The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-05-05
Fire at Sea,
The Ship Thomas Freeman in q Storm She /,
Struck by Lightning and Burned Captain,
Crew, and Passengers Saved.

Ehe Ship Thomas Freeman in Storm She f.
Struck by Lightning and Burned Captain,
Crew, and Passengers Saved.
From the n. Y. Tribune, April 90
By the arrival at this port yesterday of the
orig Omega, of sydney, G, B., Capt Kerr
rom Cleniuegos, having on board Capt
Charles Owen his wife and daughter, and
he crew of the ship Thomas FRI eman, the
following particulars of the loss of that yes
sci by fire are obtained
Capt Owen reports That he sailed from New
Orleans in the Thomas Freeman, on Thurs
day, April 9th, crossed the bar at Southwest
Pass IN the 9Th. al a.. m and proceeded TO
sea had light and variable winds up to Mon.
day, April 18th, which commenced with strong
Gales from ). 5. f., and squally weather,
steering n. Z. 10 to II miles per hour at 3 p.
m. furled topgallaut sails, and double reeted
the topsails tore ana ait weather dark and
threatening in the west turled mainsail
spanker, upper fore and mizZen tOpsails, and
hauled up the toresail at $3.50 p. NJ. the
wind changed suddenly to W. n. w, and the
squall came over with great violence at AIS
p. m. the ship was struck by lightning, which
Frustrated all on board.
AS soon as the shock passed off, found the
masts all standing, and the ship, by appear
ances, all safe but we soon found smoke
coming up from the pump well took off the
pump well scuttle and found the ship full OF
smoke, and apparently on fire lore and ait !;
wind W.; hauled the ship to N. N. W., to get,
ii possible, to the north of the Cuff and TO
the land at p m. moderate and clear,
found the ship on fire fore and aft, but on eX
animation. could find no place where the
lightning had entered; sounded the pumps
and found the ship tree of water fastened
down chain lockers and hove sails over to
keep the air from tn. hold, keeping the salts
wet with water endeavored at the same
time to get the ship to land, and made ali
sail to n. n. W. wind w; at 10 p m, wind
hauled to w. n. ~, with strong gale and
heavy squalls double reefed the topsails and
furled mainsail soon found the decks began
to heat, and the lead in the scuppers on the
port side very hot; at midnight, ship on fire
at all parts, pitch frying out of the seams on
deck, and smoke all around, and found that
no means could be used to save the ship; got
all the boats ready with necessary provisions
aud water, and made preparations to leave
the ship.
At pa. m, 10th, hove the MAYNARD to the
mast and hung the long boat and other boats
in the tackles, expecting every moment the
hre would burst through the deck at day
light, a. m, had violent gales with high
sea from N. N. w; at s q. IN. wind somewhat
ahated, but still strong gale and high sea;
at 30 discovered a sail to the s. w. steering
TO N. n. E.; set the ensign, union down, ct
the gaff and at the msinmast head at 1890
the brig came alongside, and proved to be the
Omega (of Sydney, c. B J, Capt. Kerr, from
Clenfuegos, bound to New York told him
our situation, and he offered as all the assist
ance in his power; lowered the starboard
quarter boat aDd sent the mate with four men
with the captains wife and daughter to the
brig put out the long boat and sent her with
small quantity of stores for the crew sea
rough and difficult to get alongside of the
brig at 1:30 fire burst through the deck on
The port side abaft the main rigging made
arrangements to save our lives and leave the
ship, she being enveloped in fire and smoke,
the lightning having gone through the side of
tle ship Oh the port side, near the middle OF
the wales or bends under the main rigging,
making hole apparently two feet square.
AT 1:30 p. m. ali hands on board the brig
saving nothing but "a few provisions, chro-
and part of our clothes sea
rough could only take on board the brig our
two quarter boats; as the captain of the brig
did not think it possible to hoist in tie long
boat, we let her go adrift at 2:30 ship en-
tlrely enveloped in mass OF flames fore and
aft at p. m the mizzenmast went by the
board soon after the foremost and main.
mast fell, and tn. ship burned rapidly at
p IN the ship disappeared, and thus ends
he melancholy fate of the ship Thomas Free
man.