Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1827-07-05

the after cabin and out of the stern
windows. Fortunately we were all in
our births at the moment Upon these
facts ! will venture briefly To remal k.
that the mast head was bound by four
iron hoops, say from two to three inch
es wide, and nearly half an inch thick.
These attracting the fluid and being
themselves insulated by other less pow
erful conductors would naturally at the
instant accumulate large repletion
OF the fluid, which, by the violence OF
ITS action. burst the hoops asunder,
and shattered the mast heaa and CAP
into the cabin store-room it seems to
have been conducted by leaden pipe
near the MAIN mast under the deck
The quicksilver ON the back of the mir
ror was sufficient to attract it thither.
when It would be diffused over the whole
surface of the glass, which being the
most perfect non conductor known, was
shattered into countless pieces. The
atmosphere being very moist, the damp.
cess of the cabin floor, for want of
better conductor, might probably aid in
carving ii to the windows.
Being in all our births, enveloped in
beds and bedding of non conducting ma
terials. we reposed in comparative safe
ty. while the deadly bolt careered
round US with fierce and resistless ener-
gy. Doubtless, feather bed is the
most safe retreat in such cases. Had il
been later in the day, and the passen-
gers about the cabin, the chances are
that it would have been fatal to many Of
US.
"The operation of the second shock
was very different from the former, and
is more deserving of attention. as fur
nishing new instance in proof of the
efficacy of lightning rods, as protec-
ton at sea.-We had a chain conductor
on board. but it not being the season to
expect such lightning, and the first
shock coming on quite suddenly; it was
not up at the time. The morning squall
was over; it continued, however, to blow
fresh all the day, and about noon, hea-
Wy clouds began to gather on every side.
rolling their volumes apparently among
the rigging. We had reason to expect
more lightning; the conductor was pre-
pared. and Captain Bennett ordered it
to be raised to the main royal mast
head. II consisted of an iron chain, hay
ing links, one fourth of an inch thick
and two feet long, turned in hooks at
each end, and connected by rings of the
same thickness, and of one inch annu
lar diameter. This chain was fastened
to rod of iron, half an inch thick and
four feet in length, with point well
polished and tapered, in order to receive
the fluid with facility; it was secured to
the main royal mast, the rod extending
two feet above the mast head, and
thence it was brought down over the
quarter, and repealed by an oar, pro
truding, say ten feet, from the ships
side, and sinking few feet below the
surface of the water.
"Dr. Franklin was of opinion that a
rod of this size would sustain without
injury the severest shock of lightning
have been thus minute in stating the d.
mansions of the chain, for the double
purpose of conveying some idea of the
force of this shock, and of impressing
the necessity of providing larger con-
ductors. The chain. however, 10 this
instance performed its office, and it was
up in happy time to avert blow that,
in the opinion of all on board, must
have sent this staunch vessel in an in
slant to the bottom.
"Soon after p. NJ. we saw lightning;
little before observed very smart
flash; looking at my watch, which marks
seconds, counted four, when the re
port followed; felt no alarm, howev-
err, having frequently known il to APP
preach nearer without any injury. At
O'Clock we were astonished by anoth.
er shock like that in the morning; the
| flash and sound simultaneous. | hap
pened TO be in the cabin with another
passenger; ball of fire seemed to dart
down before us; at the same moment
the glass in the round house came rat
Ting down below. Those on deck a
greed that the whole ship appeared to
be in blaze, from the vividness OK the
principal fash, which they distinctly
saw darling down the conductor, and
agitatng the water. All parts of the
ship, as before, were filed with smoke,
smelling of sulphur.
The ship was again thoroughly ex
amined The conductor had been rent
to pieces by the discharge, and scatter
ed to the winds; small fragments OF il