The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-02-10
THE TENNESSEE.
Grave ApprehensiOns Entertnined ms TO her
Safety-This IL the Vessels First Sen Voyage
The Mystery ms to whv she has nOI been
spoken-The Theory Entertained In Regard
to the Matter.

Safety-This Is the Vessels First Sen VOynge
Mys,srT TS.orO rs TO wn. sne h@s 81 NO, been
to the Matter.
The Washington Patriot of yesterday SAYS:
Members of Congress and visitors to the
Capitol were painfully excited yesterday over a
report that the United States steamer Tennes-
see, which conveyed the commissioners from
New York for San Domingo, had foundered at
sea. and that all on board were lost 1t was
stated that despatch to that effect had been
received in New York, and was buletined at
the Tribune office The report gave no par
ticulars, but simply stated that the vessel had
foundered. Senators and Representatives
gathered in knots in their respective chambers
and discussed the probabilities of the truthful
ness of the rumor, and, while the report seemed
to come direct, no one was willing to believe
the horrible story. A despatch was sent to the
Tribune by Mr. White their correspondent
here, and an answer soon returned that there
was no truth in the report.
So far as can be ascertained the report seems
to have originated in this wise. 1t seems the
following despatch was sent hence to the New
York Tribune on Tuesday night
"The Tennessee sailed three weeks ago with the
san Domingo Commission on board, and some sur
prise is beginning to be felt at not hearing from her
she was not expected to be more than nine or ten
days on the outward voyage, and day longer Would
have carried despatch to Havana the nearest cable
station. Admiral Porter to-day expressed surprise
at not receiving intelligence though he does not ap-
pear anxious. It is hoped, however, that some news
Will be received in day or two"
gentleman in New York, who has son on
board the Tennessee, became excited and anY-
ious, and telegraphed here to know further par
ticulars in such manner as to excite alarm,
and this was the occasion for the report
The report spread from the Capitol up town
and the Navy Department was as matter OF
course, imme diately thought of as the proper
place to which to direct inquiries, and thither
messenger was sent from the White House the
moment the story was heard by the President.
Secretary Robeson had received no information
of any accident, and discredts the whole story.
nfNfa % tIA -
discredits the report; but at the same time it
cannot be denied that there is some cause for
anxiety.
The steamer left New York on the 10th of
January, and 1t was expected that she would
have arrived in seven or eight days at Samana,
where steamer had been ordered to start at
once for Cuba with telegraphic despatch for
Washington. 1t was believed that this telegra-
phic announcement of the arrival of the COM
mission would have reached here about the 25th
of January, yet it is now twenty-five days since
they left New York. and nothing has been heard
of them. The Tennessee started without hay
ing made trial trip, except from Washington
| to New York, after her new engines had been
| put in, and naval men think that some parts of
her machinery have given away.
Other officers say that the delay in not hear
| ing from her is because of the long route she
| took, far eastward of the Bermudas out of the
| line of vessels coming up the coast. These
| officers do not seem to doubt but that she has
already reached her destination at the eastern
| end of the island of San Domingo, but there are
neither telegraphic nor mail facilities at hand to
bring back the quick intelligence.
The Chief Clerk of the Navy Department did
not leave his Office for several hours afler the
regular closing time yesterday, in order that he
might receive any news of the Tennessee which
should be forwarded to the Department but
there was nothing received from any quarter
whatever.
| Something Wrong.
| From the Washington ChrOlicEe, Feb. 8.
Notwithstanding the general disposition to
discredit the report, those who are familiar with
| the distances between the West India Islands
and the means of communication existing
there, say that we should have had intelli-
| gence of the arrival OF the Tennessee on Tues
day last. Their calculation is that it would re-
| Quire about one week for the Tennessee to
reach her destination; and as she left port on
the 10th of January last she was due at San
| Domingo on or about the 23d ultimo. That two
steamers leave San Domingo every month for
Port au Prince, and that the last steamer should
have left there on Tuesday, the I'd instant,
and arrived at Port au Prince about the 9TH
instant. From there communication can be
had with Havana in two days. Therefore If
the news of the arrival of the Tennessee was
sent By the last steamer, it could have been
telegraphed from Havana on Tuesday, the 9TH
instant.
The following despatch was received last
night
i'HAvANA Feb. s.-The United States steamer
Severn, with Admiral Lee on board, arrived to-day
at noon. AL we'll She will sail for Key West"
In his communication 10 Ln6 D6udJ6 Oh 1uCS-
day with reference to San Domingo, the Presl-
dent says Admiral Lee wrote to the Secretary
of the Navy from San Domingo, January IL
1S7l:-"I would like to wait here for the com
mission, but think it best to be near the Cap
tain General of Cuba" Now, as Havana is but
two or three days sail from San Domingo, II
would seem that Admiral Lee waited In the Bay
of Samana until few days since for the arriva
of the commissioners, and that they had mo-
arrived at the time of his departure for Havana
The Tennessee must therefore be delayed some
where between New York and the Bay o
Samana.
The Departure from Port.
The Tennessee, having on board the San DO
mipgo Commission, set sail from this por
Tuesday, January II. The final preparations o
the official party were over early in the day
and at 10 o'clock they were cOngregated in tn
private parlor of Senator Wade at the Asto
House, ready for departure. Leaving shortl
after. they embarked on board the revenu
enters at the foot of Whitehall street, and i
the company of numerous friends steamed ava
for the Tennessee, which was anchored In IN
stream close under the shores OF staten Island
During the short passage down the pay, an
! | after the party was transferred 10 the deck Q
!, | the steamer until the anchor was hnally welghe
for starting all was high spirits and merrlmen
; trial trip of the day before had shown that th
| vessel could make about nine knots an hou
} | so il was ludged she would be about seven day
. | in making the run from New York 70 the lslant
} AS the tug came alongside and Mr.. Wao
: stepped on the deck of the frigate,
3 salute of fifteen guns was fired In homo
. | Of the He followed bV III