Famous Battleship Wreck Listing

  For many, there is something hauntingly attractive about the history and state of shipwrecks. Besides the Titanic, no type of ship besides warships captures the errie feeligns or fate and death like that of a battleship or carrier sitting on the bottom of the sea. No images like those of the empty and silent hulks resting underwater demand one imagine the fate and story she needs told. Below I've linked some amazing sites, concerning some even more amazing stories for the legacies and status of some of the most famous ships ever to sink beneath the waves. I've tried to pick some interesting ones from each of the more prominant countries to participate in the World Wars. Anyone interested should make sure they contact the site holders and creates to express appreciation and help donate to keep those sites and stories alive. Please enjoy.

    Let's start with the famous battle and battleship Bismarck which has inspired film and book fans alikes for decades. As most know, the Bismarck was discovered by the famous Robert Ballard and is one of the more amazing wrecks due to her condition and upright position. She went down and lost at least 2,100 likely young men. Only around a hundred escaped. The best site for further can be located here.

Still awe inspiring Bismarck wreck

Keeping with that famous fight, the next battleship with a history that never stops giving and a fate that is equally sad. The  HMS Hood was the pride of the Royal navy for years, and ended in spectactulare disaster with one of the more momentous sinkings ever. Sailing with a full crew, here end at the hands of the Bismarck she exploded and went down with all hands minus 3 lucky sailers. Over 1400 braves souls lost in practically an instant. Amazing site can be found here.

Bow of the HMS Hood

   Moving to another nation with a mighty battleship is the Imperial Japanese Navy and their goliath. Most know that the largest battleship ever afloat belongs to the sister ships Yamato and Musashi with the former believed being slightly bigger. The IJN Yamato was truly a beast of war, named after a province of Japan. During her final suicidal voyage she was at least hit by elevent torpedoes and six bombs before finally sinking taking with her over 2,000 crew members. Located in pieces, here is a site detailing her historic and current fate.

Diorama displaying the mighty shipwreck

   Opposing the famous Japanese behemoth was the air power of the United States Navy, and that air power was projected by the stream of carriers American sent West after Pearl Harbor. One of those is the famous USS Yorktown or specifically the USS Yorktown (CV-5) who gave as much as she got during the Pacific War. Named after the famous battle of Yorktown ending the Revolution, she went into the battle of Midway with 65 planes ready for action. Finished off by a Japanese sub, she rolled and sank



Sleeping Carrier

   Reversing time, we step back to the preceding conflict and find the French Battleship Danton. A relic of the first World War, this ship was lost to us for practically a century before being located only in the last few years. The Danton was sunk from a German U-boat in 1917. Here are some of the few pictures and representations of the wreck as she sits today. Almost 300 men went down with the ship, including the captain by choice. Reportedly she hlies in "remarkable condition". If only there were more interest and photos of her!


One of the few images we have

         There are countless more .. .but just a few that I wanted to toss up.

Hiram Cook: Serving under James Madison as Commander and Chief then voting for Teddy Roosevelt?

  "Nothing can happen more beautiful than death. " ~ Walt Whitman

 
   For most if not all Americans today the name of Hiram Cronk isn't familiar. For most Americans living during the turn of both the 19th and 20th centuries the name likewise wouldn't register either. Yet the name of Hiram Cronk, in its own unique and special way, connect Americans living now as well as in 1800 and 1900. Hiram Cronk is known to history as the nations last surviving veteran of the War of 1812, commonly called the second American War of Independence. While serving in a conflict that is largely forgotten, his name is largely lost to history outside obscure archival records books.

   Others have relayed much of his life, I only serve to reflect again hopefully some due attention onto the man and his life. Born in Frankfort New York in April of 1800, Cronk took his first breath to a country of 16 states and John Adams in its presidency. The young Cronk was born into a population of only 5,000,000 souls and while playing in those early years heard debates over the wisdom of the Louisiana purchase. Not yet 15, he enlisted and fought alongside his two brothers and father in August 1814, two weeks before the country's capital would be set ablaze by the British. Napoleon was not finished fighting and King George III still sat on the throne of England. Serving and training around Lake Ontario, the young man endured the wrath of the Royal Navy during the bombardment of Sackett's Harbor later that year. Quietly being mustered out of service just weeks after that, he must have thought this to be his life's high moment of fame.

    After returning home and settling down as a Shoe maker, (also at some point working on the Erie Canal) Cronk married in 1825 to his wife of sixty years Mary Thornton. He first voted for Andrew Jackson and continued voting along that party line until after Grover Cleveland. During those years he earned a pension around $10 per month before a few increases later in his life. Some detail of those years can be found in this article. Known well in New York, it was near the end of his life that he became a national figure as it became known that he was the last surviving link and soldier from that era and conflict. The New York Times among other media outlets began following him closely near the later years of his life. In an April article  from 1901 reporting on his 101st birthday the story informs us that he's in very good health, even appearing as if only 75 years old. The only ailments mentioned are near deafness and the recently needed use for glasses and some battles with insomnia. A story in 1902 ominously declaring in the headline 'Veteren of 1812 Dying' we find him still doing well although beginning to show signs of decline 2 years later we find him living with his surviving daughter, sleeping much more, and sadly seemingly struggling to keep up with the mortgage on his old farm. In an article from CHRISTmas eve 1904 the Pittsburg Press declares that his life is "ebbing away" in an article that informs us that the state and governments have and are making grand preparations for the expected funeral in the near future. Just a few months later in May 1905, the tired body of Hiram Cronk gave out and he entered his place in history. The country he left now had over 80,000,000 souls and 29 states were added during his lifetime.

   He was living in Ava New York at the time. There is little more than a worn marker in the area today. Stories from the country detailed his funeral arrangements which included full military honors and the crowds (Est. 50,000+)stopped all traffic on the Brooklyn Bridge as his body was lying in state in NY City Hall. Over 10,000 people passed during the noon hour alone. The casket was escorted by his surviving children. Following his burial in Cypress Hills cemetery there was some minor legal issues over his will, and even talk of a monument being erected to his memory. Amazingly, here is video footage of the funeral procession. It's one thing to read about the length and time frame involved in this mans life, it's another to have the footage to view. Try to let that sink in for a second. We have video of a man (granted his funeral) who fought in the War of 1812 ... now that's pretty fantastic. The video link is below.

   Lastly, I just wanted to link a couple stories concerning a bit of the legacy of those involved in War of 1812. From these two stories we can stretch out the timeline even further as we can read that in 1923 there were still 41 widows of veterans receiving pensions. Interestingly it also tells us that there were still 57 veterans of the Mexican American War alive and that the last widow receiving a pension from the Revolutionary war only died in 1906 just months after Cronk.  By 1931 only nine remained yet alive. Closing out this chapter in history we see that the last widow passed away in June of 1938! The mind just has to jump over some hard coded logic nerves to force that to register. RIP Mr Cronk! Almost 200 years after you fought for your country, and over a century after your passing ... there are those who still salute the name of Hiram Cronk. This simple post is meant as simply that. 

The questions of history: An amateur analysis of an artifact to a history buff

Thinking of that propeller underneath the ship

                Recently I was able to purchase a small coin that was minted with the purpose to raise funds for the historic ship USS Olympia. The metal used in the coin minting was taken from a propeller off the vessel itself.  Thinking about how this small coin makes its impression on me. The basis for this being something other than just a small piece of metal versus something that has great significance to me is a matter of questions and knowledge.  Every child learns the 5 ‘W’s and 1 ‘H’ that form our foundation for learning questions. Without realizing it, what makes an artifact trash to one person but treasure to another, is just a matter of questions and knowledge.  Without delving into philosophy, an artifact is unique to every individual.

USS Olympic Coin

                Concerning this coin, the breakdown is simple. What is this coin, or specifically what is this coin from. As mentioned, the coin was created from the propeller of a United States naval ship named the USS Olympia. That means that where the Olympic went, this metal, also traveled. Which leads to the question of where. Where has this coin been? Well besides the forge and mint, we know that in its prior life it sailed the world, and at a crucial point it was under the waves in Manila harbor. The crucial point is another important ‘W’ representing when. When is answered with a number, 1898. In 1898 this coin was part of navel engagement during the Spanish-American War. Holding this in my hand flashes through me a connection to the time, the place, and the event that nothing read nor viewed can reproduce. This little coin was at, was part of, and was there when this mighty event took place. In presence it served as witness to all that happened.  From the explosion of the Maine, to the declaring of war, to the squadron fight in the harbor, to Admiral Dewey ordering maneuvers of his flagship, to the steersmen turning the wheel, altering the speed that propeller, to this same metal resting in my palm. 

    All connect in a line, which continued to change right up to the date I received it in the mail. The other question terminology only branch out the connections this small coin brings even further. Who has impacted the history of this clump of brass? William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, Admiral Dewey, and now myself. Only the acknowledgment and excitement of history can bridge those together. Asking why only further broadens the social and historical processes. Why was the coin fashioned? Why was the Olympic famous? The last wordage is the ‘H’ in ‘how’. How did the coin come to the previous owner? How many miles has this brass traveled in one form or another? Knowing the answers to all these questions is what makes this coin more than just a coin. The answers to those questions are what make this cease to be a piece of metal and become an artifact unique to me. 

    On a side note, the historic cruiser is in dire need for funding as it seems threatened to be be scrapped if a permanent solution can not be found for the upkeep of this historic vessel. I can't understand how the federal government doesn't have this ship on a historic mooring somewhere due to it's place in history. Please make donations to the current site of the ship in Philadelphia. 

USS Olympia today