The New York herald., 1871-02-10
THE TENNE SEE.
Description of the Ship and Her
Fitness for Sea.
Reasons Why She Should Not
Yet be Heard From.

WASHINGTON. Feb. Q, IsT1,
As there seems to be some uneaslness about the
steamship Tennessee, with tine 81 Domingo Com!
mission board. short description OF the vessel
and the opinion OF high naval authority here con.
cernlng her viii be OF interest to the public The
Tennessee was formerly the Madawasca, and was
built as fast ship 10 overtake the swift blockade
runners. She went on her trial trip unier the COM
mand Of Commander Rowe, on January "a,
1867. she went as far as the Gulf Streamt
ana was out about six and a half days, during
four days of which she was IN series OF hurricanee
and heavy blows had all her sails blown out OF the
bolt ropes and her hull was subjected to a severe
test; she made no water, however, but shipped
good many seas, beng too low In the water ana ad
open-decked ship. Her engine performed WELL and
she made sixteen knots with all her boilers and
thirteen knots with her man boilers wnicn she
now has in her. She had on her late equipment
spar deck put on her ana light bulwark above ity
which very much strengthens her; gave hef
ample accommodation fOr her officers and
crew, ana would, in gale. keep the water
from coming on board. 1t was found on hex
trial trip in 1857 that she was not properly spared
ana this defect was renedied by changing the posi-.
ton OF ner masts and giving her more sail. sn@
was very strong shea. with nve-oak frame, and
douby strengt ened by putting the spar deck on
her, therefore there Is to apprehend that
any serious accident may have happened to hert
She may have broken some parts OF ner machinery
and been 0Dli ged to MAKE her Way under SAIL which
she might accomplish In about sixteen days. She
intended to stop at Sanana Bay. where they would
likely he detained tive or six days coallng ship, as
there very poor facilities FOR getting coal on board
II she steamed all the way out twotnirds Of
the time she would likely have head winds. Her
engines were not doing very well when she left thd
aa an wa npf ktnU mr. Than akUhE
knots while, with the same boilers, as appears By
Commander Rowes report she made thirteen IN
smooth water and ten anu hall In head sea ana
head wind. She carried about twelve days coal.
moderate steaming, and AS tue commander may
nave anticipated trouble IN gettIns coal, and Al
there was no great necessity for haste, as the ex
petition could not get back until Congress ad-
Journed, he may have concluded to get along under
sail alone. The distance from New York u
Samana Bay Is about sixten hundred miles,
which, at seven knots an nour on direct
course, would make los miles day, and thus u
would take at the least nine days to make the voy.
age. Five uays at Samana, two days at ST. Domingo
City and six days to havana, supposing steamef
was ready to go right OF aud carry the news
and twenty-five DAYS Is the shortest time she could
be heard from under favorable circumstances. IL
is now twenty-five days since she sailed and II there
should happen TO be no steamer stopping at 81
Domingo City, or If tue steamer should stop at otheI
ports to take Ii passengers and mails IT would be
some days later before the tennessee could be heard
FROM certainly not before the 16ch OF this month.
On the whole, there seems TO be ground for aP
prehensIon nor no real foundation for the rumon
that prevail concerning her.
Reports Srom Havana.
HAVANA, Feb. Q, ISL.
Nothing has been heard Of the Tenne see with the
ST. Domingo Commissioners on board. Inquired
are making all points in communication with
Havana by telegraph
DESPATCH To THE NAVY DEPARTMENT..
The Navy Department has received the following
despatch from the telegraph operator at Havans,
dated to- day. ~
cannot trace the report OF the loss OF the Tennest
see TO any reliable source and believe 1t TO De an
idle hoax. Our papers have not attended to the
rumors. ~
IL. 49,