#USS MAINE

[ltwilliammowett]

Tom, the ship's cat, in the mess with his mates, early 20th century, unknown ship

In 1898, an explosion sank USS Maine in Havana Harbor, killing 266 men. Tom, the "Senior Cat of the Navy," became a national celebrity after being found in the Maine's wreckage. He had singed fur and a wounded foot but quickly resumed his rat catching duties on another ship.

[lonestarbattleship]

"Gunner's Gang", photographed in one of the torpedo rooms onboard USS MAINE (ACR-1).

Date: 1895-97

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command: NH 50183

[thelittle-dude]

School project! Create propaganda! I cannot stop thinking about British men.

[admiralnelsoniii]

Remember the Maine!

[theexodvs]

Even if Spain was responsible for the destruction of the USS Maine (it wasn't), the Spanish-American War was worse.

Pearl Harbor was bad. Nagasaki and Hiroshima were worse.

The policies Allende would have implemented would have been bad. The US installing Pinochet was worse.

What David Koresh did was bad. What the FBI did in response was worse.

9/11 was bad. The War on Terror is worse.

Many of the things Sadaam did were bad. Bush's lies about WMDs, and the war these lies justified, were worse.

What Hamas did was bad. What the IDF is doing in response is worse.

This isn't hard, people.

[todaysdocument]

 "Tell Admiral Maine blown up and destroyed . . . “ 

Telegram to the Secretary of the Navy, February 15, 1898. 

Record Group 45: Naval Records Collection of the Office of Naval Records and Library

Series: Area Files

File Unit: 11-15 February 1898

Transcription: 

The Western Union Telegraph Company

RECEIVED at Corcoran Bldg, S.E. Cor. 15th & F Sts., Washington, D.C.

  8C0 0 PR GVT  51 Collect Gvt   Via Jax. 213 AM.

Key West Fla Feb 15-98

Sec-Nav. Washn D.C.

Sigsbee wires " Tell Admiral Maine blown up and destroyed Send lightHouse Tenders Many killed and wounded Dont send War vessel if others available"

  I have sent Erecssen to Sicard with sigsbee's dispatch about disaster Mangrove getting up steam to go over shall I also send Fern?

       Forsythe.

[rabbitcruiser]

The battleship USS Maine exploded and sank in Havana harbor in Cuba, killing 274, on February 15, 1898. This event leads the United States to declare war on Spain.  

Remember the Maine Day

Today we remember the Maine, the American battleship that  blew up on today's date in 1898 while anchored in Havana Harbor.  Commanded by Captain Charles G. Sigsbee, it was one of the first  American battleships, cost more than $2 million to build, and weighed  more than 6,000 tons. Ostensibly, its mission in the harbor was  friendly, but its real purpose was to protect American lives and  property. Cuba was in the midst of rebelling from Spain, and as Cuba  sought its independence, it was believed that a full-blown war could  break out at any time. The United States had also long had its eye on  Cuba, hoping to expand its influence there and in the region.

About 350 crew members were aboard the ship on that fateful Tuesday evening. Shortly after 9 p.m., the ship's bugler, C.H. Newton,  blew taps. Around 9:40 p.m., an explosion rocked the boat. A second,  massive explosion followed, and broke apart the bow, throwing debris  over 200 feet into the air. The ship quickly sank, and approximately 266  of the ship's crew perished.

The American press immediately started pointing to an external  explosion—either by a mine or torpedo—at the hands of Spain as the cause  of the ship's demise. In March, the U.S. Naval Court of Inquiry  determined that a mine had caused the explosion, but they didn't  directly blame Spain for it. Although there wasn't enough evidence to  prove that Spain blew up the ship, the American public and members of  Congress ignored this, and put blame on them, and then called for war.  "Remember the Maine" became the war cry.

On April 25, 1898, the United States formally declared war against  Spain. By August, the United States was victorious and an armistice was  signed. The war officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris  on December 10, 1898. Spain relinquished the Philippines, Puerto Rico,  and Guam to the United States. Cuba soon gained independence, but the  United States maintained a powerful influence there.

Ultimately, the cause of the explosion of the Maine is still  inconclusive. Some still believe Spain was to blame. In 1976, Adm.  Hyman Rickover of the U.S. Navy began an investigation into the cause.  The results showed that the explosion came from within the ship, likely  from a coal bunker fire. Most people agree with this assessment.

Various locations hold events for the day. A service is held at the Battleship Maine  Monument in Davenport Park in Bangor, Maine, where the shield and  scrolls recovered from the shop are located. Beginning in 2011, a group  started holding an "all-day patriotic pub crawl through historic Boston"  where participants attempt "to drink at least 266 beverages as a  festive commemoration of the 266 brave men who died on the USS Maine on  February 15, 1898, in Havana Harbor as a result of Spanish treachery."  Patriotic costumes are worn, and those who don't know the story of the Maine  are educated and encouraged to join in on the festivities. New York has  also participated in some years, and organizers have also allowed  virtual participation, so those who don't live in those cities can still  take part in a drink-filled remembering of the Maine.

How to Observe Remember the Maine Day

Here are a few ideas on how to remember the Maine:

Attend the ceremony held at the Battleship Maine Monument in Bangor, Maine. Veterans organize the event, but anyone can attend.

Visit the USS Maine National Monument in New York City or the USS Maine Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery.

Visit the Monument to Victims of the Maine in Havana, Cuba.

Attend the Remember the Maine Day patriotic pub crawl in Boston. The pub crawl has also taken place in New York City. According to the event's Facebook page,  2020 is the last year it is being held. In the past, those who can't  make it to Boston have been encouraged to celebrate virtually. If you  can't get to Boston, or if the event is no longer being held, you could  also hold your own Remember the Maine patriotic pub crawl in your community. Dress up in patriotic garb and hit the town!

View photos of and related to the Maine.

Watch a documentary about the Spanish-American War, such as Crucible of Empire: The Spanish-American War or The Spanish American War: First Intervention.

Read a book about the Maine. 

Source

[susiestamps]

US 1998 32¢ Remember the Maine

[mckinleygirl98]

HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAH WHART!?>?>

[histrorybygosh]

USS Maine

[iusedtousemyrealname]

REMEMBER THE MAINE

Today is the day to remember the USS Maine!

[lonestarbattleship]

USS MAINE (ACR-1) at anchor.

Date: 1898

source, source

[haaaaaaaaaaaave-you-met-ted]

Star Trek: The Next Generation - USS Enterprise-D Main Engineering Concept Art by Andrew Probert

[pyaari-naari]

Kink: Listening to him talk about his day and his problems while running my fingers through his hair.

[mothmans-cumrag]

HEY QUICK QUESTION DID I MENTION MY DAD WAS CRAZY?

BC HE GOT ME FUCKING THE REAL ACTUAL PLAYMOBIL ENTERPRISE FOR MY BIRTHDAY AND WTF FIRST OF ALL THAT WAS LIKE 500€ AND SECONDLY AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH

[bewakulfi]

online friendships ars so bittersweet