I was A/p on the Salaga in 1956 and expecting a nice easy turn round to the Uk and get married in the July. In the event we were routed to the States and made our way back up the coast to Freetown. By this time we were fully loaded with passengers apart from a Captain Williams a retired ED skipper I believe, He had booked space for a variety of small animals, These were mainly chimps and snakes, There may have been more. They were in cages and boxes and stowed in the forcastle. The apprentices were given the job of cleaning and feeding them for I assume a small dash. I had a look at them a couple of times but they were not my scene really. Capn Williams brought one chimp out for the passengers to see and all in all things went well. Captain Williams lived in Freetown and collected these animals over a period and when he had a batch over to New York he went. I believe he had a contract with "The Trefflich Bird and Animal Co". I was told that there was a chimp on a regular US TV show which was one of his.
It would be interesting to know if anyone else had a zoo aboard,
ps. I got married in the November
On a similar theme people may remember Reg Hughes. He was a straight faced tease and leg puller. He was well known in the pursers dept. One States bound trip I believe he sent a cable to Elders New York to Charlie Causey, The Agency meeter and greeter. Charley told any purser if he came back to New York bring African artifacts and animals. He would sell them for big bucks. Half way to New York Reg sent Charlie a cable saying "Have on board one elephant. Can you dispose". The reply went back - confirmed. Eventually they docked with a somewhat agitated Charlie waiting on the quay . Reg pointed to Number 2 hatch and said in there. More agitation and more hilarity from Reg and his assistant. Of course the truth came out and Charlie didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Reg was a great chap and could well have made this uo. Who knows. Poor Reg crossed the bar after working for the big brewery in Blackburn. Happy days.
Bob Appleton
It would be interesting to know if anyone else had a zoo aboard,
ps. I got married in the November
On a similar theme people may remember Reg Hughes. He was a straight faced tease and leg puller. He was well known in the pursers dept. One States bound trip I believe he sent a cable to Elders New York to Charlie Causey, The Agency meeter and greeter. Charley told any purser if he came back to New York bring African artifacts and animals. He would sell them for big bucks. Half way to New York Reg sent Charlie a cable saying "Have on board one elephant. Can you dispose". The reply went back - confirmed. Eventually they docked with a somewhat agitated Charlie waiting on the quay . Reg pointed to Number 2 hatch and said in there. More agitation and more hilarity from Reg and his assistant. Of course the truth came out and Charlie didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Reg was a great chap and could well have made this uo. Who knows. Poor Reg crossed the bar after working for the big brewery in Blackburn. Happy days.
Bob Appleton