USS Galena ( 1880 ) " Galena " departed Hampton Roads December 19 , 1880 and reached Gibraltar January 12 , 1881 . She cruised between the ports of France , Spain , Portugal , Turkey , Greece , along the coast of Africa and to the Canary , Cape Verde and Madeira Islands . On April 7 , 1881 she arrived at Chios , in the Aegean Sea and remained until April 15 helping to relieve the distress caused by a severe earthquake . Her surgeon went ashore to treat the injured ; her crew furnished work parties to help clear the rubble ; and her steam launch moved relief supplies . Another mission began June 10 , 1882 when she reached Alexandria , Egypt , to embark American citizens and personnel of the American Consulate for protection aboard during a rebellion . An Italian ship was chartered as a haven for about 135 refugees until June 27 when Admiral James W . Nicholson arrived in to relieve " Galena " . " Galena " departed Alexandria July 11 , 1882 for operations along the eastern seaboard of South America out of Rio de Janeiro . From October 19 , 1882 to January 31 , 1883 she was the flagship of Rear Admiral Peirce Crosby , commanding American Naval Forces in the South Atlantic . She arrived at New York City September 10 , 1883 to serve in the North Atlantic along the eastern seaboard and throughout the Caribbean to the shores of Aspinwall , Colombia ( now Colón , Panama ) . This included station duty at Key West ( May 1 , – August 16 , 1884 ) to prevent illegal filibuster ing expeditions from the United States to Cuba . 1885 – 1889 . Another special service began March 11 , 1885 when she arrived at Aspinwall from New Orleans during a serious revolution that threatened to interrupt traffic over the Isthmus of Panama . On March 30 , 1885 after a party of revolutionists had seized the Pacific Mail Line steamer " Colon " , " Galena " regained the steamer and returned her the same day . The next day " Galena " ' s landing force went ashore to save a part of the town of Colon which had been set afire by the revolutionists . The landing force saved a part of the town and all the property of the Pacific Mail Company . On April 10 Admiral Jouett arrived in and with a force of 600 sailors and marines , assisted by " Galena " , kept the Isthmus open to crossing travelers and enforced treaty obligations until order was restored in May . " Galena " departed Colon June 9 and reached Portsmouth , New Hampshire , June 26 , 1885 to begin several months cruising along the eastern seaboard . " Galena " returned to Colombian waters November 27 , 1885 for service in the Caribbean . She visited St . Andrew Island 114 miles east of the Nicaraguan coast February 14 , 1886 to investigate the detention of American steamer " City of Mexico " . Finding that United States neutrality laws had been violated by the steamer , " Galena " seized " City of Mexico " and sailed her under a prize crew to Key West where the steamer was turned over to the United States Marshals Service . " Galena " returned to New York May 23 , 1886 to join the squadron in battle practice along the New England coast . She then sailed to the Newfoundland fishing banks and back . She departed Portsmouth , New Hampshire , December 15 , 1886 to cruise among ports of the West Indies and off Colombia until April 18 , 1887 . " Galena " returned north in time to participate in ceremonies for the unveiling of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument at New Haven , Connecticut , June 14 . After a cruise that took her to Halifax , Quebec , Montreal , and Habitants Bay , " Galena " arrived at the Philadelphia Navy Yard September 12 , 1887 to join other ships of the US Navy in celebrating the centennial of the adoption of the Constitution of the United States . Target practice in Gardner ' s Bay , New York , was followed by repairs in the Norfolk Navy Yard until April 9 , 1888 . " Galena " then cruised with her squadron along the eastern seaboard and the Gulf Coast visiting New Orleans , Louisiana ; Mobile , Alabama ; and Port Royal , South Carolina . From August 18 to September 15 , 1888 she watched over political disturbances at Port - au - Prince , Haiti , then proceeded back to New York . " Galena " departed New York December 12 , 1888 as flagship of Rear Admiral Stephen B . Luce , Commander in Chief , North Atlantic Station , and reached Port - au - Prince December 20 . Here , the American steamer " Haytien Republic " , seized by Haitian authorities for alleged violation of the blockade , was surrendered to the force under Admiral Luce . 1889 – 1892 . " Galena " arrived in Key West , January 19 , 1889 . Here , on February 16 Rear Admiral Bancroft Gherardi relieved Admiral Luce as Commander in Chief , North Atlantic Station , and broke his flag in " Galena " . She sailed the following day for Haitian waters and then returned to New York May 29 . Admiral Gherardi transferred his flag to on June 15 . After repairs at New York , " Galena " arrived at Cap - Haïtien September 6 , 1889 and relieved " Kearsarge " as flagship . At the island of Navassa October 6 , she took on board nine ring - leaders of a riot , then proceeded to Baltimore , Maryland , where they were turned over to the custody of the United States Marshal October 25 . She repaired at the New York Navy Yard , then sailed December 3 to serve once more as Admiral Gherardi ' s flagship out of Key West in a series of cruises to waters of Haiti ; She was relieved as flagship by while at St . Nicholas Mole February 14 , 1890 and departed Key West May 25 for calls at Port Royal and Charleston , South Carolina before arriving New York Navy Yard July 1 . She decommissioned July 23 , 1890 and remained there until March 12 , 1891 when she was towed by tug USS " Nina " toward the Portsmouth Navy Yard , to be fitted with new boilers . The following day , both ships ran aground on a beach about a mile south of Gay Head , Martha ' s Vineyard , Massachusetts . Salvaged under a contract to the Boston Tow Boat Company , " Galena " arrived at the Portsmouth Navy Yard April 6 , 1891 . However , it was decided that repairs would be too costly . " Galena " was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on February 29 , 1892 and was sold to E . J . Butler of Arlington , Massachusetts on May 9 . References . photo gallery at the Naval Historical center