Description: Scarce Albumen Photo of US Flagship San Francisco. C 1890's Military History A.J. McDonald, San Francisco, California Photo measures, 5-1/8"x8-1/2" Assigned to the South Pacific Squadron,San Franciscomoved south and became the squadron's flagship on 31 March 1891. Five months later, as an eight-month-old civil war drew to a close in Chile, she landed a force of sailors and marines on 28 August to protect the U.S. Consulate at Valparaiso. September brought an end to the war, andSan Franciscoresumed her cruising off the South American coast. With the New Year 1892, she sailed north and west and arrived at Honolulu on 27 February as political differences deepened between monarchists and republicans. Through the spring, friction increased, andSan Francisco,with others of the unofficial international "police force," deterred extreme action. The unrest, complicated by diplomatic maneuvering, continued through the year and was climaxed by the January 1893 revolution.San Francisco,having departed Hawaii, in August 1892, was then en route to Norfolk, where she arrived in February 1893. San Franciscobecame the flagship of the North Atlantic Squadron on 31 May 1893, and cruised off the New England coast into the fall. In November, she sailed south, visited ports in the Caribbean; and, in late December, reached Rio de Janeiro and assumed flagship duties for the South Atlantic Squadron. She called at ports in Brazil, the Netherlands West Indies, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua during the next six months, then returned to the United States, anchoring at New York, on 29 July 1894. After a period at the New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, N.Y., she departed on 30 December, for Newport, R.I., and arrived the next day. After spending the New Years holiday in port, she departed on 10 January 1895, bound for the Mediterranean and the European Station. En route, she called at Horta, Fayal, Azores (19-20 January), and Gibraltar (25 January). Entering the Mediterranean, she spent the next five months showing the flag in the Middle Sea and visiting ports throughout. Returning to Gibraltar on 21 May, she cleared the straits and re-entered the Atlantic en route to Britain. She arrived at Southampton (27 May-7 June), before moving on to Copenhagen, Denmark (10-14 June); Kiel, Germany (15 June-2 July); Kronstadt, Russia (5-11 July), Stockholm, Sweden (13-19 July); and Christiana, Norway (22-24 July), before returning to Britain at Gravesend (27 July-20 August). San Franciscowould go on to visit LeHavre, France (21 August-9 September 1895); Southampton (10-21 September), and Greenock, Scotland (23 September-4 October), before returning to Gibraltar via Lisbon, Portugal (8-19 October), on 20 October. Re-entering the Mediterranean on 21 October, she continued to cruise those waters well into the next year. She conducted target practice off Alexandretta [Iskenderun], Syria [Turkey] (11-14 December), before entering Smyrna [Izmir], Asia Minor [Turkey] where she remained in port from 19 December to 23 March 1896. Resuming operation underway, she cruised the eastern Mediterranean throughout the first half of 1897. Departing Katakolon, Greece, on 2 July, she steamed to Gibraltar, via Tangier, Morocco (8-14 July), and arrived on 14 July. Passing into the Atlantic, two days later, she visited ports throughout western Europe into late September. Departing from Lisbon on 20 September, she re-entered the Mediterranean, and cruised exclusively there through the autumn. The ship arrived at Villefranche, France, on Christmas Eve, and remained in port there through the new year and into January. Departing on 31 January 1898, she visited Genoa, Italy (1-6 February), then passed through the straits at Gibraltar, back out into the Atlantic, raising Lisbon, on 12 February. She would remain there until 15 March, when, as a result of increasing tensions between the U.S. and Spain over Cuba, she was recalled from the European station. San Franciscotouched at Gravesend (18-27 March 1898), then made her transit back across the Atlantic via Halifax, Nova Scotia (11-12 April). She arrived at Tompkinsville [Staten Island], N.Y., on 14 April, then shifted to the New York Navy Yard on 19 April. She remained there undergoing preparations for war. Spain severed diplomatic relations with the U.S. on April 21, and that same day, the U.S. Navy began a blockade of Cuba. Four days later, on 25 April, Congress declared that a state of war between the U.S. and Spain had de facto existed since April 21, the day the blockade of Cuba had begun. Clearing the yard on 30 April, she steamed to Provincetown, Mass. Operating from this location and Boston, Mass.,San Franciscocruised the waters off New England, patrolling for Spanish warships believed to be headed to raid the U.S. coast. With the absence of any real threat in these waters,San Franciscocleared Provincetown, on 26 June, bound for Key West, Fla., and arrived on 1 July. Departing on 7 July, she crossed the Florida straits and joined the U.S. forces blockading Havana, Cuba. Arriving on the 8th, she blockaded this harbor, with the exception of shuttling to Key West (17-23 July), until 4 August. She then shifted to Cardenas and Sagua Island Grande (4-5 August) before returning to Key West (6-11 August). Returning to blockade Havana on 11 August, she remained on that duty only two days, as hostilities ceased on 13 August. She returned to Key West (14-17 August), en route to Hampton Roads. Arriving on 21 August, she remained at the anchorage there, until shifting to the Norfolk Naval Yard, Portsmouth, Va., on 7 October.San Franciscowas subsequently, decommissioned on 25 October 1898. Please also look at the numerous Oregon and Washington RPPC'S I have listed. Please feel free to ask questions. Sold as-is. Shipping is $5.95 here in the states.
Price: 34.95 USD
Location: Wilsonville, Oregon
End Time: 2024-10-26T00:28:15.000Z
Shipping Cost: 5.95 USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Antique: Yes
Photo Type: Albumen Print
Size: 4 x 6 in
Color: Black & White
Image Color: Black & White
Framing: Unframed
Region of Origin: US
Original/Licensed Reprint: Original
Subject: Militaria, Ships, San Francisco, Navy
Modified Item: No
Vintage: Yes
Size Type/Largest Dimension: Medium (Up to 10")
Type: Photograph
Listed By: Dealer or Reseller
Original/Reprint: Original Print
Theme: Americana, Architecture, Celebrities, Cities & Towns, Community Life, Cultures & Ethnicities, History, Militaria, Nautical, Patriotic, People, Western
Time Period Manufactured: 1850-1899
Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
Production Technique: Albumen Print
