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Curious Facts About Ships & Maritime Commerce to Habana

 

Here are a few miscellaneous interesting facts that we ran across while doing the transcription of passenger names from the Diario de la Marina:

 

dingOld Time Ads

Here you will find a collection of interesting and humorous advertisements from days gone by.

 

dingSnow and Ice to Havana

In the mid-1800s there were many shipments of snow and ice (moslty from Boston) to Havana. According to Wikipedia, Frederic Tudor (1783-1864) was known as Boston's "Ice King" and made a fortune shipping ice to the Caribbean, Europe and even as far away as India. His Tudor Ice Company harvested ice in a number of New England ponds for distribution throughout the Caribbean, Europe and India from 1826 to 1892.

Here are some of the shipments of snow and ice to Havana that we have found while transcribing passengers lists:

date ship type ship name from

travel time (days)

cargo
13 Feb 1833 american brigantine Tuscar Boston 15 snow
17 Feb 1834 american frigate Tiber Boston 12 snow
07 Mar 1834 american frigate Dromo Boston 19 snow
19 Mar 1834 american frigate Burmah Boston 20 snow
19 Mar 1834 spanish schooner Prueba New Orleans 10 snow
03 Dec 1848 american frigate Vespasian Boston 18 ice
22 Feb 1849 american frigate Russian New York 14 ice
24 Feb 1849 american frigate Nary Varney Boston 20 ice
25 Feb 1849 american frigate Medora Boston 13 ice
07 Mar 1849 american frigate Lucinda Maria Boston 16 ice
25 Nov 1849 american frigate Prompt Boston 15 ice
03 Feb 1850 american frigate Helen Francis Boston 17 ice
24 Feb 1850 american frigate Abeona Boston 25 ice
26 Feb 1850 american frigate Hebron Boston 22 ice
08 Mar 1850 american frigate Ovando Boston 30 ice
21 Mar 1850 american frigate Aquila Boston 20 ice
09 Apr 1850 swedish brigantine Siri Boston 33 ice
20 Apr 1850 american frigate Carolina C. Dow Boston 16 ice
24 Apr 1850 american frigate Lucinda Maria Boston 20 ice
17 May 1850 american frigate Harrisbury Boston 20 ice
26 May 1850 american frigate John Carver Boston 16 ice
16 Jul 1852 american frigate John W. White Boston 29 ice
10 Mar 1853 american frigate Attica Boston 20 ice
20 Mar 1853 american frigate Scott Dyer Boston 23 ice
11 Apr 1853 american frigate Lady Knight Boston 15 ice
13 Apr 1853 american frigate Nautilus Boston 16 ice
15 Apr 1853 american frigate Southerner Boston 17 ice
02 May 1853 american brigantine Amigo-suck (?) Boston 17 ice
05 May 1853 american frigate Marion Boston 17 ice
08 Jun 1853 french brigantine Julia Laura Boston 17 ice
07 Jan 1854 american brigantine Fere Fowler Boston 17 ice
19 Jan 1854 american frigate Carniola Boston 16 ice
03 Mar 1854 american frigate Mangola Boston 13 ice
09 Mar 1854 american frigate Mary A. Vose Boston 14 ice
12 Apr 1854 english frigate Ariadne Boston 23 ice
20 Apr 1864 english frigate Windward Boston & Nassau 24 ice
02 May 1864 american frigate Gostarelli Boston 19 ice
05 May 1864 american frigate J.P. Chaplin Boston 20 ice
26 Jun 1864 american brigantine Lorana Boston 28 ice
26 Jun 1864 american brigantine Hancock Boston 19 ice
20 Jul 1864 american frigate Mont Blanc Boston 28 ice
13 Aug 1864 english corvette Windward Boston 25 ice
18 Jan 1865 english corvette Parana Boston 18 ice
01 Feb 1865 french frigate Vellore Boston 16 ice
13 Mar 1865 english frigate Norn Boston 14 ice
05 Abr 1865 english frigate Cabot Boston 20 ice
16 Abr 1865 american corvette Talavera Boston 15 ice
26 Abr 1865 english frigate Norweigen Boston 18 ice
04 May 1865 english corvette Mitley Boston 21 ice
08 Jun 1865 english brigantine Alice Boston 21 ice
11 Jun 1865 american brigantine R.B. Grove Boston 25 ice
02 Jul 1865 argentine frigate Enrique Boston 22 ice
07 Jul 1865 spanish frigate Elizabeth Boston 21 ice
28 Oct 1865 english brigantine John Givan Boston 19 ice
20 Oct 1865 american frigate Gertrude Boston 19 ice
07 Nov 1865 american brigantine J.D. Lincoln Boston 25 ice
04 Dec 1865 american barque Avola Boston 24 ice
07 Dec 1865 american brignantine Samuel Lindsey Boston 23 ice
18 Feb 1866 american barque Com. Dupont Boston 18 ice
27 Feb 1866 english brigantine Roseway Boston 16 ice
18 Mar 1866 american schooner B.F. Folsom Boston 14 ice
18 Mar 1866 american brigantine Hattie Boston 13 ice
05 Apr 1866 american barque Sagadahoe Boston 16 ice
04 May 1866 englsh barque Mira Boston 24 ice
26 May 1866 american brigantine Glandale Boston 21 ice
03 Jun 1866 american barque Monitor Boston 24 ice
13 Jun 1866 american barque Chatanooga Boston 23 ice
26 Jun 1866 american frigate Ada Carter Boston 18 ice
12 Feb 1867 english corvette Flying Scud Boston 19 ice
10 Mar 1867 american frigate Egeria Boston 21 ice
19 Mar 1867 american brigantine Edwing H. Kennedy Boston 19 ice
21 Mar 1867 american brigantine Alice Starret Boston 19 ice
25 Mar 1867 american barque Eureka Boston 20 ice
28 Mar 1867 american brigantine Josie A. Devereux Boston 12 ice
31 Mar 1867 american barque Almoner Boston 15 ice
05 Apr 1867 english brigantine Dunkeld Boston 20 ice
07 May 1867 american schooner May Boston 17 ice
07 May 1867 american frigate Florence Pelers Boston 19 ice
26 May 1867 american schooner brigantine Sally Brown Boston 29 ice
08 Sep 1867 american brigantine Poinsett Boston 30 ice
13 Sep 1867 american brigantine Fannie Lincoln Boston 25 ice
27 Oct 1867 american brigantine Hancock Boston 14 ice
31 Oct 1867 argentine frigate Enrique Camden 17 ice
24 Nov 1867 american schooner brigantine Alice Lea Boston 18 ice
18 Jan 1868 amercan brigantine M.L. Miller Boston 19 ice
19 Jan 1868 american brigantine Fannie Lincoln Boston 28 ice
22 Jan 1868 norwegian frigate Alpha Krageroa (Norway) & Jamaica 10 (from Jamaica) ice
25 Jan 1868 american schooner Davis Collins Boston 14 ice
08 Feb 1868 american schooner L. Batchelder Boston 13 ice
09 Feb 1868 american brigantine T.G. Maguire Boston 15 ice
13 Feb 1868 english brigantine Stremness Boston 19 ice
21 Feb 1868 amerrican schooner F.R. Baird Boston 21 ice
26 Feb 1868 american schooner Nellie Bowers Boston 19 ice
06 Nov 1868 american schooner C.S. Bushnell Boston 11 ice
15 Nov 1868 american barque Josie Mildred Boston 12 ice
03 Feb 1869 american brigantine Mary E. Pennell Boston 29 ice
07 Feb 1869 american barque R.A. Allen Boston 21 ice
17 Feb 1869 american schooner brigantine E.H. Kennedy Boston 17 ice
07 Mar 1869 american schooner G.J.I. Smith Boston 23 ice
10 Mar 1869 american schooner Nellie Bowers Boston 20 ice
10 Mar 1869 american schooner Jonas Shmith Boston 22 ice
27 Mar 1869 french barque Hoogly Boston 19 ice
27 Mar 1869 american pailebot John Johnson Boston & Newport 22 ice
27 Mar 1869 american schooner Mary A. Danna Bath 16 ice
21 Oct 1869 ameerican brigantine Navarino Boston 15 ice
16 Nov 1869 american schooner Nellie Sowers Boston 21 ice
25 Dec 1869 american barque Comodoro Dupont Boston 16 ice
04 Jan 1870 american brigantine Norfiti Boston 15 ice
09 Jan 1870 american barque Carrie Wyman Boston 17 ice
19 Jan 1870 american schooner Georgetta Lawrence Boston 16 ice
05 Apr 1870 english brigantine Fidelia Boston 24 ice
09 Apr 1870 american frigate Mogunticook Boston 17 ice
10 Apr 1870 american barque Harvest Home Boston 20 ice
14 Apr 1870 american barque Mary Edson Boston 20 ice
25 Apr 1870 american schooner Kate Carleton Boston 18 ice
19 May 1870 american frigate Orihilla Boston 21 ice
05 Mar 1871 english barque Bessie Simpson Boston 18 ice*
10 Mar 1871 american barque Talavera Boston 19 ice
14 Mar 1871 american brigantine Alberti Boston 23 ice
31 Mar 1871 american pailebot E.H. Wheeler Boston 22 ice
05 Apr 1871 english barque Constance Boston 18 ice
19 Apr 1871 americna barque Emma F. Herryman Boston 22 ice
24 Apr 1871 american schooner brigantine J.H. Lane Boston 15 ice*
25 Apr 1871 american barque American Lloyd Boston 21 ice
26 Apr 1871 american barque Shawmut Boston 20 ice*
09 Aug 1871 american barque Neptuno Boston 23 ice
17 Nov 1871 american brigantine Wm. Mason Boston 20 ice*
03 Jan 1872 american brigantine H.B. Emery Boston 17 ice
30 Jan 1872 american schooner Emily Curtis Boston 18 ice*
06 Feb 1872 american barque Martin W. Brett Boston 19 ice*
15 Feb 1872 american barque Almira Coombs Boston 20 ice
13 Apr 1872 american brigantine Samuel Lindsey Boston 16 ice

* destined for the Tudor Ice Company in Havana.

 

dingPerformers

Ocassionally, the arrival of Stage performers and entertainers to Habana was recorded on the passenger lists. Here are some we have found:

date ship origin performer
27 Oct 1847 Guadalquivir New York 63 members of an Italian Opera company
12 Jan 1848 Adams Gray New Orleans "Captain Tom Thumb" (age 10), with his parents and 7 servants.
17 Dec 1848 Isabel Charleston, Savannah & Cayo Hueso 43 girl ballerinas from the Vienna company, accompanied by directors H. Rekte & J. Weis.
04 Nov 1849 Isabel Charleston, Savannah & Cayo Hueso The Count of S. James with 10 members of a dance company
22 Jan 1850 Ohio New York & Savannah Enrique Bennet with the giant Roberto Hale and the dwarf Ezra Mole
30 Mar 1850 Imogene Kingston Guillermo Archer & 22 members of an equestrian company
31 Dec 1851 Empire City New Orleans Juan Roosset & 16 members of a dance company
02 Dec 1852 Black Warrior New York Bernardo Gallol & 45 members of the company "Los Raveles"
11 Jan 1867 Paris Veracruz P. Rotger & Biachi Opera Company
09 Jan 1868 Cuba New Orleans 42 members of the Black Crock company.
22 Jan 1868 Canarias Cadiz 62 members of a zarzuela company.
19 Feb 1869 Juniata departure to Philadelphia Part of the Maya artistic company.
24 Mar 1869 Tamar departure to Veracruz Don Joaquin Gastambide and 32 members of his zarzuela company.
21 Feb 1871 City of Merida Veracruz & Sisal S. Anexi & 14 members of a drama company
07 Feb 1872 Guadeloupe departure to Veracruz George Hanlon Lee & 7 members of an acrobat company
03 Mar 1874 City of New York New York C.A. Chizzola & 49 members of the French Comic Opera Company
14 Jan 1875 City of Havana departure to Veracruz & stopovers Emilio Schuman & 26 members of his company
04 Aug 1891 Reina Maria Cristina Santander & Le Havre Luisa Martinez Casado (famous stage actress)
09 Jan 1900 Yucatan Veracruz & Progreso Napoleon Sleny & 46 members of the opera
18 Feb 1900 Olivette Tampa & Cayo Hueso Mr. Herman & 21 members of his company.

 

 

dingJosé Martí

The great Cuban patriot and revolutionary philosopher, Jose Marti, was born in 28 Jan 1853. On 21 Oct 1869, at the age of 16, he was arrested by the spanish authorities, accused of disloyalty for having written a letter to a companion of studies where he refered to the individual as an apostate for having joined the spanish army to combat the pro-independence cubans. On 4 Mar 1870 he was sentenced to 6 years in prison, but this was later commuted to exile in the Isle of Pines on 5 Sep 1870. On 15 Jan 1871, in response to family solicitations, the place of exile was changed to Spain so he could continue his studies. We have an entry on the data base dated 17 Jan 1871 recording his leaving for Cadiz on the ship Guipuzcoa.

We found another entry for Jose Marti arriving in Habana from Cadiz on the ship Puerto Rico on 20 Jan 1874. It is conceivable that this one might have been a return to Cuba unrecorded in the history books.

From 2 Jan to 24 Feb 1877 history books state that he returned incognito to Habana, using his middle name and maternal surname, Julian Perez1.

In our data base, we found two entries for a Julian Perez, one from Cadiz & Puerto Rico on 5 May 1868 and the other from La Coruña on 27 May 1852. Both these dates precede the date of his exile to Spain so they probably correspond to someone else with the same name.

Of course some of these may be simple name coincidences, since we have also found an entry of a Spanish Captain Jose Marti on 8 Dec 1852 from Cadiz and another entry of Jose Marti on 23 Dec 1852 from Mallorca. Both dates precede the birth date of our apostol.

1. Diccionario Enciclopedico de Historia Militar de Cuba, Tomo I, Biografias, Centro de Estudios Militares, Ediciones Verde Olivo, Habana, 2001. ISBN: 959-224-130-9.

 

dingFamous or Important Personages

Among the important personages visiting Cuba were the following:

 

date ship type ship name origin person
10 Feb 1854 br. steamship Teviot Tampico & Veracruz His Highness Prince NIcolas of Nassau
19 Jun 1866 american steamship Morro Castle New York Dr. & Mrs. C. Finlay (discovered method of transmission of yellow fever).
12 Aug 1866 spanish steamship Paris Veracruz Prince Felix of Salm-Salm
9 Dec 1869 american steamship Columbia New York Prince Luis of Borbon & family.
10 Nov 1870 american steamship Columbia New York H. Upmann (noted cigar industrialist)
22 Feb 1871 american steamship Liberty Baltimore & Key West General Sherman, his wife and son.
05 Jan 1872 british navy corvette Niobe sea Captain Lamblin (Lampton) Loraine - saved many cuban patriots during the Virginius incident
27 Feb 1872 russian squadron of 3 ships Swetlana Panzacola His Imperial Highness Prince Alexis Alexandrovich of Russia
23 Jan 1880 american steamship Admiral Key West General and former US President Ulises S. Grant, his wife and staff.
15 Feb 1880 american steamship City of Alexandria to Veracruz General and former US President Ulises S. Grant, his wife and staff, leaving Cuba.

 

dingUnusual names

 

Meaning no disrespect, we sometimes run across an unusual or amusing surname. Some of the ones we have found are:

 

  • Jose Belaustegurgostia (probably longest surname)
  • J. Butter Griffin
  • G. Patitruco
  • Desester Whitemore
  • Moises Perogordo
  • Human Binder
  • L.H Dum & A. Dum
  • Tomas Greasi
  • Canuto Palavieja

 

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Ship Trivia - Updated 09-Oct-2018

Copyright © 2007-2017 - Ed Elizondo
All Rights Reserved - Todos los Derechos Reservados

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