Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-02-13
The san Domingo Commission.

The san DOmhuSO NOHnhsstOus
Nearly all the newspapers discuss the "proba.
bic loss" of the steam frigate Tennessee, on
which the San Domingo commissioners en-
barked; and doubt of the seaworthiness of that
vessel has been expressed in congress, coupled,
however, with a fierce attack on the navy de-
partment. The Tennessee has not been heard
from, 1t is said, therefore, she must have been
lost at sea. All this seems to us quite prema-
ture. 1t is not yet time to hear from the San
Domingo commissioners, who, no doubt, are,
lust now, busily engaged In their work on the
island. There is no direct communication be-
tween the United States and San Domingo, by
means Of which their arrival could be reported
previous to the middle or latter part of this
month. They can not send telegraphic dis.
patches, for the nearest telegraph station is at
Havana, and the sailing distance between THAI
place and San Domingo City is nearly 500
miles, and opportunities to communicate with
Havana are uncertain.
The Tennessee may have gone to the bottom
with all on board; but, if so, it is not yet time
to have her non-arrival at San Domingo report
ed. There was stormy weather on the coast
after she left. Doubtless she had rough
voyage, but she is described as an excellent
sea boat" and, being new and strong, she could
safely encounter heavier storuls than she is like
ly to have felt since she left New York. Proba-
bly, the Tennessee was more than nine days on
the passage to San Domingo; and, after her
arrival at SANTANA, week or more would pass
before she would reach San Domingo City,
where an immediate report to the government
would be imposs ible, She had on board, besides
her officers and crew, the commissioners and
their attaches, scientific men connected with the
expedition, and respectable corps of newspa.
perreporters. 1t may not be smiss to give
list of her passengers.
The commission consists of Hon. B. F. Wade
President Andrew D. White, and DIR. Samuel G.
Howe, with Allen A, Burton as secretary, and
Frederick Douglass as assistant secretary The
scientific men connected with the commission
are Prof. ". P. Blake, mineralogist; Prof Parry,
of the agricultural department, as botanist;
Prof. Newcomb of Cornell university, general
naturalist; Prof Ward of the University of
Rochester, geologist; Hon. George Geddes, pres
ident of the New York agricultural society, and
an assistant mineralogist from Yale, and an as.
sislant botanist and mineralogist from Harvard
college. There are, also, Gen. Sigel, Prof c. F.
Cram of Cornell, and son of Frederick Doug
lass.
The newspaper men in the company are Gen.
H. Y. Boynton of Washington who represents
the associated press; Arthur Shepard of Wash
ington, c. C. Fulton of Baltimore, Mr.. Jacobs Of
Cincinnati, and H. W Hurlburt, H j. Rams.
dell, and Charles F. Hart, representing New
York papers These gentlemen must feel con.
siderable embarrassment, in San Domingo, where
OF reporting promptly. They are not accustom-
ed TO serve as reporters under such crcum-
stances, and may as well devote themselves to
writing books on San Domingo and the Domini.
cans. They would, doubtless, do this much bet.
ter than most Englishmen have written on
America. But we shall hear from them, after o
time, although they have no regular postal com
munication with the United States, and are
some 800 miles away from the nearest telegraph
office.
The Tennessee is commanded by Captain
William G. Temple; and her chief engineer is
David H. Macomb. The executive officer is
Lieutenant Commander George W. Haywood
Four other lieutenants are included in the ships
company: Charles S. Cotton, George F. Wilde,
6. D. L. Gliddon, and S. w. Graham. The sur
geon is James McMasters, and there are two as
sistant surgeons. The frigate was very com
pletely equipped and manned; and she carries
twenty-five heavy guns.