The New York herald., 1871-02-14

heard nothing of her whereabouts.
The Captain or the w. Il. Anderson Inter-
viewed.
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 13, 1871.
A reporter OF the HERALD called on Captain
Drummond, of the bark w. Z. Anderson this after
noon and learned the following additional facts in
regard to Drummond's reported sighting the Ten
nessee on the 10th OF January. Captain Drummon
says
. first saw this vessel about eleven O'Clock the
night OF January is. 1t was the 10th by nautical
time; the 18th by land time First saw her mast
head lights Do not know that she was bark
rugged vessel. Her mizzentops were furled, and /
could not determine. The vessel was acting very
strangely and it was all we could do 10 keep out OF
her way. She was steering directly south.
She crossed our bows within 500 feet OF us. This
was about one hundred miles from Cape Hatteras;
perfect gale blowing. The Anderson shipped
great deal OF water all that night and labored very
heavily. feel confident that 1t was the Tennessee
we saw. If she got through the storm all right she
would certainly have put in at jamaica IN four days
and reported from that placer !
The following is an exact copy Of the Anderson
logbook at eleven O'Clock, the time the Tennessee
was noticed
Fresh gales, attended with squalls; lightning in
north, northeast, heavy sea making. Reeied the
"a
ofwar steaminS to the south, nationality unknown,
at twelve O'Clock.
The Anderson's logbook reported raining and
very heavy northeast rolling Both Captain
Drumm0nd and his first mate are positive that it
was the Tennessee they saw, as she woud have
been just at that place tine 18TH OF January land
time. Captain Drummond would have reported It
before, but did not know the Tennessee had not
been heard nom.
Letter from the Secretary Of the Navy-His
Reasons for Believing the Tennessee Per-
fecsly SeawOrthy.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13, 1871.
The Secretary Of the Navy has addressed the fol-
lowing letter to Representative SARGENT
NAVY DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON, Feb. Is, 1871.
MY DEAR SIR-ln reply to your note in regard TO
the Tennessee and to quiet as far may be- the APP
prehension which has been excited 10 her SAFETY
beg to say that the Tennessee sailed from New York
har5or at about four O'Clock on the afternoon
OF Tuesday, the nth day Of January, on voyage
which had for Its ultimate destination the City Of
ST. Domingo; that at the time of her departure the
decided whether they would proceed directly 70 st.
Domingo City or first visit Samana bay some other
port on the northern coast OF the Dominican republic;
that II she proceeded directly to St Domingo City
that the voyage would at her ordinary rate OF Speed
period would Of course be she STOPPED az
any other port by the time spent there's that no ad
vices nave beea received from st. Domingo City
or any other port to which the Tennessee
ture rom New York; that there ore at this season
OF the year no lines OF ordinary and regular COM
municauon from S.. Domingo City or other port IN
st. Domingo to any place from which we could
nation have received telegraphic or other advices
OF her arrival or non-arrval; That extraordinary
means Of communication were provided, and none
are likely to have been employed, except in case Of
disaster; that since she crossed the Gulf Stream,
probably about the latitude OF thirty six degrees
NORTH she would be out OF the track OF vessels
bound for our ports and that II her voyage is sue
cessful we cannot expect advices from ner except
Of fnn vhaQ yrbto
makes the only regular line Of communication, and
which win be due In New York In about ten days.
The Tennessee, new ship OF nearly three thou
sand tons burden carefully and strongly built, is
larger than any ship OF oui squadron cruising in
as any ship OF our navy. She was launched sine e
the close Of the war, and was found perfectly
past year she has been put IN Complete orser Her
engine and steam machinery are OF the Erics-
BON pattern, and were IN good condition and
charge. She has also full sail power and
would be perfectly able to take care OF herself
TO her machinery though IN this event 1T would OF
course, consume more time. She Is commanded by
q careful an0 experienced ofr1cer, mad a full COM
plement of Offices and men, and is completely pro-
vis1oned ana equipped She carries ten boats,
among which Is large steam launch.
where she would be likely to be, and her route did
our own Coast and the west inde that t in ease OF OF
serious accident the Survivors Of any but most
extraordinary disaster would not most likely have
been heard from.
The steamer Typee left New York on the lst OF
February sailing In the track OF the Tennessee, and
el her usual rate woud have arrived at ST. Domingo
on the 9Th, and in case OF any disaster to the Ten
nessee on her way, or OF her non-aTrival at some
port CT the Dominican republic by that date, the
news would most likely have been carried by one OF
our own cruisers by the extraordinary means
which would IN that only have been en-
ployed, to jamaica, whence we might by this time
have heard By telegraph; that 1t seems TO me that
there is no greater cause Tor anxiety concerning the
Tennessee than for any other ship OF our navy on
the ocean; that the absence OF advices is by no
means evidence OF disaster, but Will be henceiorth
and TILL we finally hear by the regular means each
day stronger assurance Of safe and successful
voyage, and that the suggestions OF her loss made
without information ana maintained without cause,
are as weak as they cruel. Very respectfully,
GEO. III. ROBES0N, secretary OF the Navy.
Hon. AARON A. SARGENT, House OF Representatives.