Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-06-29


we're be clouds, TO rrcdnce almost the oSsoGri.y
i night. There just sufficient light 10 give
bold relief TO every tGjsCt in he appalling scene
The rain poured down in torrents, mingled with
lail stones large fiiber;s, winch lay upon the
leck fully an inch t.ick. Overhead blazed The |
lightning ell sides, accompanied by reports al |
most simultaneously, thus eviucirg It's nearness. |
The sea mountains high, ana TIE ship was tess |
ed from one sea TO another with incredible pid~
". One appearance peculiarly remal kab!e |
The temperature Of the water yYss at rs dess. OF |
Fahrenhsit. while that ofthe sphere W rs down
20 As. .iis produced copious evaporation,
and caused immense clouds of vspour to rise, !
wbcf ascending in columns all around u.s. exhi- |
biied the appearance o! nnumer able piil5re sup
porting massive canopy OF clouds. These phe- !
nomeua are extremely unusual, no pereon onl
board. ever having Witnessed any thing like it be-
fore. In all directions might be seen wa;ersrou
which, rising feariuliy TO the clouds, seemed ac
iually 10 present TO the eye combina alton OF ali
the elements Tor tie destruction Oft every thing on
ihe face of the deep. Altogether the scene was
one Of awful sublinity which battles description
Amid this scere OF Impending iuin, when all ma
ture was III the utmost coufusiop-when nautical
science and experience could avail nothing bile
an Irresistible element was playing about us, and
he ship seemed on the veiy verge of fate; when,
IN thcr', dIsmay and despair were reflected from
every other counienance nothing could exceed
The calm tranquility of Captain Bennett nothing
SSuiu SACti Tue AIfDntSS win WHICH every order
was given, for examining the ship, in prospect OF
meeting fire below deck, nothing could equal the
manner in which every enc was encouraged with
The hope OF secu rity, even beyond what in reason
could be expected thus but echo the sentiments
of all on board.
But hasten to my narrative. Some parts of
the snip and spass were for a roment on fire, but
were quickly extinguished by he rain. The ship
was then, thoroughly, examined to ascertain
whether the electric fluid had penetrated among the
coniouslhe part of the cargo below The lower deck
Ihis investigation disclosed the following iacts:-
ibe lightning, having struck the maia-roy al-mast
mead, shattered the mast head, and descending
thence, penetrated the Geek into one of the store.
rooms, he buikheads ard fittings of which are
completely demolished. Then separating, one
part was conducted by leaden tube TO the side TO
the ship, through which it passed out between
WING and water starting the ends OF three FIVE inch
plsnks. Another portion from the store-ruom
passing into the ladies cabin, shiyered atoms the
late OF large mirror, leaving the frame uniniur-
e'. From the looking glass to the piano-for,e
was an easy transition; it touched the instrument
WIN no delicate impulse dismountins il and leay-
ing 1t out OF tune. Thence it passed through the
whole length of the after and out at the stern
WIDOWS. Fortunately we were alt in our births
at the moment. Upon these facts would venture
briefly TO remark, that the mast head was bound by
Icur IRON hoops, say from two to three inches
wide, aud nearly half an inch thick. These at
tracing the fluid and being themselves insulated
by ether less powerful conductors would naturally
al the instant accumulate large Iepletion of the
nnd' which, by the violence Gifts action burst the
hoops asunder, and shattered the mast head and
zap Into the cabin store ROOM il seems to have
usen conducted by lea1en pipe near he main
mast under the deck. The quicksilver on the back
OF The minor was sufficient 10 atrack it ;hither,
hen 1t would be dfussd over the whole surface OF
Inc glass, which being tie most perfect non con-
ductor known, thus shattered into countless
pieces. he atmosphere being very moist, the
dsmpness OF the csbin floor, for want Of bette,
conductor might probably aid in carrying it to the
windows.
Being all in our birihs, envogoped in bed. and
bedding OF non conducting materials, we reposed
in comparative safety. while the deadly bolt "a,
reered around Us with fierce and resistless energy
Doubtless, feather bed is the most safe retreat
10 such cases Had it been later in the day, and
me passengers about the cabin, the chances are
that II would have been fatal TO many of US.
" The operation of the second shock was very
dheTent IRON the former, and is more desei wing
Of attention, as furnishing new instance in proof
oil the ehhcacy OF lightning rods, as protection
az sea we bad chain conductor on board; bat
II not being the season TO expect such lightning &
the hfst shock coming quite suddenly, il was
no' W. al Inc time. The morning squalI was over;
- 'oh'inueu' however TO blow fresh all The day
and about noon. heavy clouds began TO gather in
on every slde rolling their volumes apparently a.
mons the rigging. We had reason TO expect more
ign mug; The conductor was prepared, and Can
ain Bennett ordered il be rails ed 10 the rnainrov
mast head. II consisted OF an iron chain, havino
Inks, one fourth of an inch thick, and two feet
ons' turned into hooks at each end; and connected
~ rings Of the thickness, and OF one inch
'nnulsr diameter This chain was fastened to a |
roo OF iron, hall an inch thick and lour fee, in
eng'h' with pont well polished and tapered. in !
order to receive the auid with facility; il was Sc
cured 10 the main royal-mast, the rod extending
wo feet above the mast hesd, and thence il was |
brought down over the quarter, and repelled bv |
an oar, pFo'rudicg, say ten feet from the shpis |
Ide, and sinking few feet below the surface ofI
he water.
MS size would sustain without injury the sevetest
heck OF lightning. / have been thus minute in
'tatng The Dimensions OF the chain, for the double
purpose OF conveying some idea Of the force of
ms shock and OF impressing the necessity ofpro
,iding larger conductors. Tha chain. however. in
his instsncc performed its Office ard il was IN in
ispPy time TO avert blow that. in the opinion
d oil on board, must have this staunch vessel
IN an instant 10 the bottom
4" Soon after p. IN we saw liehfnirc. Ian.
'eiore z. observed very smart fash; looking At
ny watch, which marks seconds, / counted four
when the report foiiowe5; I felt no alarm bo,,,s
Ter, having frequently known il to approach near.
r without sny injury. Al 2 o'clock we were "a.
ooisbed by another shock like that In the po,ni,g.
he Hash and sound Simultaneous happened 10
,e IN The eeon with another Passenger; a bail oii
ire seemed 10 dart Gown before Us; ~ The same
moment the glass in the round house came tstuing
iowa below. Those on deck sgreed tb,, the vboIs
hip appeared 10 be in a blaze, from the viviJne.s
d Tie pfinripsl Hash. which they distinctly saw
'dtlng down lie conductor, and sgifatine the - 81.
rr' al parts OF tie ship, a. before, were fflsd