Embrodiery Silk - Great White Fleet Blog - 1909 United States Navy,U.S.S. Mississippi Tour with the Great White Fleet Souvenir Silk Pillowcase to Antipodes, Hawaii, New Zealand, The South Seas, New Zealand, Australia and United States Flags

This silk pillowcase is in commemoration of the 1909 United States Navy,U.S.S. Mississippi Tour with the Great White Fleet. The tour was to show the power of the emerging strength of the United States and its Navy to be anywhere in the world if they were needed or to defend trading routes.

I do find the USS Mississippi on the list of ships that toured, but they were present at the review on their return as they were welcomed by President Theodore Roosevelt. I am still trying to find old documentation to that effect, for what I have seen in the last 10 years the re-writing of history with no actual period document as proof.

On this pillow case we see the flags of Australia, the United States and New Zealand. It is a printed image, but they have hand painted roses throughout. The image measures 16 x16 inches with entire pillowcase 24 x 24 inches. It is fraying in places but hopefully I can get it fix and preserved for future generations.

I will be posting more information at a later date.

Spanish American War Book Our Naval War with Spain Embossed Hardboard Cover Depicts Battle of Manila Bay With Spine a Rendering of Rough Rider

Spanish American War Book detailing Our Naval War with Spain Embossed Hardboard Cover Depicts Battle of Manila Bay; Spine has a rendering of Teddy Roosevelt in famous Rough Rider pose.

The engraved cover of book depicting the Battle of Manila Bay which at the time was the equivalent of Desert Storm

Spine of book with rendering of the famous Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider pose

Here is a closeup of the Battle scene, it is much better in hand, photo does not depict cover well.

Inside cover of book. End papers show the Cuban flag along side the American flag.

This is the presentation  page if the books was being given to someone. It is done in the art nouveau style that was prevalent when the book came out.

Here we see the title page; it was published in 1898.

1898 United States Cruiser Newark

1898 United States Cruiser San Fransisco

1898 United States Cruiser Cincinnati

1898 Color Lithograph of the United States Torpedo Boat Cushing

1898 Color Lithograph of the United States Battleship Texas

1898 Color Lithograph of the United States Monitor Miantonomoh

1898 Color Lithograph of the United States Battleship Indiana

This is a map that is a supplement to the book. It is so you can find place mentioned in the book on the map. 

On the map is printed the following: 

This very superior map is published exclusively for subscribers to our work entitled War with Spain including Battles on Sea and Land.  This map shows the Island of Cuba, including the Provinces and all the towns. The section in the lower left-hand corner shows the city of Havana, and the exact spot in the harbor where the Maine was blown up.   The section adjoining shows Porto Rico, and in the upper left-hand corner the Philippine Islands.  This map is new and authentic.  It is most valuable help to every reader.

 Here is a closeup of City of Havana and Porto Rico

Another supplement that came with the book is the stone lithography of Admiral Dewey's Great Victory At Manila. The colors are vibrant and bright in this process.

Closeup showing the battle in the Bay of Manila that was the decisive battle that turned the war in our favor with unconditional surrender of Spain.

                

Spanish American War May 7, 1898 Newspaper Article of Men Who Fought With Dewey Who Hailed From Detroit And Michigan with the Last Names Whiteley (Whitely), Hayward, Gast, Bueabien, Pluff, Clydesdale, Long, Forbes, Smith

This news article came out on May 7, 1898 in a newspaper called The Evening.....(don't know if there was more to the name) newspaper, Detroit Michigan. It shows rendering of men that fought in the Battle of Manila Bay that hailed from Detroit or the State of Michigan.

John Henry Whitely[sic]* on the USS Concord

 John Whitely[sic]*, seaman on the Concord, is a Michigan boy.  He was born 18 years ago in Fruitport, Barry County, where his mother lives.  He enlisted at Milwaukee last August, and was sent to receiving ship at the Brooklyn Navy yard.  From there he was assigned to the Concord.

*The letter that he signed and his discharge papers all have his last name spelled Whiteley.

George N. Hayward on the USS Baltimore

George N. Hayward ensign on the Baltimore, now with Dewey's fleet, is a nephew of Mrs John S. Gray, of this and is well know to the Detroit boys, especially the athletics and D. A. C. club men, with whom he played football.  Mr. Hayward's father was the late Captain George W. Hayward of the United States Navy.  The ensign is a graduate of Annapolis, and a thorough athlete. He was captain of  Annapolis football team  during last year at college

Gustav A. Gast on the USS Baltimore

St. Joseph , Mich. May 7.- One of the hero's of the battle of Manila  is Gustav A. Gast, of this town who is a gunner on the U. S. S. Baltimore.  Mr Gast is about 25 years old and enlisted in Uncle Sam's Navy in August, he was placed on the Baltimore as an ordinary seaman while the cruisers was stationed  at the Hawaiian Islands, but in a short time was promoted to a higher position, and later on, still further promoted to the position of gunner.  Gus's  friends in this vicinity are legion and they will be pleased to learn that he still  lives to share in the glory of the greatest naval victory of modern times.

Philip Pluff on the USS Baltimore

Philip Pluff landsman on the cruiser Baltimore, was born in Detroit 20 years ago He attended the Berry and Bellvue schools. He was a pitcher in the school nine for years. He worked at his fathers grocery at 31 Kercheval  Avenue after leaving school.  Last year he went to Brooklyn ,  enlisted and was assigned to the Baltimore He wrote from Hong Kong March 18 to his parents.

Claude Long on the USS McCulloch

Claude Long, the handsomest boy on the  revenue cutter McCulloch which brought the good news from Manila, , was born in  Mason, Mich. 19 years ago.  His father died when he was 4 years old and being only child  and his mother without income, the lad became a newsboy at he age of 7.  He was a member of the New Boy Association Band. Two years ago he enlisted as a bugler on the Fessenden and served one year.  He was employed in the mailing room of the Journal  for a time and re-enlisted  last December  for a six month's trip on the McCulloch.  His mother received a letter from him last Friday dated Colombo, Ceylon, March 26, in which he that he was glad the time was near at hand to  return home.

J. A. Beaubien on the USS McCulloch

Jacob A. Beaubien, an ordinary seaman on the revenue cutter McCulloch,  belongs to the old family of that name in the western part of this city.  He is the son of George Beaubien and was born in Detroit 28 years ago.  After leaving school he worked for his brother, George L. Beaubien, proprietor of the Beaubien Ice Co.,  until four years ago, when he joined the Fessenden.  He was transferred to the McCulloch last January, Beaubien is unmarried.

Fred R. Clydesdale, on the USS Concord
Fred R. Clydesdale seaman resides near Fruitport, Barry County, Mich.  His widowed mother and sister reside there yet.  He enlisted at Milwaukee last summer and was sent to Brooklyn, then ordered to the Concord.

A.M. Forbes on the USS McCulloch
Archibald McDonald Forbes ordinary seaman on the revenue cutter McCulloch, was born in Detroit 19 years ago.  After graduating from the Jefferson school he worked for two years as  an elevator boy in Sparling's dry goods store on Woodward avenue.  At the age of 15, he enlisted on the Fessenden under Capt. Hodgsdon . John Forbes, 391 fourth avenue, a letter carrier, is Archibald's father.


Below are the two Smith Brothers, of Detroit---One With Dewey--One with Sampson.

William Smith On Board the USS Indiana, in Sampson's Squadron

Robert Smith One of the Crew of the USS Concord,  Off   Manila

Xavier F. Smith, a lake engineer, residing at 600 Catherine street, has given two sons to the United States navy--William, aged 26, and Robert aged 22.  They were born in Detroit, were anxious to go to sea from the day  they left school.  The father suggested they learn trades first.  William became a molder and Robert a metal polisher.  Two years ago William enlisted and was assigned to the battleship Indiana in Admiral Sampson's north Atlantic squadron.  Robert enlisted last fall and was assigned to the Concord, now with Dewey's Asiatic squadron near the Philippines,  Mr. Smith received a letter from Key West last Monday in which William states that he is anxious to get tangled up with the Spaniards.  The same day a letter came from Robert dated Hong Kong April 1.  The father is proud of the boys and says they will stand by their guns

Spanish American War Cabinet Card Album - 1898 Photographic Album with Colorful Celluloid Cover Depicting Admiral George Dewey, USN and the Hero of Manila Bay and his Victorious Fleet Depicting Navy Ships USS Olympia, Concord, Baltimore, Raleigh, Boston, Petrel

Rare Celluloid Photographic Album with Admiral George Dewey and his victorious fleet with color rendering of USS Olympia, Concord,Baltimore, Raleigh, Boston and Petrel



In these three photos is the front cover of the photographic album with great rendering of Admiral George Dewey and the ships that fought in the Battle of Manila Bay, his claim to fame. It is hard to get a good picture of this album, for the colors are warmer and brighter.

In the following pictures is the clasp and closeup of clasp

The following photo is of the USS Baltimore as it steams for the Battle of Manila Bay.

The following photo is of the USS Raleigh

The following photo is of the USS Boston firing its guns

The following photo is of the USS Concord. I have listed on my blog a number of documents of an Ordinary Seaman that served on this ship in the Battle of Manila Bay. He even shared in prize money for the capture of two Spanish ships.  There is even a discharge from aboard the USS

Baltimore at New York Navy yard.

The following photo is of the USS Petrel.

The following photo is of the USS Baltimore with its double smokestack

The following photo is of the USS Olympia the flagship of Admiral Dewey

The photo below shows the marbled felt cover that has protected the back for over 100 yrs.  It is in remarkable condition

  This photo below is inside cover with a dedication of the album.  It has space for cabinet cards and CDV which are long gone. 

The following photos are just for your enjoyment.