The New York herald., 1870-01-08
NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
Voyage OF the Monitor Dictator 70 Key
West-Ahairs at the Maraucsas IsIands-
Naval Movements in Cuban Waters.

West-AunAru nj the m0rQucsae Assunus-
Naval Movements i'm Cuban Waterr.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 7, 1870.
Rear Admiral G. II. Poor informs the Navy Depart
ment unaer date OF December 20 on Key West, that
the Severn, his flagship, IN company with the mont
tor Dictator lefs Tybee Roads on Monday, December
20, for Key West Al first they mad clear weather
and smooth wafer, the Dictator under the favorable
circumstances, steaming seven knots easily. The
men were able TO be about deck without any neon
venience. The next day the wind blew strong from
tae southeast freshening gradually until heavy sea
commenced which made constant breaches over the
decks OF the monitor the spray yng AZ high as the
turret gallery. The men were unable to show them
selves The monitor was apparently making about
iour Knots an hour. The Severn was not able to
Keep up more than steerage way. and when she
ptcneu " brought the propelefB out OF water. The
engines raced 70 such an extent and the propeers
struck the water so f0rciby that there was great
danger Of giving way. AID the snip was hauled TO
under canvas. The monitor was enabled to hold
least twelve miles the eeward OF her at dayignG
During the gale and most OF the passage iL would
pave peen impossible 10 communicate with or render
any assis!ance 70 the monitor as boat could not
possibly have approached nef nor could any one
with safety have stood on her deck. AS we ap-
Grated and we availed ourselves OF the
opportunity of taking the Dictator in tow.
lached her towing tackle we were enabled to tow
slx knots with sail and steam on the Severn and
steam on the Dictator; eight knots could not he OBJ
tanned. Much Dad weather was encountered going
and coming; heavy norther on the way up ana q
s0utherly gale returning with heavy sea- More than
half the time II any ACCIDENT had happened to the
monitor we could have done nothing except lay by
her until the weather moderated. My experience Is
thas monitors should not be sent to unless moder
ate winds and pleasant weather could be relied on.
When IN the neighDOrhood Of SOmbler0 the hawser
was cast on aud the monitor came I'm unaided,
arriving few hours after the Severn.
Commander w. T. TruXtOn OF the United States
snip Jamestown, writes 20 the Navy Department
Group under date Of september 80 last that he
arrived there the 26th OF that month, thirty
six days from Panama An attempt is being made
by company Of Engiisnmen to grow sea island
cotton on that island and grant or several thou
sand acres OF land mad been made by the French
government certain French citizens In Tanitl who
temporarily vacated their claims to the English CON-
pany. very limited amount Of cotton, sugar cane
and tobacco is now produced by the natives. Com
mander 1ruXtOn encl0Ses specimen OF The cotton
produced by the company. Five hundred acres
have been enclosed and planted. The plantation is
situated In Sipl bay There Is trade ut this pace;
even the wnalers have entirely given up. NO sup
plies are to be had; even wood and water 1t is DIM
cult to get Since the French evacuated the place
In 1850 1t seems 10 be failing into decay.
The Department mas been officially informed OF
the loss OF the steatug Maria with four OF her crew.
In the entrance westward OF Vineyard sound on the
night OF the attn inst ny collision with the iron-cad
Miantonomoh, produced by The bursting Of the
Maria's blowplpe and the unsealing Of her blow
valve.
Rear Admiral Poor writes TO the Department from
Key West December ~, that lie had received IRON
Lue Uult6u otdtee CONSul Cenerdi At HAVANA slip
cut from newspaper IN that city relating TO the
arrival OF the Spanish frigate Navas de rooto. The
number OF troops brought by her. added 10 those
already on the island, make the Total 1854. The
Consul General says there foreign ncn-of-
at Havana and there is nothing new IN the political
situation.
United States Vessels MT Boston Preparing for
the Arrival Of George Pcabosly,s Rcaaains.
BOSTON, Jan. Z, 1870.
There are in this port to-day the United States
douole-turreted monitors Mlantonomoh and Terror
and the corvette Alaska. These vessels are being
made ready TO act as guard Of to the Peabody
funeral eet due about the 18th of January at Port
land Me-, and win fire Fifteen inch" minute guns
during the cercmonles To her Majesty's Monarch
Will be assigned the post OF honor, while the United
States steamer Plymouth and the other ships OF
war will follow In line. Tne ensigns will lie DIS
played at half mast III conjunction with the British
fags The marines and crews VIII be drawn up In
dirges aud heavy booming will be fired at the time
OF the Decentralization aud transfer Of the remains
to the authorities Of the State OF Name deiega-
tion of the officers Will accompany the funeral escort
The 0rhcers Of the Miantonom0h are:-Com-
mander Shufeldt; Lieutenant Commanders Corn
Dickinson; PayInaster, woodruff; Cnlei Engineer,
Zeiger; Lieutenants Newell, Berry; Masters. Judd,
Dayton, Ingersoll; Assistant Engineers Burnap,
Cline Ford BreaKen, Mntzer, Wooster; Mates, An.
derson. Henderson.
The officers OF the Terror Commander, Raw
SON. Lieutenant % Commanders, Nichols, Barker;
Derby; Surgeon Scolleld Assistant Surgeon, scott;
PayInaster, Tuttle; Chief Engineer Kellogg; ASSIST.
ant Engineers, Koop, Greene, Kelley, Hannum,
Ross; Mates, Greene Kuhi, Cleveland.
the officers OF the Alaska are:-Commander,
Blake; Lieutenant Commanders Chester, Row and;
Lieutenant, snow; Ensgns Brown. Chipp, Forse,
Latta; Paymaster, CIark Engineers, King, Cooper.