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BELAYING PIN
FROM THE USS LANCASTER: Recently acquired from
an old collection in California, an original Belaying
Pin from the U.S.S. Lancaster. The USS Lancaster’s keel
was laid in 1857 and she was built by the Philadelphia
Navy Yard. She made her first cruise to the Pacific
Station and during the Civil War she was the flag ship
of the Pacific Fleet. In 1879 and 1880 the Lancaster
was reconditioned at Portsmouth, New Hampshire and was
then sent to the European Station as the flagship.
During the Spanish American War she was Admiral Remey’s
flagship in Key West. The USS Lancaster was the last US
Navy sailing vessel to serve in combat. Belaying pins
were standard fittings on all sailing vessels. Set in
racks along the rail of the ship on the upper decks,
these pins were used to tie off, or “belay” the rigging
lines that controlled the set of the ship’s sails.
During combat between ships at sea, these pins were
employed as clubs by the boarding parties and were in
practice, one of the primary small arms of the naval
forces.
This pin measures
15.5” long, 1 5/8” diameter at the head, and 1.25” in
diameter at the base. The pin appears to be made of
pine and the wood is in remarkable condition, with no
splits or cracks and showing only minor signs of wear
and handling. There is wear evident to the grain in the
waist of the head of the pin where the rigging lines
would have worn against the wood.
Affixed to the pin is
a paper label measuring 3.5” by 2”, identifying the
original source of this item. Printed on the label is a
facsimile of the Spanish American War Veterans medal and
the following legend:
“HEADQUARTERS;
COMMODORE STOCKTON CAMP No. 4; DEPT. OF CAL.; UNITED
SPANISH WAR VETERANS; STOCKTON, CAL.”
Below this printed
legend, is typed the following text:
“U.S.S.
LANCASTER; Relic belaying pin from last USN sailing
ship to see combat service, 1898.”
Prior to being affixed
to the belaying pin, the label was embossed with the
impression of the document seal of the Commodore
Stockton Camp No. 4, Department of California. The
characters of this seal are still legible under
magnification. The label is fully legible as you
can view in the attached photographs. The label
shows the appropriate age one would expect on such a
piece. $575 |
