Nicholas Peppas
17-08-2009, 01:56
Artemisia was a small passenger and cargo ship that was built in 1892 or 1893 for the M. T. Zygomalas Shipping Company of Chios and Constantinople. Artemisia had just 150 tons (see Harlaftis' book) and was used mostly in trips in Propontis (Marmara) but also to Varna, Constanta, Odessa, and Nikolaeff (Azof sea) between 1895 and 1920.
Those interested in her early history need to read extensive legal documents about a major litigation against her and the Zygomalas company in 1897 (See http://books.google.com/booksid=ei4tAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA155&lpg=PA155&dq=artemisia+zygomalas&source=bl&ots=jIUnRAtMnM&sig=pfmZ8KqW8I6fbzpfrrP9_8ZmWsM&hl=en&ei=VJiISvXpM5-NaW1ofsO&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5#v=onepage&q=artemisia&f=false (http://books.google.com/booksid=ei4tAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA155&lpg=PA155&dq=artemisia+zygomalas&source=bl&ots=jIUnRAtMnM&sig=pfmZ8KqW8I6fbzpfrrP9_8ZmWsM&hl=en&ei=VJiISvXpM5-NaW1ofsO&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5#v=onepage&q=artemisia&f=false)). The Zygomalas family was from Chios and was related by marriage to the Vlastos (Vlasto) and Skylitsis (Schilizzi) families of shipowners.
I do not know her whereabouts after the Asian Minor catastrophe.
But Artemisia is well known as one of the early passenger ships that helped carry Jewish emigrants to Palestine before World War II. In her first trip in September 1937 she carried 54 passengers from Dyracchion (Durres) of Albania to Tel Aviv for Mossad. On that occasion, Paul Silverstone lists her http://paulsilverstone.com/immigration/Primary/Aliyah/ShowShip1.phpshipno=5&pic=ShipPix/&shipname=<i>Artemisia</i>&rowno=5 (http://paulsilverstone.com/immigration/Primary/Aliyah/ShowShip1.phpshipno=5&pic=ShipPix/&shipname=<i>Artemisia</i>&rowno=5)
as having built in 1894 and having 221 tons.
In a second trip from April 18 to 25 she carried 128 passengers from somewhere in Greece to Tantura, Palestine again on behalf of Mossad. She returned in June 1938 and carried 386 passengers (!) on behalf of Betar from Piraeus to Tantura. One more trip with 158 passengers was done on July 18 to 23, 1938.
Then on October 5, 1938 she saved 246 passengers of the Draga and took them to Palestine. Then, on February 6, 1939, Artemisia transferred 237 passengers from Katina at sea off Cyprus.
Regrettably, two days later Artemisia was captured by the British and brought to Haifa with 17 people on board. The others had been landed on the beach the night before. This seems to have been the end of the vessel…
All these and more details can be found in Paul Silverstone’s Aliyah Bet Website http://paulsilverstone.com/immigration/Primary/Aliyah/shiplist1.php (http://paulsilverstone.com/immigration/Primary/Aliyah/shiplist1.php)
Those interested in her early history need to read extensive legal documents about a major litigation against her and the Zygomalas company in 1897 (See http://books.google.com/booksid=ei4tAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA155&lpg=PA155&dq=artemisia+zygomalas&source=bl&ots=jIUnRAtMnM&sig=pfmZ8KqW8I6fbzpfrrP9_8ZmWsM&hl=en&ei=VJiISvXpM5-NaW1ofsO&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5#v=onepage&q=artemisia&f=false (http://books.google.com/booksid=ei4tAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA155&lpg=PA155&dq=artemisia+zygomalas&source=bl&ots=jIUnRAtMnM&sig=pfmZ8KqW8I6fbzpfrrP9_8ZmWsM&hl=en&ei=VJiISvXpM5-NaW1ofsO&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5#v=onepage&q=artemisia&f=false)). The Zygomalas family was from Chios and was related by marriage to the Vlastos (Vlasto) and Skylitsis (Schilizzi) families of shipowners.
I do not know her whereabouts after the Asian Minor catastrophe.
But Artemisia is well known as one of the early passenger ships that helped carry Jewish emigrants to Palestine before World War II. In her first trip in September 1937 she carried 54 passengers from Dyracchion (Durres) of Albania to Tel Aviv for Mossad. On that occasion, Paul Silverstone lists her http://paulsilverstone.com/immigration/Primary/Aliyah/ShowShip1.phpshipno=5&pic=ShipPix/&shipname=<i>Artemisia</i>&rowno=5 (http://paulsilverstone.com/immigration/Primary/Aliyah/ShowShip1.phpshipno=5&pic=ShipPix/&shipname=<i>Artemisia</i>&rowno=5)
as having built in 1894 and having 221 tons.
In a second trip from April 18 to 25 she carried 128 passengers from somewhere in Greece to Tantura, Palestine again on behalf of Mossad. She returned in June 1938 and carried 386 passengers (!) on behalf of Betar from Piraeus to Tantura. One more trip with 158 passengers was done on July 18 to 23, 1938.
Then on October 5, 1938 she saved 246 passengers of the Draga and took them to Palestine. Then, on February 6, 1939, Artemisia transferred 237 passengers from Katina at sea off Cyprus.
Regrettably, two days later Artemisia was captured by the British and brought to Haifa with 17 people on board. The others had been landed on the beach the night before. This seems to have been the end of the vessel…
All these and more details can be found in Paul Silverstone’s Aliyah Bet Website http://paulsilverstone.com/immigration/Primary/Aliyah/shiplist1.php (http://paulsilverstone.com/immigration/Primary/Aliyah/shiplist1.php)