The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1827-07-04
~But i hasten 70 my narrative. Some

II
parts of the ship and spars were for mo-
ment on FIRE; but were quickly extinguIsh-
ed by the rain. The ship was then, though
roughly, examined TO ascertain whether
the electric fluid had penetrated among the
combustlble part OF the cargo below the
lower deck. This investigation disclosed
the following facts The lightning hay-
ing struck the main.rOyal mas: head, shat
tered the mast head, and, descending
| thence, penetrated the deck into one of
the store rooms, the bnkheads and fittings
OF which are completely demolished. Then
separating, one part was conducted by a
, lesden tube to the eide of the ship, through
which IL passed out between wind and wa
ter, starting the ends Of three five inch
| planks. Another portion from the store
room passing into the ladies' cabin, shiver-
ed to atoms the plate Of large mirror,
leaving the frame uninjured From tie
| looking glass 10 the plBno-forte was an ca.
sy transition II touched the instrument
with no delicate impulse, dismoanting it,,
and leaving II out OF une.--Thence II pas.
sed through the whole length Of the after
cabin and out at the stern windows. For
| tunatey we were all in our births at the
moment. Upon these facts | would ven
ture briefly TO remark, that the mast. head
| was bound by four Iren hoops, say from two
10 three inches wide, and nearly half an
| inch thick. These attracting the fluid and
being themselves insulated by other less
powerful conductors would naturally st the
instant accumulate large repletiOn of the
| fdid, which, by the violence Of its action
burst the hoops aSunder, and shattered the
| mast head and cap. Into the cabin store
| room il seems 20 have been conducted BY
leajen pipe near tho main mast under ihe
deck. The quicksilver on the back Of the
mirror was sufficient TO attract II thiber,
whom II would be difiused over the whole
I surface Of tho glass, which being the most
perfect non conductor known, was thus
shattered into countless pieces. The at.
! mosphero being very moist, the dsmpncss
Of the cabin floor, for want Of better con.
ductor, might probably aid in clrrying II
| 10 the windows.
Being all in our births, enyelopod in
beds and bedding Of non conducting ma.
terials,we reposed IN comparative a safety,
while the deadly bolt careered around us
With fierce and rcsislless energy. Doubt.
less feather bed is the NOS safe retreat
IN such cases. Had it been later in the
day, aud the passengers about the cabin,
the chances are, that 1t would have been
fatal to many Of US.
"Fhe operation Of the second shock was
very different from the former aud is more
deserving Of attention, as furnishing a new
nttance in proof OF the efficacy of light
ulng rods, ~ a projection al sea. We had
a chain conductor on board but IL not be.
ing tho season TO expect much lightning,
and the first shock coming on quite sud-
denly, It was not up at the time. The
morning squall was over; II continued, how.
ever, ~ blow fresh oil the day, and about
noon, heavy clouds began 20 gather in on
every side, rolling their vounns apparent
y among the riggiSg. We had reason to
expect more hghtnlng the conductor was
and Captain Bennett ordered it
10 DO rai5od TO the main royal.ma4t head.
Il consisted Of an iron chain, having links,
one fourth Of an inch thick, and two feet
long, turned into hooks at each end, and
connected by rings OF the same thic kness,
and ot one inch aunular diameter This
chain was fastened TO rod of IRON, half
an inch thick, and four feet in length, with
a point well polished and tapered, in order
10 receive the fluid with facility; it was Sc
cured TO the main royal mast, tho rod cx.
tending two feet above the mast head, and
thence il was brought down over the quar-
ter, and ropeIled by an oar, protruding, say
ten feet from the ships side, and sinking
few ioet below tue surface of the water.
"Dr. Franklnwas ofoplnon that \ rod Of
this size would sustain without injury the
sovorest shock of lightning. have been
thus minute in stating the dimens ions of
the chain, for the double purpose of con
veyng somo idea of the force Of this shock.
and of imprcssng the necessity of provid
ing large conductors. The chain, howev-
ever, in this instance performed its office,
and il was up in happy time TO aveIta blow
that, in the opinion of all on board, must
have sent this staunch vessel in an instant
TO the bottom.
"Soon after p. NJ. we saw lightning
a little before 2oBserveda u very smart flash;
looking at my watch, which marks seconds,
| counted four, when the report followed :;
| felt no alarm, however, having frequently
known II to approach nearer without any
injury. At , o'clock we were astoplshed
by another shock like that IN the morning
the flash and sound simultaneous. | hap
pened to be in the cabin with another pas
senger; ball of fire seemed to dart down
before us at the same moment the glass
in the round house came rafting down be-
low. Those on deck agreed that the whole
ship appeared to be in blaze, from the
vivldness of the principal fash, which they
saw darting down the conductor,
and agitatng the water. All parts Of the
ship, as BEFORE. were filled with smoke,
smelling Of sulpher.
"The ship was again thoroughly exam
iped The conductor had been rent 10