The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1840-06-03
Loss Of the Hayre Packet Poland.


fro of ,he splendid packet ship Poland.
TIE pURNING OF THE POLAND.
TO 7uE EDITOR OF TIE coURirs:
BosroN, May %, 1910.
Dear sir-As the loss Of the unfortunate snip
Poland exctes considerable interest IN tins
community, take an early opportunity 10 give
as complete detail Of the occurrences connect
el with it as my memory will allow. We sail
@ from New York, or rather we were taken in
tow by the steamboat Wave. from pier No. 3,
in the harber, about IL A. NJ. on Monday, tho
llth inst, the wind being quito light. aud were
towed down TO Sandy Hook, where the pilot
and the steamboat left us. Our crew consisted
of twenty good substantial working men. and IT
was subject Of remark before we left the wharf
that every one was sober-an event by no means
sommon with crew bound 10 sea. We also
had two cooks, two stewards and the vile OF
the principal steward as an assistant IN the Ia
dies cabin. The captain and two mates made
up our complement to twenty-five. There
were twenty four cabin passengers, three Of
whom could not speak English, and three 9th
ers who could not speak French. Counting all
hands, men, women and children, we had on
board sixty-three persons. We had good wealth
or and favorable breezes, passing about twenty
five miles TO the south of Nantucket Shoals,
and going on prosperously and fast enough to
satisfy those most impatient for sholt passage
until Saturday. the 10th. At - o'clock. noon,
of that day. we were in latitude fl 30, and lon
eitude SO 30, neaily one third Of The passage
and with every hope Of not being an board more
than eighteen days. In the morning we passed
a ship bound to the east, which we supposed to
be the Cotton Planter from New York for lia-
vre. which sailed some days before us.
At2 =. NJ or within few minutes of that
IL hau1n and continued.
shower. and squalls. until about o'clock,
when y severe shower commenced with largo
drops like some of our summer showers after a
hot and sultry day. As most OF the male pas
sengers were in the house on deck. looking ont
al the rain and sea, Captain Anthony standing
at The door. a large ball of fire, apparently abont
twice the size Of mans hat, suddenly descend
ed in horizontal line from the clouds, which
appeared to be meeting from two different points
of the compass ahead OF US. and struck the end
Of the ioreiopsail yard, on the left hand side
II descended the ties, or some chains to the end
of the foreyard. and ran on the yard to the cap
Of the foremost, where il exploded with report
similar to that of a cannon; and giving the ap-
pearance of the explosion of bomb, similar,
although on a much larger scale, to the explo-
sions Of some Of the frew0rk circles which we
have hud exhibited on the common on public
galas, throwing out rays in every direction, like
the rays Of the sun. The whole WAS nstanta-
neous, and was witnessed by two or three OF
us; it came and passed OF in a FASH and wa.
followed almost at the same instant by a.peal %
thunder. sharp and loud hut not long nor rum
bling. 1t was the only fash Of lightning OF
peal Of thunder tha, we or heard.
Almost Immediately. Capt. Anthony went
forward with one or two Of the passengers. be
inc aware that we had been struck with light
IA .I,.
WAS ascertained that when the ball exploded
the electric fluid ran down the foremsst To tn,
lower deck. where the chain cable was slowed
and one Of the stecrage passengers pointing Il
asmall piece of cotton on the deck, said Their
was FIRE, as that cotton was set on fire. an
!,o.s-,..I .of. te."u 'ruu tTaIu. Out could not Sc
where it escaped. On going into the forecas,ls
we discovered some signs Of the lightning, an
were led TO suppose, on very close examina
ton, that alter entering the steerasc il passe
through into the iorecastle and out up the con
panon way. piece Of the fd about eisl
inches long and two or three thick was knock
ed of the foretop, and two or three Of tho ha
yards were found to be cut of, which the ca,
tain Immediately set his men to repairing.
although the cabin and Storage were file
with sort of smoke, which had a sulphurou
smell, no one really supposed the ship to be o
fire, or that the appearances indicated any thin
more than the gas usually following a stroke G
lightning. Some alarm snd anxiety was yer
naturally felt, particularly by the ladies' ant
those who were connected with them bnt still
as there was no increase OF smoke, and no ap
pearance Of fire, the crew went about their reg
ulAr business, and at four O'clock dinner wa
served as usual, the cabin at that Time bein,
clear oi every thing indicative Of danger. Som,
of US could not eat, while there was uuc ertain
ly, we had no appetite. and the meal which ha,
heretofore been one of pleasure, accompanc,
by the reciprocation of good feelings and sal
lies of wit, passed off with dullness and almos
III silence. Capt. Anthony looked in upon u
aS we sat at table, bu, he was too anxious 10 81
down, and did not cease in his rndeavors 4
ascertain with certainty our position. Th
first mate, Mr Dclano. aud the steward opcne
the run and went into il, TO ascertain il ther
was fire of smoke in that part Of the ship, b,
came out without being satisfied either tha
there was or was nOt-the smell was the sam
as that we had at 6rst mostly Of gas, like sui
phur.
Onr dinner was 4 shor, and silent one an
when we went on deck, the Captain said tha
he had little doubt that the ship WAS on fire
and that we must endeavor TO get at it. On
suggestion that we might he obliged to take Il
the boats, II was Immediately remarked BY on
of our French passengers, and responded TO b,
others" Let us take care of the women am
children first" | mention this as honorable Il
'h0se who made il, and as showing that thcr
saS, even at that first moment of danger,
pralseworthy abandonment Of self to the proiec
ion oi others who are naturally more helpless
Not moment was lost in clearing the mai
hatch, the Captain himself leading the way. an,
commencing by throwing over the empty waite
casks and useless lumber which WAS stored a
round the long boat. The mate, With ano,hc
e,ug Of hands. was at the fore hatch. and in
few minutes all hands. including many Of III,
cabin and seerage passengers. wero at worI
hoisting out aud throwing overbo,rd flour ant
cotton.
The work Of discharging the cargo betweer
decks went en- chepyfnlIv amid , s.,cr, 49,,