers. The Owner In late 1916, the owner of the Eagle was Captain Oswald Waldemar George of St. John. His route spanned the seas between the British Virgin Islands and the Dominican Republic. The Eagle, like the Zuhrah, Fancy Me, […]
Thrilling Experience Touring A German Cruiser ~ 1932
The Karlsruhe was launched in 1927 and carried 635 men including 30 officers. Photo Source: U.S. Naval History & Heritage Command. Touring the historic cruiser, Karlsruhe was a thrill for many in the Virgin Islands! Our family was fortunate to have had a look inside the Malakka in 1914 and the Horst Wessel in 1938, among others. But in October […]
Repairing the EL CARIBE by Hand ~ 1937
In 1937, this huge oil tanker hit a coral reef near Saona Island off the southeastern tip of the Dominican Republic! A portion of the hull was badly damaged and needed immediate repairs. Repairing the El Caribe Being one of the few railways capable of lifting the 226-ton tanker, she made her way to the Creque Marine […]
Finding a Few Photographs and Invoices Keeps One Schooner’s History Alive ~ 1920
During the 1920s, the schooner, Zurah was captained by the beloved Samuel Sewer. His vessel was an important link in the inter-island trade. When repairs were needed, she was brought to the Creque Marine Railway. There, her dimensions were recorded as 50 feet in length by 15 feet wide. Selling the Zuhrah In December 1922, the Zuhrah was sold to Mr. Antonio Cesin and Carlos […]