USS Newark, a 4083-ton protected cruiser, was built at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and commissioned in February 1891. She served in the Atlantic and European waters up to 1897, then commenced an extensive overhaul, which finished in time for her to operate off Cuba during the Spanish-American War. In 1899, she steamed around South America to the Pacific, and then went on to join the Asiatic Squadron.
Newark returned to the east coast by way of the Indian Ocean and Mediterranean in 1901, and commenced five years' duty in the western Atlantic and Caribbean areas. She then was employed as a Naval Militia training ship and as station ship at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Stricken from the Navy List in June 1912, Newark was transferred to the Public Health Service for use as a quarantine ship. During World War I, she was an annex to Naval Hospitals at Newport, Rhode Island, and New York. She was disposed of by sale in September 1926.
Coaling from a schooner, 1898. Though deteriorated, this photo shows an activity that was a frequent, and very dirty, reality of Spanish-American War naval operations.
Copied from the collection of William D. Edwards, by courtesy of Robert W. Edwards, 1974.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
