50 Years Ago 16th Feb, Mullinnix Visits Port of Spain, Trinidad, BWI
(Excerpt from “The Last Gun Ship - History of USS Mullinnix DD-944” - A Historical Novel By Frank A. Wood)
Shortly after sighting Chacachacare Light on 16 February, Mullinnix stationed the special sea detail. Steaming passed Diegos Island abeam to port, then Five Islands abeam to starboard, she slipped into the port side of Pier 2, US Naval Base, Port of Spain, Trinidad, British West Indies (BWI). The engineers let the fires die out under Boiler 1B and Mullinnix began receiving fresh water and telephone services from the pier.
At 0801, Rear Admiral E.C. Stephan, Commander South Atlantic Force, US Atlantic Fleet, called informally on the Commanding Officer of the Mullinnix. Later that morning Commander Anderson departed the ship to pay a formal call on Admiral Stephan as well as Capt D.A. Sooy, Commanding Officer, US Naval Station, Trinidad, BWI.
BT1 A.J. Bell, MM3 A.R. Alterio, and BM2 D.P. Cutlip were the unlucky mates that were elected to temporary duty as shore patrol. Trinidad’s cornucopia-like offerings to stimulate a sailor’s many senses made shore patrol duty hard to appreciate let alone accept.
Trinidad has all the things you’d expect from a Caribbean island — sun, rum, sea, sand, plus friendly locals, rum, music, parties, and ample opportunities for relaxation in rich natural surroundings with rum-based drinks. Did I mention rum? The city is bordered by the Gulf of Paria on one side and the Northern Range on the other, providing both mountain and sea views. The mish-mash of architectural styles can seem rather ugly at first sight, especially downtown, but look closely and you can spot many fine nineteenth-century buildings along with quaint "gingerbread" houses, so named because of their intricate fretted woodwork.
Thanks in large part to its natural harbor, Port of Spain was made Trinidad's capital in 1757. The downtown area is the oldest section of the city, and despite its run-down appearance is the shopping and entertainment center of the capital. Within the compact grid of streets surrounding broad Brian Lara Promenade/Independence Square and bustling Frederick Street, shops jostle for space with old Spanish warehouses, bars, shops and the paraphernalia of the docks.
The city was preparing for the annual carnival that celebrates the beginning of Lent. 'Caribbean' carnival's principal components were calypso, steelpan and playing mas (masquerade). In Port-of-Spain these elements were harmoniously structured to form a five day ritual pageant beginning with the King & Queen Contest, followed by Panorama, Dimanche Gras, J'Ouvert and finally the Parade of the Bands.
On a candle-lit terrace overlooking Trinidad’s bay, and where, in the cold smell of broken ice stained with rum and bruised fruit, weeks at sea could disappear with the ease of raising a glass to your mouth.
To be continued…
Cheers,Woody
Shortly after sighting Chacachacare Light on 16 February, Mullinnix stationed the special sea detail. Steaming passed Diegos Island abeam to port, then Five Islands abeam to starboard, she slipped into the port side of Pier 2, US Naval Base, Port of Spain, Trinidad, British West Indies (BWI). The engineers let the fires die out under Boiler 1B and Mullinnix began receiving fresh water and telephone services from the pier.
At 0801, Rear Admiral E.C. Stephan, Commander South Atlantic Force, US Atlantic Fleet, called informally on the Commanding Officer of the Mullinnix. Later that morning Commander Anderson departed the ship to pay a formal call on Admiral Stephan as well as Capt D.A. Sooy, Commanding Officer, US Naval Station, Trinidad, BWI.
BT1 A.J. Bell, MM3 A.R. Alterio, and BM2 D.P. Cutlip were the unlucky mates that were elected to temporary duty as shore patrol. Trinidad’s cornucopia-like offerings to stimulate a sailor’s many senses made shore patrol duty hard to appreciate let alone accept.
Trinidad has all the things you’d expect from a Caribbean island — sun, rum, sea, sand, plus friendly locals, rum, music, parties, and ample opportunities for relaxation in rich natural surroundings with rum-based drinks. Did I mention rum? The city is bordered by the Gulf of Paria on one side and the Northern Range on the other, providing both mountain and sea views. The mish-mash of architectural styles can seem rather ugly at first sight, especially downtown, but look closely and you can spot many fine nineteenth-century buildings along with quaint "gingerbread" houses, so named because of their intricate fretted woodwork.
Thanks in large part to its natural harbor, Port of Spain was made Trinidad's capital in 1757. The downtown area is the oldest section of the city, and despite its run-down appearance is the shopping and entertainment center of the capital. Within the compact grid of streets surrounding broad Brian Lara Promenade/Independence Square and bustling Frederick Street, shops jostle for space with old Spanish warehouses, bars, shops and the paraphernalia of the docks.
The city was preparing for the annual carnival that celebrates the beginning of Lent. 'Caribbean' carnival's principal components were calypso, steelpan and playing mas (masquerade). In Port-of-Spain these elements were harmoniously structured to form a five day ritual pageant beginning with the King & Queen Contest, followed by Panorama, Dimanche Gras, J'Ouvert and finally the Parade of the Bands.
On a candle-lit terrace overlooking Trinidad’s bay, and where, in the cold smell of broken ice stained with rum and bruised fruit, weeks at sea could disappear with the ease of raising a glass to your mouth.
To be continued…
Cheers,Woody
posted by Frank A. Wood at 08:21
1 Comments:
Can anybody remember the Pepper Pot opposite The Handy Hot Bed Hotel in Port of Spain cheers bob
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