Hello to everyone. Does anyone know what might be the meaning of the expression O Patarelo? When I first saw it after the last name of one of my ancestors, I thought perhaps it was a misspelling of the name Perestrelo. The writer of the document in question had very poor handwriting. I have since found two more documents regarding the same individual and it looks much more like O Patarelo. I have consulted two dictionaries and cannot even make an educated guess. Does anyone know anything about a "train" accident on Madeira in early 1910s? My late father spoke of any incident he remembered from his boyhood but the details were fuzzy. (he left the island in 1921 just before his 10th birthday) He said the "train" went up the hill every day. Apparently his family used it regularly but did not use it the day of the explosion. I believe it may have been a funicular but cannot find anything to confirm or deny. Dad also spoke of a time during WWI when the German ships came into the harbor in Funchal. Everyone fled to the hills. My grandfather was an army officer at the time so my father's family went to "a fort" above the city when the ships began firing into the city. Does anyone know any details? Thanks to Pat Corbera for the great picture of the SS Canopic. My grandmother and three sons also sailed to US on it but not until 1921. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you Mary da Silva Frost

From: "Mary Frost" <tiamaria@frostdesign.com> "Thanks to Pat Corbera for the great picture of the SS Canopic. My grandmother and three sons also sailed to US on it but not until 1921" Hi Mary, You're very welcome... It's my understanding that many of our Portuguese ancestors/relatives sailed on the SS Canopic. My maternal grandparents, along with my mom, who was 5 y/o at the time and my uncle arrived at the Port of Boston Aug 6, 1906. That sailing left Genoa, Italy on July 22, 1906, with stops in Naples, Italy; Funchal, Madeira and Azores Island of Sao Miguel. The passenger manifest recorded 55 first class passengers, 180 second and 1646 third class, for a total of 1881. I have a copy of a newspaper ad that mentions a Frank G. Silva of 76 Jackson St. San Francisco as being the "unico Agente Portuguez...stating "para quaesquer informacoes e passagens dirijam-se ao agente na Costa do Pacific." "White Star Line - Offerece Grande Vantagem Aos Portuguezes Que Viajam De New York e Boston Para Os Acores." "Vapores Rapidos, De 2 Helices, De 15,000 a 20,00 Ton." "De New York e Boston Aos Acores Directos: De Boston - Canopic 11 de Agosto, Romantic, 15 de Setembro and Canopic, 6 de Outobro (1906). De New York: Cretic, 4 de Agosto. " This ad goes on to say, that the ships of this grand company are all 1st class, with the best "acommodacoes possiveis e todos os aperfeicoamentos modernos." First class fare $50.00; 2nd class $40.00, and 3rd class $23.00, de New York e Boston directamente para os Acores, levando passageiros para qualquer das ilhas." The comidas (foods) are prepared "a moda portugueza" com a maxima limpeza, wine is served "todos os dias ao jantar." The ad was supplied by Rosemary of Seaside Ca. The passenger manifest was located on LDS Film # 1724640 "Boston Passenger List." The picture of the SS Canopic I ordered (Feb. 1994) from the Steamship Historical Society Collection - Univ. of Baltimore Library - 1420 Maryland Avenue - Baltimore, Maryland 21201... Adios, Pat Silva Corbera