Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1840-06-12

ion. and mutual confidence, on the part Of all
who were involved in this disaster. The
narrative cannot be read but with the deepes,
sympathy for the painful situation ofthe SUI.
terers, from which they were providentiully
relieved. at almost the last moment when hu.
man aid could be Of any avail.
10 MsIEdiior Of Tie Courier:
BosroN, May 20, ls40
Dear Sir-As the loss Of the unfortunate
ship Poland exciies considerable interest in
this community, take an early opportunity
TO give as complete detail of the occurren-
ces con#ected with it as my memory will
allow. We sailed from New York, or
rather we were taken in tow by the steam
boat Wave, from pier No. 8, in the harbor.
about H. A. NJ on Monday. the | llh inst,
the wind being quite highland were towed
down to Sandy Hook, where the pilot aud
the steam boat 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 SIBERIAN
event by no means common with crew
bound to sea. We also had two cooks, two
stewards. and the wife OF the principal Stew
ard as an assistant in the the ladies' cabin.
The captain and two mates made up our
complement OF men 10 twenty-five. There
were twenty-four cabin passengers, three
of whom could not speak English. and three
others who could not speak French.
Thele were also eleven steerage passen-
gers
Counting all hands. men, women and
children, we had on board sixty-ihree per
sons We had good weather and favorable
breezes, passing about twenty i've miles to
the S. OF Nantucket Shoals, ard going on
prosperously and fast enough to satisfy those
most impatient for short passage until Sat
urday. the 10th. Al IL O'clock, noon, oil
that day. we were in latitude A 50, and lon
gitude SO 80. nearly one-thrd of the pass.
age, and with every hope OF not being on
board more than eighteen days. In the
morning we passed ship bound TO the east,
which we supposed to be the Cotton Planter
from New York for Havre. which sailed
some days before US.
At2, P. NJ or within few minutes oil
that time. il began to rain, and continued, in
showers and squalls. until about 3 o'clock
when severe shower commenced with
large drops, like some OF our summer show
ers after hot and sultry day As most O
the male passengers were in the house on
deck, looking out at the rain and sea, Cap
tain Anthony standing at the door, large
ball Of fire, apparently about twice the siz,
of mans hat. suddenly descended in a hor
izontaI line from the clouds, which appeared
10 be meeting from two different points o
the compass ahead Of us, and struck the ent
ofthe foretopsail yard. on the left hand side
il descended the ties, or some chains. 10 III,
end OF the fore-yard. and ran on the yard Il
the cap of the foremast, where it exploded
with report similar TO that Of cannon
and giving the appearance of the explosion
of bomb. or similar. although on a mucl
larger scale, to the explosions of some Of tn
firework circles which we have had exhibi
ted on the common on public gaas, throw
ing out rays in every direction, like the ray
of the sun. The whole was instantaneous
and was witnessed by two or three of us;
came and passed of in FASH andwa fol
lowed almost at the same instant by peal {
thunder. sharp and loud, but not long no
rumbiing Ii was the only fash of ligh
ming or peal of thunder that we saw Q
heard.
Almost Immediately. Capt Anthony wei
forward with one or two Of the passenger
being aware that we had been struck wit
lightning, TO ascertain il the ship was dan
aged Il was ascer,ained that when the ba
exploded the electric fluid ran down Ii
foremost to the lower deck. where the chat
cable was stows,l, and one of the sleerae
passengers pointing to small piece Of &C
ton on the deck. and there was no fire, I
that cotton was set on fire, and he put it o
By putting his foot on il. We ascertain.
thai the fluid did run round the chain. b
could not see, where il escaped, On gor
into. the forecastle. we discovered sou
signs of the lightning. and were led TO SUI