Antonio López (shipwreck) explained

SS Antonio López Shipwreck Site and Remains
Nrhp Type:	nhl
Nearest City:	Dorado, Puerto Rico
Coordinates:	18.48°N -66.2306°W
Built:	1882
Architect:	Antonio López y López, Peter Denny
Designated Nrhp Type:	December 9, 1997^[1]
Added:	February 9, 1994
Refnum:	93001593

Antonio López was a merchant steamship that was built in Scotland in 1882 for the Spanish Compañía Transatlántica Española (CTE). A United States Navy auxiliary cruiser sank her in the Spanish–American War when she was trying to run the US blockade to supply materiél to the Spanish garrison on Puerto Rico. She is now the only known Spanish shipwreck in US waters from the war.^[2] Her wreck site, in of water off Dorado, Puerto Rico, was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1997.

Building

William Denny and Brothers built Antonio López in Dumbarton, Scotland, launching her on November 8, 1881 and completing her in 1882. Her registered length was, her beam was, her depth was and her tonnages were and . She had a single screw, driven by a two-cylinder compound steam engine that was rated at 634 NHP. CTE named her after its founder Antonio López y López, and registered her at Barcelona.^{[3] [4]}

Loss

In June 1898 Antonio Lopez was bound for San Juan, Puerto Rico from Cádiz. On June 28 two US cruisers fought a squadron of Spanish ships comprising one cruiser, two gunboats and Antonio López, which had a cargo of military supplies. pursued and shelled Antonio Lopez, which ran aground at Ensenada Honda.^{[5] [6] [7] [8]}

Claudio López Bru (1853–1925), Antonio López y López' son, then owner and president of the company, sent a telegram to the ship's captain saying:

Es preciso que haga usted llegar el cargamento a Puerto Rico aunque se pierda el barco. (You must get your cargo to Puerto Rico, even if the ship were lost.)

Captain Ramón Acha Caamaño was given charge of salvaging the ship's cargo. His men quickly salved nearly all of it. Only some minor articles and one cannon that had fallen overboard during salvage work were lost.^{[1] [5]}

See also

• Puerto Rican Campaign
• Compañía Transatlántica Española
• Claudio López Bru
• List of United States National Historic Landmarks in United States commonwealths and territories, associated states, and foreign states
• National Register of Historic Places listings in northern Puerto Rico

Notes and References

1. Web site: Antonio Lopez (Shipwreck) . 2007-06-28 . National Historic Landmark summary listing . National Park Service.
2. Web site: NHL nomination for Antonio Lopez (shipwreck) . National Park Service . 2015-11-04.
3. Book: 1897 . Lloyd's Register of British and Foreign Shipping . I–Steamers . London . Lloyd's Register of Shipping . ANT . . September 13, 2022.
4. Web site: Antonio Lopez . Scottish Built Ships . Caledonian Maritime Research Trust . September 13, 2022.
5. Berta Pensado, El Marqués de Comillas (1954)
6. Web site: Rivero Méndez . Ángel . Crónica de la guerra hispano-americana en Puerto Rico . Wikisource . es . 1922 . 162 . June 18, 2022.
7. Web site: }} Heritage of Puerto Rico (U.S. National Park Service) ]. NPS.gov Homepage (U.S. National Park Service) . May 27, 2021 . June 18, 2022.
8. Book: Log of the U.S.S. Yosemite . Press of John F. Eby & Company . 1899 . June 19, 2022 . 158–162.