New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-02-13
THE STEAMER TENNESSEE.
NO NEWS YET AT THE NAVY DEPARTMENT
LILY IKLEGRAPM TO TIE TRIBuNEl

IBY TELEGRAPH TO TiIB TRBUNKl
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12.-The anxiety for the
safety Of the Tennessee is increasing here and specula
lions in regard to her safety heard everywhere
telegram was received from Philadelphia last evening
stating that the captain Of the W. H. Anderson had passed.
on Jan. 49, large barlrggcd man-of steamer, sup
posed 10 be the Tennessee and relief was fot at
thinking that she safe the third day after her de-
parture. This was short lived, however, as IL was
announced by naval officer that the Tennessee
brgrigged. No anxiety is yet acknowledged at tho
Navy Department by the President 1t is said that
the stories that the Tennessee unseaworthy are en-
tircly grouudlcss Her commander not directed, as
has been reported 70 send the OF her arrival mme
datey TO the cable station and there has "A yet
been news either of the ports she expected
to make since she due at them. The probabilities
that vessel going to San Domingo would not be
spoken by any vessel coming north rs the formers
would be out in mdoeean, in order to avoid the
Gulf Stream, while the latter would go into the stream
HISTORY OF THE VEssEL-TIIE PROBABILITY OF
HER sAFETY-LIsT OF THE OFFICERS.
The Tennessee-formerly the Madawaska-
was built az the Brooklyn Navy Yard In 1sG36l, under
the superintendent of b. f. Deano Naval Constructor
and intended for battery Of ten heavy guns Her
frame contains 1000 cubic feet Of live oak and 00O OF
white oak In every part OF her hull she was second
to vessel in the United states Navy. The machinery
was designed by John Ericsson and was built at the
Novelty LION Works. she had originally eiglt DOlerS
and boilers TOOK too much
four OF the latter removed year ago. Moth
ing has been done Ia the machinery except under The d
rcc0n Of Mr. Ericsson and no material alterations have
been made III It, AT the present time the Tennessee u
sccOudratc corvette and registers 2j5 tunS car
rying batter OF lS o-ineh, ii-nee, ana TO- irr
center OF effort is far forward TO render her an easy
vessel IN sea-way. She is comparatively slow saler
ana steans bnt moderately wen 10y no means comns UP
10 the speed promised by tho designer OF her engines.
In 1857 she made an cXperm1ntIl trla mp ana ~as
wind which thoroughly tested her sea-going qlalities
blown swaS and she Iaborc heavily yet She stood the
ordeal remarkably well, did not leak, and was pro
spar dcc has been built her which materially adds to
her strength and safety She ) lbo go rect in length
ON saturday The TRIBUNE naval reporter called upon
Admiral strinsham. Commanders Brane Harmony
Chandler Chei-EngEetr Sewaii ana others, and from
them learned that In their opinion no anxiety need be
lei the sotg Of the ienneaCe or four OF I'VE days
come All reports regarding the un5cawOrhiucss o
the vessel and OF engineers refusing 10 go out
in her are without adequate foundation IN fact
The stories Of naval officers refusing to sail In the
no fact mat the fa6Is OF ore ofhcGr' who had
been married only few days, asked that he might
thn Navv Dcnortment Another asked to lie relieved
as his father his deatl-bed. This request
etofeuenfS are ALLEGED TO have been made bv r. H.
Dickcrsou, wcl,uOWn engineer, almost charging the
authorities with Wiltul uurtcr IN sending the ship 10
Suc ST tciucuts are worthy of no credence as il is well
known that Mr.. Dickerson has grudgc against any
thing emanatng from. the Navy Department, especially
That tie Tennessee may he lost is Of course possible
but If il will not he owing to any fau Of those who
built ed her ont Her officers are capable in every
pact and each department on board Is presided over
| by men of tried professional character.
Admiral Strineham says that Captain Temple informed
him that nc intended TO through the Mona Passage
which "a strait between The Islands OF Hayt and Porto
Rico and that Commissioner Ben Wade minated that
vessel might possibly stop at port previous to going
70 SANTANA Bay This fact alone is OF some value III
Gonlrrvdl of the Tennessee at SANTANA Bay. One the
DRY is that she may have encountered gale and been
obliged 10 lay 20 for several days nder press OF steam
keeping head to the wind and sea. aud that in that time
she may have consumed considerable Goals, and been
| va. in light winds, afier the gate broke aud
nasts the side, ard some Of the wreck NAV have
ouied her screw and disabled IT. Had such an accident
beflen her she might drit for days without meeting "a
Tr mort of Cant r. H. G. Drumrnond OF the bark W
T. Anderson, arrived at Philadelphia from Prussia,
stating that hc sure he saw the Tennessee In gale
Jan ~ for a' tho Irssa he s.w was barEyiSgeg;
Tennessee Is shipigGed II is indeed possible that
the wind at y. Z. her port quarter and under close
reccd tupsai that griped," and that 90 her
the uZZ"n topa fured 20 that az distance or in
thick may weather she might be mistaken for u
bari rigr"d vessel But this seems Improbable.
FOR if she was near enough Tor capt Dummond To be
Il the Tennessee he could have been certain
whether she ship OF bark rugged The vessel he saw
the North American squadron, or Spanish cruiser Tie
United states has no brkrggcd Of large tunmge
Tde following letter from the well-lnown house of
Spoforl Bros CO. OF this city, who are engaged IN The
san Domingo trade, gives probable soIhtI0h 81 The
Teune ssec'- not being heard from:
To the razor Of IHe ITtOUnf.
which The alb
Of foo the Steamship enle We would request sou 20
sat. through uIa tLa unless zeal vessel j..
DISPATCHED to Domingo. which barl, possible
As the distance pscr urs Hampton Roads Il
vo ID almost impossible h,r arrival before the 18th
inst ghel nail de this port, bringing
OF by the spsl,h and Dominican mai steamer.
news from San Domingo Cty l)ih, tins be-
ING tie OIiy communicate With that place,
e-nt touching there the 20 and
arriving Havana Oh. 9Th Tie steamship fybee from Sau
25i We shs IN all probability ta"n
sai before OF the Domingo
Bios. Co.
Ner. York SATURDAY Feb. TO- 1871.
This letter contains substance, the general opinion
OF tle minority the naval officers at this station none
OF whom have as yet any uneasiness about The safety
OF the Tennessee.
POLITICAL.