ARTIST: Fred Cozzens
PUBLISHER: Published by National Military Publishing Co. 1919 Broadway, NY.
MEDIUM: Chromolithograph,
DATE: 1894.
EDITION SIZE: Image size 7 3/4 x 12 1/4" (19.8 x 31.2 cm).
DESCRIPTION: This chromolithograph, Plate No. 7 from "Old Naval Prints" by Fred S. Cozzens, published in 1894, features three significant warships from the late 19th century: the USS Alarm, the USS Philadelphia (C-4), and the USS Vesuvius.<br><br> USS Alarm was an experimental torpedo boat, launched on November 13, 1873, at the New York Navy Yard and commissioned in 1874. Specifically designed for experimental work by the Bureau of Ordnance, Alarm was primarily used to test and develop new torpedo technologies. After conducting experiments in Washington, D.C., and Newport, R.I., she continued her specialized service at the New York Navy Yard until she was laid up at Norfolk, VA, in 1883. Commanded at one point by William Elbridge Sewell, who later became the Governor of Guam, Alarm remained largely inactive after 1885. Plans to convert her into a gunnery training ship were made in 1890-1891, but she was ultimately struck from the Navy list in 1897 and sold in 1898. <br><br> USS Philadelphia (C-4) was a steel protected cruiser, the fourth vessel to bear the name. Laid down on March 22, 1888, by William Cramp and Sons in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, she was launched on September 7, 1889, and commissioned on July 28, 1890, under the command of Capt. B. F. Bradford. Philadelphia initially served as the flagship of the North Atlantic Squadron, operating along the U.S. eastern seaboard and in the West Indies. In 1893, she was part of the Naval Review Fleet before being reassigned to the Pacific Station, arriving in San Francisco on August 22, 1893. There, she served as the flagship, conducting drills, maneuvers, and port visits along the West Coast, Mexico, South America, and the Hawaiian Islands. Philadelphia was decommissioned in 1897 but recommissioned in 1898 to represent the U.S. Navy during the formal annexation of Hawaii. She later participated in operations in the Samoan Islands in 1899 and continued serving in the Pacific until her decommissioning in 1902. <br><br> USS Vesuvius was a unique dynamite gun cruiser, laid down in September 1887 at William Cramp and Sons in Philadelphia. Launched on April 28, 1888, and commissioned on June 2, 1890, under the command of Lt. Seaton Schroeder, Vesuvius was equipped with three 15-inch pneumatic guns that fired shells using compressed air. These guns were fixed, requiring the entire ship to be aimed at the target, which limited their practical use. Despite the innovative design, the cruiser faced challenges, including a short range and imprecise aiming. Vesuvius was decommissioned for repairs in 1895 but returned to service in 1897. During the Spanish-American War, she conducted night bombardments of Santiago, Cuba, causing significant psychological impact on Spanish forces due to the silent and devastating nature of her dynamite shells. After the war, Vesuvius was converted into a torpedo-testing vessel and served in that capacity until her decommissioning and sale for scrap in 1922.
ADDITIONAL INFO: This piece is in an 18 x 14" mat for handling.
CONDITION: Good condition with original color. Small spot in sky.
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