Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-04-28
#istellany.
BURNING OF THE THOMAS FREEMAN.

The New York Herald has the following
account of the burning of the ship Thomas
Freeman of Bath, and the rescue of the
officers, crew, and others aboard.
The Thomas Freeman, laden with $500
bales of cotton, left New Orleans bound
to Cronstadt, Russia, on the 9Th of April.
Captain Charles Owen of Bath, Me-, was
in command, having his wife and daughter
on board; his son, Charles w. Owen, first
officer; James Amen, second officer, and
Mr.. Perkins third officer, together with
seventeen seamen, making in all twenty
three persons. The voyage promised to
be delightful one. On the 9th inst, an
chor was cast at the Southwest Pass, and
waiting for favorable weather remained
| there until the 9th inst, when with joyous
songs, anchor was weighed and all sail
bent towards the port of their destination.
| Light winds and variable, but pleasant
weather. ensued until the 18th inst, all on
board meanwhile working contentedly and
anticipating happy termination of the
cruise.
Monday, the inst, when in latitude 81
north, longitude 20 west, the wind came
out strong from the south-southeast and
the weather was very squally. At three
o'clock 2. NJ, all hands were called to furl
topgallant sails and double reef the top
sails, which was done speedily. Fifteen
minutes afterwards it became terribly dark
and threatening in the west most of the
lower sails were then furled. Half an
hour later the wind changed suddenly to
the west-northwest and it blew perfect
hurricane, yet under close sail the vessel
kept before it and plunged madly through
the heavy seas, the high-rolling waves
making clear branches over her decks and
sweeping every portable thing away.
Steering by the wind. as the compass
gave no directions whatever, but constant
ly whirling around, and the officers ex-
Ipecting every minute to be engulfed, an
other terror came upon them. Thunder
bolts tore the blackened sky. and sheet
lightning ever and anon made the rigging
ablaze. 1t was early in the afternoon,
but the darkness was equal to night
Flash after flash came and disappeared,
until. when hoping that their craft might
be spared this last infiction, a brighter
flash than all rent wide the heavens, and
in an instant all on board were knocked
senseless. 1t was critical moment.
Rising from stunned condition, the
officers, vet half crazed, looked about, and
found to their joy that the masts were all
standing and the ship, by appearance, was
safe. Oh! what poor consolation! So
soon as the crew could command strength
enough the pump scutiles were taken off
and then came the terrible conviction-as
the hold was full of smoke-that the ship
was on fire.
From fore and aft came the smoke, and
blanched cheeks knew that the danger of
the heavy seas, which washed the decks
from stem to stern, was naught to the foe
beneath them-fire. 1t was now life or
death--an earnest struggle to conquer in
the face of the overwhelming disadvant-
ages.
Captain Owen left his wife and daughter
in the cabin when his services were first
required upon deck, and until the ship was
found to be on fire had no fears that his
vessel would be wrecked, because he
knew the stanch craft. Yet when the
smoke came oozing out thinly and quietly
from beneath the seams and his worst
fears were fully realized, he ordered the
ship to head north-northwest, to reach if
possible further to the northward. At six
p, NJ, it was moderate and clear, and in
the lull an examination was made; but
then no perforation of the ship by the
lightning could be found, although subse-
quently it was discovered that the ''thun-
derbolt" had gone through the port side
and made hole fully two feet square.
The pumps were sounded, but no water
was found at this time. All matches and
openings were battened down to keep out
the air and all sail made to reach the land.
At ten P. NJ, the wind again shrieked
from the north-northwest, and the hope of
the few sails impelling the burning ship
toward land was gone. They must be
furled and were. In little while there
after the upper deck began to heat and the
lead in the scuppers to melt. Two hours
more and the demoniac flames Kissed and
sent their forked tongues from every part
of the vessel. Miss Owen young lady of
nineteen stood the ordeal nobly, while the
crew listened respectfully to the orders
from their superiors. Smoke all around
Binding, suffocating, with tempest rag
ing and the seas now and then breaking
over an ill-fated vessel! One o'clock A.
NJ, finding that no means could be used to
save the ship, all hands We're called to get
ready the boats.
This was speedily done and all provis-
ioned. Courageously all preparations
| were made to leave the ship, and at two
o'clock A. NJ, with the frightful expecta-
| tiph VI tiiO hiO pui lhuS luIOuSh tHc ucCh
or being swamped by the turbulent sea,
few articles of dress and provisions for
the ladies were secured, and little hard
tack for the men. Daylight was earnestly
looked for, and it came at last with in
creased seas. At eight A. NJ, 10Th inst,
the wind abated. and as the deck still held
firmly against the fire the boats yet re-
manned alongside, hoping against hope for
some favorable change.
As with heavy hearts the word was about
to be given to ''shove of" into the bitter sea
and trust to merciful God for protection
and safety, Captain Owen discovered
sail to the southwest of his craft steering
northward, and Immediately jumped on
deck again at the peril of his life and set
his ensigus union down at the peak and
also at the main-mast head. At halfpass
ten A. NJ, deliverance was at hand, as the
vessel in sight, seeing the signals Of dis
tress, bore down to the burning craft and
saved them. The vessel proved to be the