Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1840-06-17

OUT SutIlHlcI SHOWStS1 dHCI q hot anu sui e
try day. AS most of the male passengers f
were ia the house on deck, looking out at n
the rain and sea, Capt. Anthony standing it
at the door, large ball of fire, apparent t
" about twice the size of mans hat, Y
suddenly descended in horizontal line d
from the clouds. which appeared to be Ir
meeting from two different points of the I
compass ahead of US, and struck the end I
of the fore-topsail yard, on the left hand |
side; it descended the ties, or some &
chains, TO the end of the fore-yard and
ran on the yard 10 the cap of the foremost,
where it exploded with report similar to
that of cannon, and giving the appear
ance Of the explosion of bomb, or simi-
lar, although on much larger scale, to
The explosions of some of the fire work
circles which we have had exhibited on +
the common on public galas, throwing
out rays in every direction, like the rays
OF the sun. The whole was instantane-
Gus, and was saen BY two or three of US
it came and passed off in flash, aud was
( followed almost at the same instant by a |
peal of thunder, sharp and loud, bnt mol
: long or rumbling. 1t was the only fash
Of. lightning or peal of thunder that we
; saw or. heard.
4 Almost Immediately, Capt Anthony
went forward with one or two of the pass
, Eengers, being aware that we had been
: struck with lightalng, to ascertain if the
ship was damaged. 1t was ascertained
that, when the ball exploded, the electric
. fluid ran down the foremastto the lower
!, deck, where the chain cable was slowed,
!, aud one of the Storage passengers point
K ing to small piece Of cotton on tie deck,
.stid there was no fire, as tina. cotton was
set on fire, and he put it out by putting
his foot on it. We ascertained that the
u fluid did run round the chain, but could
not see where it escaped. On going into
II the forecastle we discovered some signs
! of the lightning, and were led 10 suppose,
I, on very close examination, that after en-.
'r tering the steerage it passed through into
is The forecaslle and cut up The. companion
: way. A piece of the fd, about eigh'
IS inches long and two or three thick, was
knocked eff the foretop, and two or three
10 of the halyards were found to be cut off
S. which the captain Immediately set hi:
ee men to repairing g
er Although the cabin and Storage were
Titled with sort of smoke, which had ;
of sulphurous smell, no one really supposed
er the ship TO tie on fire, or that the appear
to ances indicated any thing more than tn
to gas usually following a stroke Of light
= ming. Some alarm and anxiety was YER
m, naturally felt particularly by the ladie
de and those who were connected with them
nd but still, as there was no increase {
RS, smoke; and no appearance of fire, tn
zen crew went about their regular bushes
and at four clock dinner was served {
The usual; the cabin at that time being cleo
GU of every thing indicative of danger
ty- Some Of US could not eat,-whlle the
!. OF was uncertainty, we had no. appetite, ar
ons he meal which had heretofore been OIL
=. of pleasure, accompanied by the reeipr
ice, cation of good feelings, and sallies of "
Co. passed off with dulness, and almost in
lence. Capt. Anthony looked in upon
lad as we sat at table, but he was too anxio
nee 10 sit down, and did not cease in his c
deavors to ascertain with certainty our
?, a stion. The first mate, Mr.. Delano, a
land the steward, opened the run and went
D to 10 it, to ascertain if there was fire
smoke in that part Of the ship, but ca
alive out without being satisfied either t
there was or was not-the smell was
by same as that we had at first, mostly
gas. like sulphur.
Fe- Our dinner was short and silent OF
1887 and when we went on deck, the capt
was said that he had little doubt that the S
]. was on fire, and that we must endeavo
oe, a, il. On a suggestion that we mi
right be obligel to take to the boats, it was
mediatelv remarked by one of our Ere
pass messengers, and responded to by othe,
res let us take care of the women and cl
rem first Imenton this as honotab
aides those who made it, and as showing
hand. There was. even at that first nome
,phol. danger, a praiseworlhy abandonmer
HUI Eselt to the protection OF others who
mt her naturally more helpless. Not mo-
to get was lost in clearing the man haech
ted to captain himself leading the way,
mmel, commencing bythrowing over the e
Claus, water casks and useless lumber "
ecker, was stored round the long-boat.
Iichae mate. with another gang OF hands,
len 81 at the fore hatch, and in few minut
Fl eu- hands. including many Of the cabin
sen - Storage passengers, were at work
,chnei- ing out and throwing overheard nou
!. tcolton. ~
len and The work of discharging the cars
tee per- tween decks went on cneefiuliy,
favora- severe rain. until about eight ocIoc
nty five fire not appearing to increase, a
Shoals, times appearing to be altogether
nd fast quished, even if there had ever bee
ent for a except in the imagination; but a
10Th thine, and when the forward lower
We were was reached, we were at once con