Ed Vebell (American, 1921 - 2018) "Dewey At Manilla/Spanish-American War" Signed lower right. Original Acrylic painting on Masonite. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This artwork was originally published on the Fleetwood Commemorative Cover for Epic Events in American History series issued in 1985. Prompted by the Cuban rebellion against Spanish rule and Spain's brutal response to the insurgents, the U.S. battleship Maine was sent to Cuba to protect American lives and interests in January 1898. At 9:40 p.m. on February 15, 1898, two powerful explosions tore apart the battleship, lighting up the night sky of Havana's harbor and killing 260 of its crew. Separate investigations made by Spanish and American authorities differed as to what caused the disaster. Today it is generally accepted that the destruction resulted from an internal explosion. Americans were convinced that the blast was caused by a deliberately-set submarine mine, which had then set off the Maine's forward magazines. Spurred on by the popular slogan, "Remember the Maine! To hell with Spain!" the nation surged toward war. On April 24, Spain declared war on the U.S. and America reciprocated the next day. Admiral George Dewey, on his flagship Olympia, led the American fleet into Manila Harbor on the evening of April 30. The following morning, Dewey attacked, his ships sweeping back and forth across the bay until it had decimated the Spanish fleet. Later in the war, on July 1, 1898, Theodore Roosevelt led his Rough Riders in a fierce charge up Cuba's San Juan Hill to become one of the war's heroes. Hostilities ended on August 12 as Spain realized the hopelessness of continuing the fight. A peace treaty was signed in Paris on December 10 and approved by the U.S. Senate on February 6, 1899, thus ending the Spanish-American War. Image Size: 20 x 21 in. Overall Size: 26.5 x 26.5 in. Unframed. (B06113)