A long time ago

[Michael McKigney]

I am not sure that I will get any information to anyone, but I first sailed on the m.v.Raphael in 1956 as a junior engineer.The Suez was closed and so we went through the Panama canal.First place of call was Port Melbourne Australia.The next was port Pirie where the bars closed at 6.00pm commonly known as the swill. Then to Freemantle.From there we went to capetown and then back to europe to a number of ports and then Home to Liverpool.It was my first trip and a full circumnavigation of the globe. My chief engineer was Dusty Rutherfood if my memory serves me correctly. A lovely person who would have been about 63 years of age.He gave me a bombay spread. A large Merchant officers hat badge to remember things.I was only young and finishing my time in the Merch. I was on leave when I got a call to go out to the Venimos with Maggie Booth line and joined in Brooklyn. I was sailing as the fourth engineer. then I subsequently became the third engineer.We did the Eastern seaboard of the States and South america plus the West Indies. Then up the amazon to Iquitos in Peru.Approx 2500 run up the Amazon stopping at Belem, Manaus etc.

[Doc Vernon]

Hello Michael

Welcome to the site and many thanks for such a nice introduction,giving us a view of your start at Sea!
Like me it must have been a great feeling that very first trip,as young ones it certainly was something to open the Eyes!

Hope to hear more stories from you in the near future!

Please look around and Enjoy the site!
Cheers

[Captain Kong]

Hi Michael,
I sailed on m.v.Raphael in 1954, to BA ,
Hard to believe it was 60 years ago,
Cheers
Brian,

[j.sabourn]

#3... Hey Brian think it was 1954 I was first time in BA. We were lying astern of the Geneton (Chapmans) in I think the South Dock. Wasnt you they were all talking ashore about was it, offering yourself to all the desirable females and those not so desirable was it? Think if remember correctly rate of exchange on ship was about 39 pesos (or whatever they were) to the pound, however for a one pound note on the black market got about 150. They still had Evas picture up all over the place, now that would have been an accomplishment, but would of had to be a necrophiliac by that time, she was in no fit state to sing Argentine. Cheers John S

[Captain Kong]

Hi John
She died in 1952 and was never buried for near 30 years, she had been embalmed and in a glass case.
Peron took her to Spain with him in exile. she was later buried and then dug up again.
Now she is buried in her brother in laws grave 30 feet down with 15 tons of concrete on top of her making it rather difficult to dig her up again. I visited her grave in 2009 in the Recolletta, the cemetery.
Photo below. She was reputed to have been a Barmaid in the Calle Vienti Cinqo de Mayo, and always fought for womens Rights.
We used to get 120 pesos for a bottle of whisky from the cargo and sent ashore in Laundry bags.
Cheers
Brian

[j.sabourn]

That was the Argies being kind to her memory. The stories I heard she was on the game. Which of course I have nothing against. The stories and myths built up about her I suppose must have some credence. What happened to Peron beleive he claimed political Asylum in Spain. Did he die there? Cheers John S

---------- Post added at 12:07 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:58 AM ----------

The next time I was in BA I was 3 mate. Was robbed on board whilst asleep and cleaned out. (The Laundryman probably the same crook you used ) Came on board and said someone had tried to sell him a 3 mates uniform down 25 De mayo. Said what did I want to do about it. Gave him the last of my pesos to try and get back as was sailing the following day never saw either again. Was a 12 month trip with practically no gear, only what I could bum. Theiving bunch of mongrels, too many ex nazi baskets and their grandchildren still there, mostly of SS background. Cheers JS

[Richard Quartermaine]

Welcome aboard Michael. My first trip was the other way around starting at Newcastle NSW in 1947 as Engineers Boy for a couple of weeks and then to Saloon Boy on Port Line, through the Panama, up to the US, Canada and back to Melbourne via Cape Town. Spent many happy times when tied up in Huskisson Dock in your home 'town'. I expect you picked up some lead Ingots in Port Pirie. I would have liked to have done your trip up Iquitos - in those days it would have been very, very hot and sticky with only the scoops out of the porthole at a low rate of knots on the river. How did you fare in the somewhat recent bushfires in the Gippsland?

Brian, I remember a strikingly beautiful lady tied up in KGV London late '47 or early '48. She was the white hulled SS Eva Peron.

Richard

[robpage]

riotunuyanpostal2x500.jpg

That her , Richard ?

[gray_marian]

#6, John, The book I read about her years ago if I remember correctly certainly implied she did more than give the other professional ladies a hand out when they were busy. Juan Peron returned to Argentina with his third wife and an exhumed Eva, whose casket was kept alongside their dining room table......[as you do] until a safe haven was located. Whether that was her final resting place I cannot say for sure.

[Richard Quartermaine]

Sure is Rob. I never got closer than Curacao to South America and was pipped at the post for a job in Sao Paulo in 1976. I can't do it now more's the pity.
Richard