[SPANISH?AMERICAN WAR]. Destruction of the US Battleship Maine. Chicago: Kurz & Allison, 1898. Hand-colored stone lithograph depicting the violent explosion of the USS Maine (22 x 27 ??). The Maine was stationed in Havana Harbor during the Cuban War of Independence to protect American interests. On 15 February 1898 a violent explosion tore the ship apart, killing 268 sailors. A later inquiry determined that the ship had been sunk by a mine, and two months after the ship?s sinking the United States declared war on Spain. THIS IS THE RARE LARGE FORMAT LITHOGRAPH. Linen backed. Crease at upper right corner. B+.