The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-02-13
The Missing Tennessee.
Opinions of High officials.
Bid Officers Refuse to Sail in Her?
The Alabama Claims.
4 Reported Basis of Settlement.
The Ice Blockade at New York.
The Death of Gen. Prim.
Particularsofthe Assassination
The AIabama Claims.
4 Reported Basis of Settlement.
The Ice Blockade at New York.
The Death of Gen. Prim.
Particularsofthe Assassination
THE TENNESSEE.
The Engineers Relieved from Duty.

The Engineers Relieved from Duty.
World reporter, says that paper of to-day
called on the proper official at the Navy Depart
ment, having charge of the assignment of
officers, and inquired, "Have you heard sir, the
statement that three engineer officers assigned
to the Tennessee were afraid 10 sail on her, and
were relieved from that duty?"
Official-No sir. If such reason had been
assigned they probably would not have been re.
lieved.
Correspondent-Were there not officers as
signed to her who made application to be re-
lieved from the order?
OIL believe there were but not for the rea-
son you alleged.
C.-Who were they?
Dwell Engineer James Sheridan, of the
Brooklyn Yard, was assigned, and asked to be
relieved soon thereafter.
C.-What reason did he give for not desiring
to go on board the Tennessee?
Ole gave noreason himself bat his friends
appealed to the department to let him Off as he
had just got married.
C.-Lieutenant Sheridan and mis- friends did
not complain then of the unseaworthiness of the
Tennessee?
Ono, sir.
C.-Was there any other officer who did not
want to go?
O.-Relr ctantly)-I believe there was
another engineer named ssyder, of Philadel-
phia.
C.-What reason did he assign?
Ole applied to be relieved because his
father was at the point OF death. He was re-
two were the only ones who were positively
assigned and then relieved from their orders to
go on the Tennessee
C-What do you think of General Banks
statements about scores of naval officers de-
claring that they would not sail on the Ten
nessee?
O.-Many of them have doubtless said so in
conversation, but they would not make the same
statement before court of inquiry. All who
talk that way hate Porter
THE NAVAL CONSTRUCTORS VIEWS.
Hon. Isaiah Hanscom, Chief of the Bureau of
Construction of the Navy Department, was
called upon for his views regarding the Tennes-
see. He is brother of w. l.. Hanscom, naval
constructor, who was the subject of the lively
debate in the House.
Correspondent-Wh do you think, Mr..
Hanscom, of the Tennessee? You build ships.
Tell us what you know of her.
Chief Hanscom-Well, never looked into the
Tennessee but from what have been told and
know of her she is good ship. She was de-
signed by Naval Constructor Delano, of the
Brooklyn yard, one of the best officers in the
service.
C.-But she has been remodelled by Admira
Porter.
G. H.-Yes, Porter ordered board on her
who changed the blades of her propellers took
out four of her boilers, removed her coal hunks
her. 1t also changed the location of her arma-
ment. All this changed her centre of gravity,
but still that may be all right
C-What engines has she?
".
was the old Madawaska, and was the trial ship
for steam machinery, with the Wampanoag,
between Isherwoods and Fox's engines. Her
machinery having been reduced, her speed is
lessened very much. On her trial trip In New
York Bay the Tennessee made but six and a
half knots an hour; SO you ses
that she is slow vessel. Now, if she went
outside the Bermudas, stated, she makes q
two thousand mile trip, and she is not out long
enough for alarm. My own opinion, from
knowledge of her speed, is that there is no cause
time che was heard from; but the report is tha
she went east of the Bermudas, which makes q
difference of SEQ miles.
; eC.-Your brother, Mr.. Hanscom, thinks tina
the Tennessee is unseaworthy.
G. H.-Well, he has seen her aud knows mor'
about her than 1 do. If l knew the plans OF
which she was reconstructed could tell.
"A Washington correspondent says;-
ADMIRAL PORTER sANGUINE.
Admiral Porter who was called on, was yer.
sanguine that nothing had happened. "Wil
you be kind enough to give us your reasons |?
said the correspondent to the Admiral.
Admiral Porter replied to this effeet sac
eording to the course which the Tennessee
would take, she would have to sail tw
thousand eight hundred and ninety mile
before she could be heard from in the ordinar
course of events. 1t would take her ten days +
reach Samana Bay. She would remain five day
in Samana. 1t would take her two days L
reach San Domingo City, and five days fror
the latter port to Havana. She sailed ON tn
clearl OF Sandy Hook on the first day. Thi
would bring her to the 18th. Then allowln
ten days to Samana would bring her to tn
9th. Five days in Samana would bring he
TO the LIST instant. Two days to Sa
Domingo City would be the Sd instan
and five days to Havana would be the 81
instant. She had to cross the Gulf Stream dii
gonaly against a four-mile current whic
would be equivalent to a loss of one hundre
miles on the day of crossing, and which woul
have to be added to the time Allowing fc
incidental mshaps to new machinery NJ
tested leakage of valves, aud little ma
ters only to be known by those
charge, and another day or two may be eas
accounted for, bringing us down to the 9th
10th inst. SO those having knowledge of Il
vessel and familiar with the accidental dra'
backs to q speedy passage by vessel just owe
hauled and not subsequently tested have
uneasness as TO her safety.
THREE REAssURIEG REASONS.
high naval official who was appealed TO I
his views declined to allow his name TO be pu
lished, but submitted them pointedly thus;-
First The Tennessee has no business to
heard from for ten days. The dispatches fro