Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-06-26
TREMENDOUS STORM AT SEA.

The following singularly interesting nara
tive is communicated 10 the Liverpool COM
mcrcial Chronicle Of May II:
"Ship New Yonx Princes Dock, Lirap0oL
May IL, 1897.
"Sir: trust that, although stranger, shall
find sufficient apology in the very uncommon
nature Of the occurrences herein described, for
troubling YOU with the detail of the following
particulars This ship has been twice struck
by lightning on her present voyage from New
York On The 18th of April, our third day out,
ON The Gulf Stream, (la,. So 9 N. long. 81 IL
w. al noon) about half past in the morning,
hiring in our births, we were reused by sound
like The report of heavy cannon close to ourears
In momenI were all out and toe cabin ana
all parts of the ship were filed with dense
smoke, hayiag strong smell OF sulphur. FROM
the deck the word was quickly passed that me
shin had been struck with lightning, and was
nm 6r. The conslsi nation which Tor some mi
nutes prevailed, may be more easily imaeinsd
than described. Every one ran on deck with a
full impression tha, the ship was H. blaze
There all the elements were in violent commo-
ton 1t had been broad day, but so dark, so
dense, and so close upon us were the clouds,
as 10 produce almost the obscurity Of night.
There was just sufficient high, to give a bold re-
lief TO every objecI in the appalling scene. The
rain poured down in torrents, n,iUgled with
hail stones as large as 6lberts. which Law upon
the deck fully an inch thick Overhead blazrd
the lightning on all sides, accompanied BY re-
ports almost simultaneously, thus evincing It's
nearness The sea RAJ; mountains high, aud
the ship was tossed from one sea TO another
with incredible rapidity. One appearance was
peculiarly remarkable. The Temperature OF
the water was "a degs. Of Fahrenheit, while
that Of The atmosphere was down TO 4S This
produced copious evaporation, and caused inn
mense clouds Of vapour To rise, whic h, ascend
ing in columns all around us, exhibited the az
pearance of innumerable pillars supporting a
massive canopy of clouds. These phenomena
are extremely unusal, no person on board ever
having Witnessed any him sii-
TO present TO the eye combination of all the
elements Tor the destruction OF every thing on
the race oil the deep. Altogether the scene was
one OF awful sublimity, which battles descrip-
uon Amid This scene of impending ruin
when All nature was IN the utmost confusion
when nautical science and experience could a.
vail nothing-while an irris,stible elsmen, was
paying about US, and the ship seemed on the
very verge ct Tate; when, in short, dismay and
despair were reflected from every other counte.
UNDERWRITING could exceed the calm TRANQUIL
NY oil Capt, Notwithstanding could excel the
hrmness with which every order was given. for
eAaminihg the ship, IN prospect of meeting FIRE
oe'ew deck-nothing could equal the manner
in which every one was encouraged with the
nope at security even beyond what in reason
Could be expected:-thus but &c ho the sehti
mcnts Of all on board
but hasten 10 my narrative Some parts
OF 'oe snip and spars were for moment on FIRE,
Out were quickly exiinguished by the rain The
snip was then, though roughly, examined TO
ascertain whether the electric fluid had pepe.
rated among the combus,ible part of the cargo
below the lower deck. This investigation dis
closed the following facts: The lightning, hav
Ing s'snck the main, royal mas, head, shattered
the mast head, and, descending thence, penetra-
ted the deck into one of the slore-rooms, the
eulkheads and fitting. Of which are completely
demolished. Then separating, one part was
conducted ny a leaden tube 10 the side of
the ship, Through which il passed out be-
tween wind and water, starting the ends Of
three hive inch planks Another portion from
the store-room passing into the ladies' cabin
shivered TO atoms the plate Of large mirror,
leaving the frame un,njured From the look
ing-glass 10 the piano-for,e was an easy transit
tion; II touched the instrument with no deic ate
impulse, dismoanting it, and leaving il out of
tune. Thence il passed through the whole
length Of the aitercabin and out a, the stern
windows. Fortunately we were all in our births
At the moment. Upon these facts would ven
ture briefly TO remark, that the masthead was
bound by four iron hoops, saw from two TO three
inches wide, and nearly half an inch thick
These attracting the fluid and being themselves
insulated by other less powerful conductors
would naturally at the instant accumulate
large repletion Of the iiuid, which, by he vio-
lence Gifts action. burst the hoops asunder, and
shattered the mas, head and cap Into the ca
bin store room il seems 10 have been conducted
by leaden pipe near the main-mast under the
Geek. The quicksilver on the back of the mir
ror was sufficient to attract il ihither, when il
would be diffu sed over the whole surface Of the
glass. which being the most perfect non-con-
ductor known, was thus shattered into Count
less pieces. The atmosphere being very moist,
the dsmpness of the cabin aoor. for want Of
better conductor. nigh, probably aid in carry
ipg il to the windows