American cruiser USS Detroit (C10) ordered to go as fast as possible to Venezuela according to the Dutch newspaper De grondwet dated 12 September 1899

At anchor, circa 1893-1900. U.S. Naval Historical Center NH 54505

An item reported that the American cruiser USS Detroit (1) lying in the harbour of Philadelphia, USA received ordered to depart immediately towards La Guayara, Venezuela probably as the message reporting riots in the Venezuelan interior.(2)

Notes

1. C-10. Part of the Monthomery-class unprotected cruisers, preciedd by Cincinnati-class and succeeded by Columbia-class. Building authorized under an Act of Congress dated 7 September 1882, launched by Columbian Iron Works, Baltimore, Maryland, USA on 28 October 1891, commissioned on 20 July 1893, decommissioned on 1 August 1905, stricken on 12 July 1910 and sold to be broken up on 22 December 1910. With a displacement of 2.128 (standard)-2.271 (full load) tons and as dimensions 269.6 x 37 x 14.7 feet (mean)or 82.14 x 11 x 4.45 metres. The 2 vertical triple expansion reciprocating steam engines supplied 5.400 ihp via 2 screws allowng a speed of 17 knots. Furthermore was she schooner-rigged. Her armour consisted of a 1.1 cm/7/18” thick deck with the conning tower protected by 5.1cm/2” armour. The armament consisted of 2x1 15.2cm.6” 40 cal guns, 8x1-12.7cm/5” cal 40 guns, 6x1-5.2cm/2.2”/6 pd guns, 2x1-3.7cm/1.5” guns, 2 Gatling guns and 3-45cm/18” torpedo tubes.

2. Probably caused by the Venezuelan crisis of 1895, when the United Kingdom claimed the Venezuelan territories Essequibo and Guayana Esequiba as part of British Guiana [nowadays Guyana].