The New York herald., 1871-02-15
THE TENNESSEE.
4 Steam Erigate Seen or the Ncrth-
west End OF Hayti.
The Navy Departments opinion Of the
SttamSr Reported.
gosros, Feb. IA, 1871.


as at present. it Is baseo upon careful comparison
OF, and almost inevitable deductions from ro facts
In the case 10 generally recognized as established
truth. For several days the public ntind has been
Kept IN perfect fever Of anxiety by the thousand
ana one contradictory statements regarding her
safety, and the wives ana chiiaren OF the more than
twice one hundred souls on board have been alter
nately tortured by fear aud inspired by hope at
the reception OF what purported to 30 authentic
tldin0s from their husbands aud fathers upon
the sea.
The highly Important nature OF the mission upOn
Which fhe vessel was bound, no less than the
distinguished character OF her living freight CON-
bined to render her safety matter OF grave impor
lance; ana the assured tiaiGgS Of its existence,
which are placed before tho millions Of readers OF
the HERALD this moraiog, viii convey balm to many
wounded heart and restore peace to the minds OF
hundreds OF s0rr9wing ones, AS is wen known tho
great majority OF families OF the st. Domingo voya.
gers are resiuens In the Northern States Two OF
tbe Commissioners were appointed from tho North
one Of thein--Dr. Howe--having household LII this
city. The conandant OF the vessel ,ct his lie and
childreu behind him IN Portsmouth, n. H., and the
crew generally are recruited from New England;
therefore II is that there has been perhaps deeper
degree OF anxiety felt in Boston In regard to the
matter than in other portions or the United States
The Tennessee, 1t VIII be remembered sailed
from New York narbor at about fonr O'clock on the
afternoon OF Tuesday. january II, on voyage
which had Tor tts ultimate destination the city OF ST.
Domingo. Her mission and its obec. arc 100 vel,
known TO incur the necessity Of detailing them
here: sulce 1t 10 state that the ST. Domingo CON-
MISSION were influenced IN the choice OF their dest.
nation by desire first, 10 ply their respects to the
authorities Of the island before fulnEg the pUr-
poses OF thelr a3pointnenS Much anxiety has
hitherto been felt with regard TO her where
about5. IL beng Known that she was scve-
lai days overdue at that poTt, and IL was not
until to-day that definite and authentic assurances
we've obtained. Al an early hour this morning the
British bark Mary Baker, from Mirag0ans, St Do
mingo, was slgnalled or the harbor, and under the
tow OF tugDoaS proceeded on her way into port.
Soon SHE was boarded hy the Custom House autho.
rltles ana 1t was through their medium that ru-
mols Of the news which she had brought found
their way about town. The anxiety In the cCy, |
although not widely spread, was intense In its na-
ture and great feeling was manifested in tho nope
OF obtaining further particulars.
When the vessel arrived in the stream and almost !
before she had dropped anchor she was boarded BY
one OF the HERALD correspondents who had au in.
terview with her commander, Captain Hodgskius,
who stated that he sailed from Mirsgoane, St. Do
mingo on the 27th OF January last ana when
one day out he passed within about three miles
or very long, large full-rgged steamship,
which was most Enthusiastically an American
man-of-war. She was III longitude west, seventy I
three degrees twenty minutes, and latitude north !
twenty degrees, and was steering about west |
northwest. She appeared TO have out
from ST. Nicolas Mole, ana was evidently head
Ing toward tue southern coast OF Cuba. When
first seen she was steamlng along slowly aud lei
surely, but shesubsequently sci her sails and
Ilnued more rapidly in the direction already speci
fed. Captain Hodgskns says he did not hail the
steamer. nor were any signals whatever shown on
the man-ol-war; he OF course, knew nothing about
the mission OF the Tennessee, and was therefore
ignorant OF the fact that there was prevailing
alarm concerning her safety While positive that
she must be the steamer from which tldngs arc 50
anMously awaited he says that he Is unable to |
give more than very general description. |
Her extreme length Impressed him but be |
did not notice her guns particularly or observe that
she had four mammoth smokestacks. 81. Nicolas |
Mole, from whence she appeared to COME Is OF the
northwest extremity OF the island or Hsyti. From I
the fact that the strange steamer seemed to be tnS
ing her time and no signals were displayed Captain |
L. very senslbiy reasons that everything was
all right, and he has no doubt bur her safe arrival
Will soon be reported. He reports unexceptionably
fine weather. and argues rom this that those on
board were lesurely enjoying themselves IN looking
around the 81. Domingo island The captain had an
Interview with the deputy collector at about the
same time as with the HERALD reporter, and the |
substance or his story elegraphod 20 Secretary
Boutwell, ana also to the Secretary or the Navy aud
the intelligence was afterwards officially prsmul |
gated throughout the country.
The Reception of the Hepaft in Washingfsu. !
WASHINGTON, Feb. ID, 1871.
Much JOY was occasioned at the Capitol to-day by I
the statement OF Representative Randall that lie
had read at the Treasury Department a despatch |
from the Collector Of Customs at Boston to tho effect
that British bark at tat port briugs intelligence OF
having spoken the Tennessee OF the western part OF
St. Domingo Island. in the wipdward channel.
Opinion of the Navy Department of thp
steamer Repcrtca. /
WASHINGTON, Feb. II. 1871.
Prompt inquiry at the Navy Department upon the
receipt here OF the telegram announcing that the I
stenmey Tennessee had been sighted on the 2sth OF
January, met response which seems TO indicate that
the British captain who reports having sighted ves
sci answering The description OF Tie rig OF tue Ten.
nesse was right II his conclusions chat such
was tncvessel observed. The probable whereabouts
Of other United states men.oc-war IN service In the
Galf OF Mexico Is considered In forming this eati-
mate. The only two steamers Of the United States
Navy similarly ri2ged 10 the Tennessee in the Gulf
are the Severn, Admiral Lees nagshtp, and the
Congress, both Of which, though somewhat smaller,
lave resemblance TO the Tennessee. The latest
reports to the department almost pyec!ude the idea
that the steamer sgnalled on the 2sth could be
esttes OF those Steamers. The Seeern arrived at
Kingston on the Gotta, and was Still there on the
2Sth. The Congress was at Key West on the 24tn,
and the probabilities were strongly III favor Of her
remaining there for sor1o rlme. Tue Yanilc, Nan
tasset aud Swasara, all rnuca smaller aud differ I
entity rgged from the tennessee, are cruising about
ST. Domingo, out II Is hardly probable that either of
then, could nave been mistaken for the Tennessee.
The hates; Washington OpiaiSu.
wAsuiNGToE, Feb. IA. ISL
The impression at tire Executive Mansion tnts |