The U.S.S. PRAIRIE, ca.1899

gelatin glass negative

Gelatin glass plate negative of the auxiliary cruiser U.S.S. PRAIRIE (ex-liner EL SOL). Vessel seen from starboard side. G. Gennert photographed the USS PRAIRIE at New York, probably in September 1899.

Although the guns protruding from her side ports identify the USS PRAIRIE as a U.S. Navy vessel, her commercial origins are still apparent. Until April 1898 this was the Morgan Line steamship EL SOL, a regular freight carrier on the run between New York and New Orleans. Launched at Philadelphia by Cramp in 1890, the 404-foot iron ship was built for the Southern Pacific Railroad, which controlled the Morgan Line as the sea link in its service between New York and California.

EL SOL was purchased by the navy early in April 1898 as the Spanish American War appeared imminent. Outfitted with guns, she served off Cuba during the war. After conversion to a destroyer tender in 1917 the PRAIRIE served through World War I before being decommissioned and eliminated from the navy in 1922.