City of Washington

Built in 1877, this vessel measured 320 feet in length, had a beam of 38 feet, and featured three decks capable of accommodating 400 passengers and crew members. Originally equipped with a compound surface condensing engine, it later received an upgrade in 1889 to a more powerful triple expansion steam engine. The ship was also rigged as a hermaphrodite brigantine, characterized by a square-rigged foremast and a fore-and-aft rigged mainsail. Pirates favored this style because it required fewer crew members to operate. In non-pirate contexts, this rigging was advantageous for efficient sailing. Combining engine power and sails, the vessel achieved impressive speed, completing the journey from New York to Havana in just 73 hours. Unlike many other ships that met their demise on Florida’s reefs, this vessel enjoyed a lengthy and illustrious career. It shuttled cargo and passengers between New York, Cuba, Mexico, and Panama. In 1898, it played a significant role during the Spanish-American War when the USS Maine exploded near it in Havana Harbor. The vessel, along with the Alfonso XII, rescued 100 crew members from the burning USS Maine. Its dining salon even served as a temporary hospital for the injured sailors. This incident fueled public outrage, leading Congress to declare war on Spain. During the war, the City of Washington, hired by the US Army Quartermaster Department, transported troops and supplies from April to September 1898. After military service, the vessel resumed its civilian duties until retirement in 1908. In 1911, it was repurposed as a coal barge, marking the end of its glory days. On July 10, 1917, tragedy struck when it and the Seneca foundered on Elbow Reef while being towed by the Luckenback 4. Although the other two vessels were refloated, this one sank within minutes—a swift conclusion to its years of navigating treacherous waters and Florida Keys reefs.