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Gunboat Photo Archive

Bennington (Gunboat No. 4)

Yorktown Class Gunboat: Laid down in June 1888 at the Delaware River Iron Works, Chester, PA; Launched, 3 June 1890; Commissioned 20 June 1891; Decommissioned, 5 September 1901 at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA; Recommissioned, 2 March 1903; Damaged beyond economical repair by boiler explosion, 21 July 1905 at San Diego, CA.; Decommissioned 31 October 1905; Converted to a barge in 1906; Sold for scrap 14 November 1910.

Specifications: Displacement 1,710 t; Length 244' 5"; Beam 36'; Draft 14'; Speed 14 kts; Complement 197; Armament six-6" breech-loading rifles, two 6-pounders and two 3-pounder rapid firing guns, two Hotchkiss revolving cannon, two Gatling guns; Propulsion steam and sail, two shafts.

Size	Image Description	Source
104k	Photographed circa 1891 by J.S. Johnston, New York City. U.S. Navy photo NH 63248	Naval Historical Center
112k	Photographed in a European harbor, circa 1892-1893, with USS Newark (Cruiser No. 1) alongside. Courtesy of Arrigo Barilli, Bologna, Italy. U.S. Navy photo NH 56381	Naval Historical Center
104k	In drydock at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, circa 1894-98. This photograph was published on a color-tinted postcard by Edward H. Mitchell, San Francisco, California. Courtesy of H.E. ("Ed") Coffer, 1986. U.S. Navy photo NH 100931-KN Photo enhanced by Tom Kermen	Naval Historical Center
68k	c. 1895	Philadelphia Archdiocesan Historical Research Center
77k	At Shanghai, China, on 4 July 1901, dressed with flags in honor of Independence Day. Collection of Chief Boatswain's Mate John E. Lynch, USN. Donated by his son, Robert J. Lynch, in April 2000. U.S. Navy photo NH 102765	Naval Historical Center
180k	Broadside view of Yorktown at Mare Island in the spring of 1903. USS Yorktown (PG 1) is inboard. U.S. Navy photo PG 4 004-10-1905	Original photo: Naval Historical Center Replacement photo: Darryl Baker
70k	Underway in heavy seas, circa 1903-1905. U.S. Navy photo NH 102747	Naval Historical Center
80k	At anchor while serving with the Pacific Squadron in 1904. Donation of John C. Reilly, Jr., 1977. U.S. Navy photo NH 102751	Naval Historical Center
211k	c. 1904 Serving with the Pacific Squadron	Robert M. Cieri
132k	Halftone reproduction of a photograph, showing the ship's starboard side, amidships, as she was beached at San Diego, California, soon after her 21 July 1905 boiler explosion. A disabled six-inch gun is in the center of the image. Donation of Rear Admiral Ammen Farenholt, USN (Medical Corps), November 1931. U.S. Navy photo NH 56383-A	Naval Historical Center
83k	Partially sunk in San Diego harbor, California, after her 21 July 1905 boiler explosion. Donation of William L. Graham, 1977. U.S. Navy photo NH 85694	Naval Historical Center
101k	Salvage party at work on the partially sunken ship, in San Diego harbor, California, after her 21 July 1905 boiler explosion. Donation of William L. Graham, 1977. U.S. Navy photo NH 85695	Naval Historical Center
372k	Postcard Sewards' Post Cards, Los Angeles, CA	Robert M. Cieri
90k	Salvage party at work on the partially sunken ship, in San Diego harbor, California, after her 21 July 1905 boiler explosion. Bennington's National Ensign is flying at half staff. Donation of William L. Graham, 1977. U.S. Navy photo NH 85696	Naval Historical Center
115k	Removing the dead from the ship, following her boiler explosion at San Diego, California, 21 July 1905. Photographed and published on a stereograph card by C.H. Graves, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Courtesy of Commander Donald J. Robinson, USN (MSC), 1979. U.S. Navy photo NH 89081	Naval Historical Center
238k	Bow view of Bennington at Mare Island in the spring of 1903. The USS Yorktown (PG 1) is inboard. U.S. Navy photo PG 4 002-10-1905	Darryl Baker
228k	Stern view of Bennington at Mare Island in the spring of 1903. The USS Yorktown (PG 1) is inboard. U.S. Navy photo PG 4 002-10-1905	Darryl Baker
177k	View of Bennington's main deck looking aft at Mare Island in the spring of 1903. U.S. Navy photo PG 4 004-015-1905	Darryl Baker
238k	View of Bennington's main deck looking forward at Mare Island in the spring of 1903. U.S. Navy photo PG 4 004-016-1905	Darryl Baker
115k	Ships in the Mare Island channel circa 1905 in the foreground are USS Marblehead (C-11) with two stacks and the Gunboat USS Alert with one stack and in the background are Bennington (one stack and three masts) and USS Cincinnati (C-7) (two masts and two stacks). U.S. Navy photo C 11 001-1905	Darryl Baker
257k	Bennington's in Mare Island's Dry Dock No. 1 in May 1905 with USS Dart (YFB 308) and USS Pike (SS 6) forward and the civilian ferry Vallejo aft. U.S. Navy photo PG 4 001-5-1905	Darryl Baker
116k	21 July 1905 Broadside view of Bennington in Mare Island channel. U.S. Navy photo PG 4 001-7-1905	Darryl Baker
292k	23 August 1905 Stern view of Bennington in Dry Dock No. 1 at Mare Island. U.S. Navy photo PG 4 517-8-1905	Darryl Baker
238k	23 August 1905 Port bow view of Bennington in Dry Dock No. 1 at Mare Island. U.S. Navy photo PG 4 515-8-1905	Darryl Baker
287k	23 August 1905 Damaged bow of Bennington in Dry Dock No. 1 at Mare Island. Bennington's bow was damaged in a collision with the Protected Cruiser USS Chicago. U.S. Navy photo PG 4 001-8-1905	Darryl Baker
179k	26 August 1905 Damaged bow of Bennington in Dry Dock No. 1 at Mare Island. Bennington's bow was damaged in a collision with the Protected Cruiser USS Chicago. U.S. Navy photo PG 4 001-8-1905	Darryl Baker
154k	12 September 1906 Bow view of the decommissioned Bennington at Mare Island showing her boilers being removed. Note that her forward port gun has been removed. U.S. Navy photo PG 4 729-9-1906	Darryl Baker
215k	31 October 1906 Bow view of the decommissioned Bennington at Mare Island. U.S. Navy photo PG 4 568-10-1906	Darryl Baker
141k	The barge Bennington at Honolulu. U.S. Navy photo Honolulu 1912 - 1924	Darryl Baker
206k	Postcard showing various scenes. The most important aspect of this view is that is shows (in upper left) a photo of Gunner's Mate John Henry Turpin (1876-1962) who was a survivor of two historical explosions; aboard the USS Maine in Havana Harbor, Cuba on 15 February 1898 and the Bennington in San Diego Bay on 21 July 1905. © 1905 by Special View Co., 326 Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA	Robert M. Cieri
107k	USS Bennington Monument, San Diego, California. Ceremonies dedicating the monument at Fort Rosecrans, overlooking San Diego harbor, 7 January 1908. It was erected in memory of the Navy personnel who lost their lives in the boiler explosion on board USS Bennington (Gunboat 4) at San Diego on 21 July 1905. North Island and Coronado are in the left background. A cruiser of the St. Louis class is at right. Photographed by Norton-Bennette, 820 Fifth St., San Diego. Collection of Lieutenant Commander Abraham DeSomer, donated by Myles DeSomer, 1975. U.S. Navy photo NH 82136	Naval Historical Center
165k	Bennington Monument Dedication Ceremony on 7 January 1908. Contains most of Admiral Goodrich's address Photo by S. Sutcliffe, San Diego, CA	Robert M. Cieri
321k	c. 1910 Bennington Monument at Point Loma, CA	Robert M. Cieri
114k	Bennington Monument shaft, Bennington National Cemetery, San Diego, California Photograph taken circa the 1940s or 1950s. This monument was erected as a memorial to the men lost in the 21 July 1905 boiler explosion on board USS Bennington (Gunboat 4) at San Diego. Donation of H.E. ("Ed") Coffer. U.S. Navy photo NH 102773	Naval Historical Center