Sinking of the Merrimac June, 3, 1898

[GeneralLucas]

I found this period print still in the frame it was put in of the sinking of the Merrimac under command of Lt. R. P. Hobson who later recieved the Medal of Honor in 1933 for his action. He later became a Admiral. This took place at Santiago De Cuba and Hobson was taken as a POW.

[GeneralLucas]

2.

[aerialbridge]

Great lithograph in its original hard-wood frame. If you want to enjoy it and see it every day, I'd hang it where it doesn't get direct sun. From wiki on the sinking of the Merrimac-

 

Merrimac was built by Swan & Hunter shipyard as SS Solveig in Wallsend, England, in November 1894. She was purchased by the US Navy in April 1898. Rear Admiral William T. Sampson ordered her to be sunk as a blockship at the entrance of Santiago Harbor, Cuba, in an attempt to trap the Spanish fleet in the harbor. On the night of 2–3 June 1898, eight volunteers attempted to execute this mission, but Merrimac's steering gear was disabled by the fire of Spanish land-based howitzers. The American steamer was later sunk by the combined gunfire and the torpedoes of the protected cruiser Vizcaya,^[1] the unprotected cruiser Reina Mercedes, and the destroyer Pluton^[2] without obstructing the harbor entrance. Her crewmen were rescued by the Spanish and made prisoners-of-war.^[3] After the Battle of Santiago de Cuba destroyed the Spanish fleet a month later, the men were released. All eight were awarded Medals of Honor for their part in the mission.^[4]

 

 

No Sampson Medals to the Merrimac crew, but 8 MOH's is pretty amazing. Here's a short Youtube of a dive on the sunken Merrimac-

 

 

RADM Richmond P. Hobson (note Naval Constructor sleeve insignia)

 

[GeneralLucas]

Excellent further information.......