The New York herald., 1876-11-11
THE FRANKLIN.
OPINIONS OF NAUTICAL MEN AS TO THE STORIES
TOUCHING HEB wHxREABoUTs-coMMAN

OPINIONS OF NAUTICAL MEN AS TO THE STORIES
TOUCHING HER wHxRKABoUTs-coMMAND
BRANE SAYS SHE WAS NOT SIGHTED.
In tho great and continued excitement over
thc uncertain result OF the Presidential elec-
tion, which has wholly absorbed the public
mind during the last three days, the topic Of
Twesd's return has been overlooked. Beyond tne
announcement that q vessel rcsemslug the franklin
has been in distress at sea- mention has been
made OF the matter When the Franklin sailed from
vigo with the great wanderor board, there was
much speculation what If any. political effect his
return would have II was generally believed to
have political Significance, but as his expected
arrival and tho day OF election came nearer AMI
nearer. tho two things became associated In every
day gossip The election came nrsr, and Tweed has
scarcely been heard OF since, except starting inter-
rogatory bulletins, asking for instead of giving infor
m,non. .Has the Franklin gonc down." and ''ls
Tweed lost at sea :" the enlightening placards
presented TO our gaze.
reporter Of the HERALD yesterday called on
Commander Braine, at the Brooklyn Navy Yard to
learn from him il there really any danger at tho
present time OF the loss OF the Franklin. He secuted
the idea and said no did expect the Franklin before
She stout vessel, hc SAID, as there was
on the ocean, and could tako up her propeller
wheel and sail TO the worlds end. Her COM
mander, he continued, was one OF the most efficient
officers in the service, and would no doubt. come
along in good time. She might have possibly en-
counlered adverse Winds but there not tho slight
est ground for any fear that she was lost ut sea.
In yesterdays HxRALD published tho Darratve
Of Captain Barnccker OF the bark Norma, who claimed
TO have encountered on Newfoundland, on the night
OF November A. waier-log man. .ofwar, Supposed
TO be the long expected Franklin. Commander Braine
Had tho} "A thnt rad tn nhn
the Franklin and considered the reports merely SEN
sationaL
. copy OF the statement OF Captain BarneCker, OF the
bark Norma and set out 10 ascertain the opinions 0s
might encounter relative to tho autnenticity OF tho
licrman skippers yarn. People who read the story
Sion aoou, the safety Of The franklin and i. VAS CONF
monty supposed that Secretary Robson allowed him.
sell to be duped by sensational report and gave hss
hurriedly and without pausing TO investigate H
or even 10 ascertain Its source II the adviccs
from the Navy Department arc correct. and
John H. Russell aud the Unncd States steamer
Powhatan have been sent on an exceedingly un-
promising wild goose chase. II any man-ol-war
passed the Norma within three ship lengths Of her
and pursued her way without speaking that bark or
displaying any distress signals there Is every reason
doubt safe and sound at her voyages end, wherever
that may be- The supposi'ion that the man-of-war
was disabled, which Captain Barnecker seems have
entertained and which he now rather guardedly
presses his opinion. does not reflect very avoraby
condition been perilous he certainly should have
had the goodness 10 aid her. and having tho
readily occurred 10 an old seaman lko himself
But after claiming that tie vessel was IN distress he
says that she passed the Norma without any display Of
signals or any evidence OF apprehension or panic
board her. sealaring people who havo perused the
Captains statement seem inclined TO question II on
these and moro technical grounds, as will appear from
the reporters conversation with the officer OF
o-war
~ may be true" said the naval gentleman sbut Il
sounds 10 my ear snguarly like bosh The master OF
the Norma may gentleman Of intelligence; he may
be vsry good navigator, too-n tact, doubt
neither-but 1 do think hc has An extremely active
was man-of-war or not should be the
franKlin, axd why he should think her In
Norma, matters which cannot yet understand.
Captain Barnesker may mean well, OF course, but IL
seems to me that the information he bears has no rel
Remember that the Franklin was poorly supplied with
coal when she left vgo, and TO reach latitude A. dog
2 min. north she must havc taken n northwesterly
course, which would compel her sail in the teeth Of
adverse winds, which n tnis time OF year blow IRON
Newfoundland Now, Captain Frankly n is so poor
q seaman takc such . when he is il-sup-
piled with coal aud has to make most OF his voyage
under canvas have doubt that The FRANKLIN inado
the trades OF avail, and perhaps may have reached
the Bcrmudas or made somo point IN
ina. latitude when the heavy gale, in the l.sos part Of
her and perhaps left her IN tue uodrums Her
falling reach this port sooner is not remarkable
o
sIowcst saiIcrs anoat" /"
Subsequently the reporter had a conversation with
the captain OF sailing vessel who agreed with the
val officer declaring that the Captain the Frank.
I'm could not have determined on course which would
bring him into 50 northerIy latitude as that
In which tho Norma sighted the mysterious
man.o-war You msss remember" said this
gentleman, ~ there are erea. many dangers TO be
encountered id hose seas. Should storm arise and
such may be Looked for at any moment, sailing ves-
sci may be drtyQ iurthor north and run risks from
iccbergs and dangerous scas Besides there strong
northwest winds blowing there which many vessels
avail themselves Of in crossing the ocean and the
Franklin would be obliged to beat up under these and
make little or no headway. On leaving vigo she
tanly should have made Tor the Spanish Main and, I
have doubt, that she did
Captain J. G. Cauldwell. formerly in the United
States service, but unattached said that he did
not believe the mysterious craft oil the ioriysecond
latitude was the Franklin; but, u she was. he was
satisfied that there enough hands aboard keep
her In ship shape and insure her safe arrival in this
port and the delivery OF the captive Of the deck
cabin into tho custody OF the finest officials In the
world. '.why." said the captain, ',f the vessel Cap
tain Barnecksr man. oi-war going against .
head sea- with no excitement aboard, depend upon il
she all right; Tor craft Of that kind have
enough TO look after every chip OF timber them when
there s need Tor them II puzzles me httle," he
but perhaps, the Naval Department thought that
Tweed might know . little about republican we'll
tin alter election so they tho captain 70 make the
voyage long possible, and he took care 10 insure
that by taking northwcsterly course"
Tow soon, Captain, would you expect the Franklin,
considering her sailing powcrsY" the reporter asked
.'Oh, taking IT in that light, you might look her
any time between this and the next centennial Why,
IL you set the HERALD Office a6oat and stuck few
nsgs In It, 1t would do just well that United States
fryate Franklin"
Should there be any grounds Of Suspicion Of frauds
lent counting on either side should be reported and de-
nounced at
No man oortay the Office Of President shoxld be rilng
to hold IL If counted in" placed there by any fraud
Either pdrkv can ford 10 be in the es,