page_title: SS City of New York (1888)
section_title: Spanish–American War
hierarchical_section_title: SS City of New York (1888) / Service history / Spanish–American War
caption_attribution_description: English: The steamship City of New York This is a portrait of the third ship with the name ‘City of New York’. She was built by J &amp; G Thomson, Glasgow in 1888 for the Inman Line. The distinctive black funnels with a broad white band are clearly visible. She was a 10,499 gross ton vessel with a clipper stem and three masts, with accommodation for over 1,000 passengers. She left Liverpool on her maiden voyage for Queenstown and New York. By 1893 she was transferred to American Line renamed ‘New York’ and put under the US flag. She is shown flying the American flag so this painting may date to this period. In 1922 she left New York for the last time for the American Black Sea Line on a voyage to Naples and Constantinople where she was sold at auction by order of the US government, and was scrapped at Genoa in 1923. Throughout her life, her name changed four times from the ‘City of New York’ to ‘New York’ ‘Harvard’ and finally ‘Plattsburg’. The painting is signed ‘H. McKlown’ The steamship 'City of New York'
context_page_description: City of New York was a British built passenger liner of the Inman Line that was designed to be the largest and fastest liner on the Atlantic. When she entered service in August 1888, she was the first twin screw express liner and while she did not achieve the westbound Blue Riband, she ultimately held the eastbound record from August 1892 to May 1893 at a speed of 20.11 knots. City of New York and her sister City of Paris are considered especially beautiful ships and throughout their careers were rivals to the White Star Teutonic and Majestic. In February 1893, the Inman Line was merged into the American Line and by act of Congress, the renamed New York was transferred to the US flag. Beginning in the mid-1890s, New York and Paris were paired with St Louis and St Paul to form one of the premier Atlantic services. New York continued with the American Line until 1920 and was broken for scrap in 1923. She served the US Navy as Harvard during the Spanish–American War and Plattsburg in World War I. She is also remembered for nearly colliding with the RMS Titanic as the latter ship began her doomed maiden voyage in 1912.
context_section_description: At the outbreak of the Spanish–American War, City of New York was chartered as an auxiliary cruiser with a civilian crew, commissioning on 26 April 1898 at New York, Captain C. S. Cotton in command and renamed Harvard. Assigned as a scout, Harvard departed New York on 30 April to cruise West Indian waters in search of the Spanish fleet.  After sending back several reports on the location of Spanish units in the Caribbean, Harvard was blockaded by a larger force at Saint-Pierre, Martinique from 11–17 May, after which she proceeded to Santiago de Cuba and St. Nicholas Mole, Haiti, with dispatches from Commodore Winfield Scott Schley.  Interrupting her scouting duties, Harvard returned to Newport News, Virginia, 7–26 June during which time her crew was officially taken into the Naval Service.
  Harvard returned to the Caribbean with troops and supplies, arriving at Altares, Cuba, about 1 July. After Rear Admiral William T. Sampson's victory at the victory off Santiago, she rescued survivors. Despite the high surf and ammunition explosions from the stricken Spanish ships, Harvard succeeded in recovering over 600 officers and men.
  On 4 July 1898, the 9th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry were guarding the prisoners of war inside Harvard. A guard ordered a prisoner, who was attempting to cross the line, to return. The prisoner did not understand English and the guard fired a shot causing other prisoners to stand up. Fearing the prisoners were about to attack, the guards opened fire, killing six prisoners and wounding thirteen more. After the investigation, it was concluded that it was a mistake. The tragedy was known as "Harvard Incident".
  No longer needed as a scout in the Caribbean, Harvard was sent back to the United States 10 July 1898. She was temporarily turned over to the War Department, and returned to Santiago de Cuba to transport troops back to the United States.  Harvard arrived at New York on 27 August and decommissioned 2 September 1898 at New York Navy Yard.
  In 1901 she underwent a rebuild and was fitted with triple expansion engines, her funnels reduced from three to two, and her size increased to 10,798 tons.
caption: The steamship City of New York after her rebuild in 1901
exif: {}