The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-04-26
shio Thomas freeman Of Bath, strticlt
~ s,ishtning and Burned ht Sen.

terrible disaster occurred in mid-ocean on |
the 18th inst The ship Thomas Freeman |
Capt Chas Owen, which left New Orleans |
thirteen days before, was struck by thunder
bolt, which made hole about two feet square
on the port side of the vessel. Soon after the
shock, which Frustrated all on board, the ves-
sci was found to be on fire, but the flames were
controlled until the next morning, when the
brig Omega, of Sidney. c. B, Can't. Kerr,
from Cieniuegos, was signalled, and, promptly
responding, took off the ships company. in
GLIDING two ladies' the wife and daughter of
the Captan-all of whom were brouo hit in
safety to New York Thur ,day. Capt Owen. in
his statement says at 3 IL OF clock p Mr.. on
the 18th, the weather having been threatening
all day, the wind changed suddenly to the
northwest and the squall came over with great
violence; at ALP p NJ. the ship was strnck
with fash of lightning or thunder bolt.
which Frustrated all GU board; as soon as the
shock passed of, we found the masts all stand
ing, and the ship, by appearances, 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 fi;e fore and aft; hauled the ship to north
northwest, to get if possible, to the land; at
P. M. it was moderate and clear; found the
ship en- fire fore and aft,but on examination
| could find no place where the lightning had
| entered; sounded the pumps, the ship making
| no water; did all that was possible TO keep the
air from the bold by fastening down the lock-
| er3 and covering them with wet sails, and tried
to get to land, under heavy gale which
| sprung up.
| At midnight the ship was on fire at all parts.
| the pitch frying out Of the seams on deck, and
smoke all around, and we found that no means
could be found to save the ship. We got all
the boats ready with necessary provisions and
water, and made preparations to leave the
ship. At 2 A. NJ, 10Th, we hove the main
yard to the mast, and hung the long boat and
other boats in the tackles, expecting every
| moment the fire would burst through the deck.
At daylight, A. NJ, we had violent gales
with high sea from north-nOrth- At 8
| A. M. the wind somewhat abated, but still
there was a strong gale and high sea. At
half past we discovered a sale to the south
west, steering to the north-north-e We
set the ensign union down at the gaff and at
the manmast head. At half past 10 the brig
came along side, and proved to be the Omega
Syney, G. B., Capt Kerr. from Cenfuegos
bonnd to New York; we told him our situation
and he offered us all the assistance in his
power.
At II IL o'clock the fire burst through the
deck on the port side, abaft the main rigging
| we made arrangements to save our lives and
leave the ship, she being enveloped in fire and
smoke, the thunderbolt having gone through
the side of the ship OH the port side, near the
middle of the wales or bends, under the main
rigging, making hole apparently two feel
l square. AZ IL W., ali DduuS were Oh
board the brig. We saved nothing but few
provisions, chronometers, and part of ou1
clothes. The sea was SO rough that We could
only lake on board the brig our two quarter
boats; as the Captain of the brig did not think
it possible to hoist in the long boat we let hel
go adrift At 21-2 the sh. was entirely en-
veloped 10 a mass Of flames fore and aft. A
8 p. M. the mizzen-mast went by the board
soon alter the ioremast and mainmast fell, ant
the ship was burning rapidly.
Captain Owen states that at p. NJ. thu
vessel disappeared, but she must have contiu
ued to burn until the evening of the Goth, TO
on that day she was seen by Captaia Laird o
the steamer Dacian At that time the fame
had reached such height that it was though
she had been deserted, for no one could lv,
in such mass OF fire. On the starboart
quarter he saw the tackle of one OF the boat
hanging from the davits, and from this he con
cluded that the passengers and crew had LEI
! her 70 her fate. After remaining sufficien
length of time to pick up any persons tia
might be in the water, the boat returned, hav
ing been unable to find any one