1898: Peggy the Pug, Tom, and the Cat Martyrs of the USS Maine » Fern
Old Tom continued his service with the USS Fern, which was a gunboat built in 1871 by Delamater and Steack of New York City. The ship was based at Key West, Florida to carry mail and supplies to the increasing number of ships which concentrated in the Caribbean as war with Spain threatened.
USS Fern
