USS Baltimore ( C - 3 ) The fourth USS " Baltimore " ( C - 3 ) ( later CM - 1 ) was a United States Navy cruiser , the second protected cruiser to be built by an American yard . Like the previous one , , the design was commissioned from the British company of W . Armstrong , Mitchell , and Company of Newcastle . She was launched on 6 October 1888 by William Cramp and Sons Ship and Engine Building Company , in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , sponsored by Mrs . Theodore D . Wilson , wife of Chief Constructor Theodore D . Wilson ; and commissioned on 7 January 1890 , with Captain W . S . Schley in command . Service history . Pre - Spanish - American War . " Baltimore " became the flagship of the North Atlantic Squadron on 24 May 1890 , and , from 15 – 23 August , conveyed the remains of the late Captain John Ericsson from New York City to Stockholm , Sweden . Captain Pilot Joseph Henderson one of the oldest pilots in the service piloted the Balimore to sea . After cruising in European and Mediterranean waters with the European Squadron , she arrived at Valparaíso , Chile on 7 April 1891 to join the Pacific Squadron . She protected American citizens during the Chile revolution and landing men at Valparaíso on 28 August . Her activities in Chile around this time became known as the " Baltimore " Crisis . Arriving at the Mare Island Navy Yard on 5 January 1892 , she cruised on the west coast of the U . S . until 7 October and then returned to the Atlantic . She took part in the naval rendezvous and review in Hampton Roads during March and April 1893 before the World ’ s Columbian Exposition . Proceeding via the Suez Canal , she cruised as flagship of the Asiatic Station from 22 December 1893 – 3 December 1895 , protecting American interests . Returning to Mare Island on 21 January 1896 , she went out of commission on 17 February . Spanish - American War . Recommissioned on 12 October 1897 , " Baltimore " sailed on 20 October for the Hawaiian Islands and remained there from 7 November 1897 – 25 March 1898 . She then joined Commodore George Dewey ' s squadron at Hong Kong on 22 April . The squadron sailed from Mirs Bay , China on 27 April for the Philippines , and on the morning of 1 May entered Manila Bay and destroyed the Spanish fleet stationed there . " Baltimore " was second in line behind . In the Battle of Manila Bay , the " Baltimore " was commanded by future rear admiral Nehemiah Dyer , who had served with Farragut at Mobile Bay . " Baltimore " remained in the Philippines on the Asiatic Station as the Spanish - American War transitioned into the Philippine - American War , convoying transports and protecting American interests until 23 May 1900 , when she sailed for the United States , via the Suez Canal , arriving at New York on 8 September . In one instance , just before the outbreak of the Philippine - American War , the " Baltimore " sailed for Iloilo City accompanying troops whose mission was the occupy the city before General Martin Delgado ' s forces , loosely part of Emilio Aquinaldo ' s Philippine Revolutionary Army , could do so . When the American forces arrived , Gen . Delgardo already occupied the city in the name of the Federal State of the Visayas . After several weeks of a tense but peaceful stand - off , American troops and ships , including the " Baltimore " withdrew to Manila without landing on either Panay or Guimaras islands . Pre - World War I . Between 27 September 1900 – 6 May 1903 , " Baltimore " was out of commission at New York Navy Yard . From 5 August – 23 December , she served with the Caribbean Squadron , North Atlantic Fleet , taking part in summer maneuvers off the coast of Maine , in the Presidential Review at Oyster Bay , New York ( 15 – 17 August ) , and in Santo Domingo waters . From 28 May - 26 August 1904 , she was attached to the European Squadron and cruised in the Mediterranean . On 26 September , she sailed from Genoa , Italy , for the Asiatic Station and spent the next two years cruising in Asiatic , Philippine , and Australian waters . " Baltimore " returned to New York on 24 April 1907 and went out of commission at New York Navy Yard on 15 May . On 20 January 1911 , she was placed in commission in reserve and served as a receiving ship at Charleston Navy Yard ( 30 January 1911 – 20 September 1912 ) . From 1913 – 1914 , she was converted to a minelayer at the Charleston Navy Yard and recommissioned on 8 March 1915 . From 1915 – 1918 , she carried out mining experiments and operations in Chesapeake Bay and along the Atlantic coast . World War I . At the time of the American entry into World War I , " Baltimore " was training personnel . Early in March 1918 , she was detailed to assist in laying a deep mine field off the north coast of Ireland in the North Channel . She arrived at the Clyde on 8 March , and , from 13 April – 2 May , laid approximately 900 mines in the North Channel . On 2 June , she joined Mine Squadron 1 at Inverness , Scotland , and for four months participated in laying the North Sea Mine Barrage between the Orkneys and Norway by : On 28 September , " Baltimore " sailed from Scapa Flow , Orkney Islands back to the U . S . She carried out mining experiments in the vicinity of the Virgin Islands until the end of the year . Inter - war period . In September 1919 , she joined the Pacific Fleet , received the designation CM - 1 , and remained on the west coast until January 1921 . She then proceeded to Pearl Harbor , where she was subsequently placed out of commission on 15 September 1922 . She then served as a receiving ship at Pearl Harbor , and was present during the Japanese attack there on 7 December 1941 . She was sold for scrapping on 16 February 1942 .