belem's history
1909-1914, Fleuriot’s years
Further to the liquidation of Demange Frères, the Belem was to sell. The Société des Armateurs Coloniaux, property of Fleuriot et Cie and Mr Pitre-Rozier, purchased her and keeping her captain, her crew and her line (French Guyana and the West Indies).
Le Belem adopte une livrée gris foncé. La ligne de faux-sabords de l’armement Demange disparaît.
The crew, with the exception of a ship’s boy, did not change. Boatswain and sailors were always the same. In a letter sent to its family, Briaud (the boatswain) wrote not without a certain naive pride: “the boat is served by a crew which is what is the best in Nantes and even somewhere else: there are never incidents or wounded persons on board.” [Jean Noli, 1996].
Observe on this photography of Fleuriot’s years the division of the mizzen mast (due to appearance of a gaff).
Document : Rapport de mer du commandant Chauvelon, le 21 février 1913.