Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1840-06-16
From The Brother Jonathan.

III LIE OF May, III latlluUc III IL, Longitude
l5G, on fire. The passengers and crew,
land a portion Of the cargo were saved. The
Poland had on board "a cabin, apd | steer
Iagc passengers. The cargo of the Po-
Hand consisted Of 270 bales Of cotton, 27OO
Ibrls. Of -four, 80 hhds. of bark, % barls.
poi ashes, and $4,000 in specie.
We were gratied by early assurance
of the safety of all on board, by our friend
J. II Buckingham, Esq, of Boston, from,
whom in right hearty grip of .hc hand
We had proof that he was not only ;flre,
but as good as new, despite Of all the dis
astcrs which had befaIlcn him. The Ship
Poland was struck by lightning on Satur-
day, the 18Th May, five days out, in lat. Al
IS, long. 50 30. Mr.. =. states that with
Capt. Anthony and others, during heavy
q1an, ut three o'clock, on the afternoon
II that day, he saw the lightning descend
Ike a single ball Of fire, and strike tie
Iar5oard fore royal yard arm, that it
. nee dropped 10 the fore yard, and there
ming in TO the mist, seemed to vanish
d separate. During the whole storm
'moro was bat one clap of thunder, and but
one stroke of lightning. The concentra-
ted fury Of the clouds seemed spent in that
one bJlt which struck as above described.
The sutIimity Of the spectacle will forever
be a theme of conversation 10 those who
witnessed it; and while in the Providence
Of a good God eli the souls on board have
escaped to tell OF it, they cannot regret the
dangers and prvations which they have
endured, which have enabled them to sreak
Of sublime and terrific spectacle, such as
few have Witnessed, and survived to dcs-
cribc. He who holds the waters in the
hollow of his hands, knows only to how
many gallant ships and gallant men, sig
nal like that Of the descent Of the lightning
upon the Poland has been the precursor
OF Il tcrribl, deoth-lcayng no testimony
to surviving friends OF its manner or its
time.
It was at first thought by the deeply in
tcr,slcd spectators that on the fore yard,
The fluid spent itsali and separated. Ex-
animation destroyed this hope, and il was
discovered that the tjght-ring had passed
clown the mast into the forward hold, and
'Gr d the cotton slowed there. lmme late
ly after the lightning had struck the ship,
iCa9l. Anlhony went between decks and
sc1mmancrd throwing over cotton and -four
t. ret at the hold. On taking up the low
or ha,cl the smoke burst out to such de-
rrpo That they wore compelled to shut down
all III, h1tcdos. The cabin was lmmcdl-
tely filled with smoke, SO much so that
.a hpuls could not remain long enough TO
t ou. a trunk The men were, however
Grivru from their work by the smoke, and
Ia strong sulphurous smell. At eight o.
clock IT,, matches were closed, and the
bouts were cleared and got out at about ten
I. II. the females and children, with as
1la1y men as was thought proper. making
- IN MI, were put into the long boat and
dropped ostcrn, whore they remained all
that night, and the next day and night, un-
til Monday mornng-the ship being hove
to, in order TO be easy; and in hopes of be-
ing discovered by some passing vessel.
Fears were entertained that if sail were
made, the masts burnt off below the deck
would 60 by the board, and the flames rush
up, Laying all hope out of the question.
I'm Monday morning, the wind having
Decreased, the passengers were taken on
board, and sail was made for the n. T..
-'Phc fire seemed rather to have abatcd than
increased, and the glass bulls eyes, and
.thc decks planks did not seem so hot as
Jon the day previous. Abou! one O'Clock Il
sail was discovered, and the Poland was
pat before the wind 70 speak hcr.-By nine
+. NJ. not soul was left in jeopardy on
l.eerL A.e p.land: all being transferred on
board the Clifton, without, to 4 SC the en-
emphatic language of Mr. Buckingham,
without so much lnidry as scratch
when we state tina. the wind blew gale
ut the time Of this tr0ns-shipment, we cam
no, too much admire tho sNhl and care OF
ants. J. b. lngcrsoii Of the Clifton, ana
Anthony Of the Poland, and their officers;
nor can we too highly praise the coo'neSS
and presence of mind Of the crew and some
Of the passengers, and the obedience OF all
10 directions; exposed as they were, TO an
untricd and terrible danger.
In this condition they remained until
Monday, at , p NJ, when they were taken
Off by the Clifton. During this time they
were in a most horrid state OF suspense,
the fire below constantly increasing, so
mich so. that tho decks were momenlariy
becoming hotter. Her sides were so hot,
tl,at when the ship rolled, the planks out
Of water would instantly become dry and
smoke. The weather, from Saturday, the
lime she was struck, till Mon3ay, 7. NJ,
was fortunately fine. During these two
days the boats Zone long and two small:
were along side, and ready at moment
ao'icc Capt. Anthony behaved with 4