USS Chicago ( 1885 ) The first USS " Chicago " ( later CA - 14 ) was a protected cruiser of the United States Navy , the largest of the original three authorized by Congress for the " New Navy " . She was launched on 5 December 1885 by John Roach & Sons of Chester , Pennsylvania , sponsored by Edith Cleborne ( daughter of Navy Medical Director Cuthbert J . Cleborne ) and commissioned on 17 April 1889 , Captain Henry Bellows Robeson in command . Service history . Pre - World War I . On 7 December 1889 , " Chicago " departed Boston for Lisbon , Portugal , arriving on 21 December . The cruiser served in European and Mediterranean waters as the flagship of the Squadron of Evolution until 31 May 1890 , when she sailed from Funchal , Madeira to call at Brazilian and West Indian ports before returning to New York on 29 July . " Chicago " operated along the east coasts of North and South America and in the Caribbean as flagship of the Squadron of Evolution — and later as flagship of the North Atlantic Squadron — until 1893 . After taking part in the International Naval Review in Hampton Roads in April , she left New York on 18 June 1893 to cruise in European and Mediterranean waters as flagship of the European station . During this period the ship was commanded by Alfred Thayer Mahan , already famous as a naval strategist . " Chicago " returned to New York on 20 March 1895 , and was placed out of commission there on 1 May . Recommissioned on 1 December 1898 , " Chicago " made a short cruise in the Caribbean before sailing for the European Station on 18 April . She returned to New York on 27 September and participated in the naval parade and Dewey celebration of 2 October 1899 . " Chicago " sailed from New York on 25 November for an extended cruise , as flagship of the South Atlantic Station until early July 1901 , then as flagship of the European Station . With the squadron , she cruised in northern European , Mediterranean , and Caribbean waters until 1 August 1903 , when she proceeded to Oyster Bay , New York , and the Presidential Review . From 3 December 1903 – 15 August 1904 , " Chicago " was out of commission at Boston undergoing repairs . After operating along the northeast coast , the cruiser departed Newport News on 17 November for Valparaíso , Chile , arriving on 28 December . There , on 1 January 1905 , she relieved the armored cruiser as flagship of the Pacific Squadron and for three years operated off the west coasts of North and South America , in the Caribbean , and to Hawaii . In 1906 , she played a key role in the evacuation of San Francisco during the Great Earthquake and Fire . The removal of 20 , 000 refugees to Tiburon by this ship was unparalleled and unsurpassed until the 1940 evacuation of Dunkirk . On 8 January 1908 , " Chicago " departed San Diego for the east coast and in May joined the Naval Academy Practice Squadron for the summer cruise along the northeast coast until 27 August , when she went into reserve . " Chicago " was recommissioned the next summer ( 14 May - 28 August 1909 ) to operate with the Practice Squadron along the east coast , then returned to Annapolis . On 4 January 1910 , she left the Academy for Boston arriving on 23 January . She then served reserve with the Massachusetts Naval Militia until 12 April 1916 , and with the Pennsylvania Naval Militia from 26 April 1916 – April 1917 . World War I and beyond . On 6 April 1917 , " Chicago " was placed in full commission at Philadelphia and reported to Submarine Force , Atlantic , as flagship . On 10 July 1919 , she departed New York to join Cruiser Division 2 ( CruDiv 2 ) , as flagship in the Pacific . She was reclassified CA - 14 in 1920 and then CL - 14 in 1921 . From December 1919 – September 1923 , she served with SubDiv 14 and as tender at the Submarine Base , Pearl Harbor . " Chicago " was decommissioned at Pearl Harbor on 30 September 1923 ; served as a receiving ship there until 1935 ; renamed Alton on 16 July 1928 and reclassified IX - 5 ; and sold on 15 May 1936 . " Alton " foundered in mid - Pacific in July while being towed from Honolulu to San Francisco .