USA not interested in selling captured Spanish warships according to the Dutch newspaper De grondwet dated 18 July 1899

Source

An item reported that a firm of shipbrokers active on large scale sent a tender to buy the Reina Mercedes (1) and all other warships captured by the USA during the war with Spain. A suspicion raised that Spain wanted to have her ships back to prevent an USA flag hoisted on board. The Navy Department however was not interested in selling the ships. Secretary Long decided that it had no use to repair the Mercedes as warship while the costs were estimated to be near the 500.000 US dollars. The intention was now minor repairs and repairs and to anchor her just for the show.

Note

Part of the Alfonso XII-class unprotected cruisers. Lauched at Naval shipyard, Cartagena, Spain on 12 September 1887, captured at Cuba by the US Navy on 17 July 1809, commissioned as non self propelled receiving ship under her original name, subsequently also used as detention vessel and barracks ship, decommissioned on 6 November 1957 and sold to be broken up.