The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-02-14
THE TENNESSEE.
SpecuIati0pH ms to Her Fnte-NavnI Officers
Believe Her safe.

luaL bOm6 aCClU6ub uds udppCucu W bu6
steamer Tennessee seems to be the conviction
of many persons; and yet, when pressed for the
reasons for such serious apprehensions the
causes assigned are as numerous as the inquiries.
When taken together they amount to this-
First, that the Tennessee has been out twenty
seven days, without having been heard from or
seen by any passing vessel, which, in itself, is
not sufficiently unusual to warrant the feeling
which prevails; second, a want of confidence In
the administration of our naval affairsIgeneraly;
and third, painful rumors that neither the YES
sci itself nor her machinery were such as should
have been selected for such trip.
On Friday the President is said to have stated
that, although little nervous on Thursday, he
did not then, after hearing General Babcock's
views, feel at all alarmed.
Being asked what General Babcocks views
were, he said: General Babcock says he has
made two trips to San Domingo; and that owing
to missing the connection with the steamers,
that leave there once month for New York, it
may be ten days more before news of the Ten
nessee comes back. hope to hear by Sunday
of her safe arrival"
The Tennessee's engines were inquired about.
Some said they had a fair trial in sail from
New York to Washington, and others said not,
but all agreed that her chief engineer officer
was superior man for the place, and would
work the machinery through if it could be
worked at all.
At the Capitol the feeling was not as conf
dent, and fears that the Tennessee was lost were
openly expressed.
On Saturday the President telegraphed to
Admiral Lee, directing him to despatch vessel
to San Domingo in quest of the Tennessee or of
information of her. This is construed as an
indication of misgivings at the Navy Depart
ment, but as any admission of such a feeling
there would be felt as an admission of the un-
seaworthiness of the vessel, it will no doubt be
said that this order was issued to allay the public
anxiety relating to the missing steamer. 1t is
evident that the department is in hourly hopes
of hearing from the Nantasket, and the Chief
Clerk has remained in the department until late
for several nights, in expectation of receiving
such a cable despatch from Havana.
Public anxiety will naturally increase as the
time passes, and If nothing Is heard before the
return of the vessel despatched by Admiral Lee,
which cannot be before Friday or Saturday, it
will have reached painful degree.
STATEMENTS OF NAVAL OFFICERS.
The following statement is made up after
conversations with prominent naval officers in
the city:-The Tennessee is one of class of
steamers built near the close of the war with
special reference to their speed, and which have
since proved themselves to be staunch sea going
vessels. During her trial trip in 1857, with the
Sherwood machinery in her, she encountered
four days hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico. which
puther capacities for sailing in high as thor
oughly to the test as any vessel could well be
subjected to. The journal of Captain Wroe
giving an account of that trip, is very full and
explicit, and goes to show that her behavior in
gales that split her new stormsails to tatters,
and thumped her about in every conceivable and
unpleasant manner, was admirable, and that in
a severe encounter with the ocean in one of its
ugliest moods she carried herself SO well as to
deserve high praise from that officer.
Naval officers of the best experience state
that after her return from that desperate trip
Gin which the worst that could be said of her by
her comm ander was, that she would ship an oc-
casional sea, and that she had not sufficient
scuppers for what is called "wet ship, she
was hauled up and thoroughly examined The
faults referred to were all remedied. She was
lghtened of some five hundred to eight hundred
tons of unnecessary machinery, aftording room
for hunks for competent crew; q spar deck was
put upon her, which completely protects heI
from shipping heavy seas, and at the same time
braces and strengthens her all around; hel
machinery put in splendid condition, aud a new
| keel put in her. Every timber in her was
| thoroughly examined--she is white-oak vesse
| and wherever there was the slightest sign o.
decay the condemned portion was removed ant
| sound timber substituted. She was regarded a.
being in excellent condition for this trip, an(
| was selected for 1t for this reason.
| When the Tennessee went down New Yorl
harbor on this passage she was observed to b'
going only at rate of eight knots, and seyera
persons who knew what her engines would bC
likely to do predicted that she would not max,
over 1015 knots during the passage. She left OF
the 10th ultimo, and could not be supposed tC
have got away from Sandy Hook, where he
compass had to be adjusted, and get clear o
the coast on the first day. This would brinG
her to the 18th. To go the route she went, ge
to San Domingo. and from thence round K
Havana, she would have to travel 1880 miles
Commencing to count from the 18th, and allow
ing her speed at 1015 knots it would take he
| till the 9th to reach Samana bay; and in cross
ing the Gulf Stream, as she had to diagonally
she met the resistance of that current flowing
dead against her at the rate of four miles al
hour which would make her lose at least 10
miles out of the days work where she crossed
This 100 miles would have to be accounted fol
in the time allotted for her passage.
On arriving at Samana Bay she would be on
| Of pOa1 and III is thOupht she took coal bap
or baskets with her, such as are used in hoistin
in coal, and that, with the facilities she woul
be likely to find there for coaling, she could no
ship complement for her return voyage at tn
rate of over sixty tons per day. Thus tim
would elapse at this point.
The Tennessee carried a steam launch o
board, and something was said before she lei
about sending party to do q little exploring u
the Yuma river. This would also consume som
time. Allowing five days for coaling and plea
sure trips would bring us down to the 1st ins
Then she would be two days getting round {
San Domingo city, which brings us down to th
3d. From the latter point to Havana would r,
quire five days more, which brings us down
the Sth instant, and then allow margin of or
or two days for the hundred miles lost in eros
ing the Gulf stream and for incidental mishaI
only important In the vexatious delays atten
ant on them, and the twenty seven days that hay
elapsed since she sailed are reasonably a
counted for.
In a word, it may be stated that every prom
nent officer in the navy located or visiting
Washington has been interviewed by newspap
men, or by the anxious friends of those {
, board the Tennessee, and all assert their bell
that the ship is safe.
: Captain DrummOnd's Statement.
T The following appears in the New York P
! pers:-
/ PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 13.-Captain DruI
5 mond, of the bark Anderson, furnishes the fl
Z lowing additional particulars of his sighting t
49, .o, o,,, +bia 1asaaI ahont =, c,o,Oo,. - -, l.