New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-04-28
xem Orleans gspnbliea''.
DfEilMI JOURNAL OF THE UNITED S'AieS'
6YFlt,al JOURNAL OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.
STRUCK BY LIGHTNING
Burning at Sea of the Ship
Thomas Freeman.
empests and Thunder bOlts-A Nisht Of
H0rrOrs-The Crew and Omcers. with
abe Captains Wife and Daughter
Rescued from O Terrible Fate.

sad mystery of the steamship City OF Boston
with that of the ship Crest of the Wave, ant
the misfortunes of other noble vessels who's
builders and owners thought were stauncl
enough to Withstand the bufetings OF a
angry seas as King Neptune could com
mand on the broad Atlantic. The terrors 0
the latest ocean horror are not only tn,
kissing of hurricanes, the mountainous bill
lows and the drenching storm, out to these
is added the dreaded lightning flash, which
strikes the sturdiest mariner with despair
It was the fate of the ship Thomas Free
man, a noble craft, built in Bath, Maine, bu
sailing from the port of New Orleans, bound
to Cronstadt, Russia, to meet all these dis
asters. and on the eighteenth instant, to b,
burned to the waters edge in mid-ocean
being struck ~ lightning, which perforated
her side as if it was constructed of TISSUE
paper. The horrors OF night on board
burning ship hundreds of miles from shore
with hurricane blowing, aud naught elst
but the ships boats to save crew O
twenty.three, including wife and daughter
may be told feebly in words, but the anguish
and misery of their souls will never bt
known. Fortunately, by the kind hand .
Providence, as they were committing theil
lives to the tiny crafts of their vessel, moi
fully provisioned, they were saved by the
brig Omega. bound from port in Cuba to
New York.
THE INCEPTION OF THE VOYAGE.
The Thomas Freeman, laden with 5000
bales of cotton, left New Orleans bound to
Cronstadt, Russia, on the fifth of April.
Captain Charles Owen, of Bath, Maine, was
in command, having his wife and daughter
on board; his son, Charles ". 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
a delightful one. On the sixth instant an
Choir was cast at the Southwest Pass, and
waiting for favorable weather remained
there until the ninth instant, when, with
j oyous songs, anchor was weighed and all
sail bent towards the port Of their destina-
ton. Light winds and variable, but pleas.
ant weather, ensued until the eighteen til
instant, all on board meanwhile working
contentedly and anticipating a happy ter
mination OF the cruise.
TORNADO.
Monday, the eighteenth instant, when in
latitude thirty-seven north, longitude sew
enty west, the wind came out strong from
the south southeast, and the weather was
very squally. At three o'clock in the after
noon all hands were called to furl topgallant
sails and double reef the topsails, which
was done speedily. Fifteen minutes after.
ward it became terribly dark and threaten
ing in the west /; most of the lower sails
were then furled. Half an hour later the
wind changed suddenly to the west north
west and it blew perfect hurricane, yet un.
der close sail the vessel was kept before it
and plunged madly through the heavy seas,
the high.rolllng waves making clear breaches
over her decks and sweeping every portable
thing away.
A TERRIBLE vIsITANT.
Steering by the wind, as the compass
gave no directions whatever, but constantly
around, and the officers expecting
every minute to be engulfed, another terror
came upon them. Thunderbolts 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 infliction.
brighter fash than all rent wide the heavens,
and in an instant all on board
WERE KNOCKED sENsELEss.
It was critical moment. Rising from a
,tunued condition. the officers, yet half
crazed, looked about, and found to their
oy that the masts were all standing and
,he ship, by appearance, was safe. Oh!
what poor consolation So soon rs the
crew could command strength enough the
pump scuttles were taken off and then
came the terrible conyiction-as the hold
was full of smoke-that the
SHIP WAS ON FIRE.
From fore and aft came the smoke, and
olanched cheeks knew that the danger of
he heavy seas, which washed the deck from
stem to stern, was naught to the foe beneath
.hem-fre. 1t was now life or death-an
earnest struggle TO conquer in the face of
overwhelming Disadvantages.
THE CAPTAINS EFFORTS.
Captain Owen left his wife and daughter
q the cabin when his services were first re.
Iuired upon deck, and until the ship was
ound to be on fire had no fears that his
'essel would be wrecked, because he knew
he staunch craft. Yet, when the smoke
anne oOzing thinly and quietly from beneath
he seams and his worst fears were fully
northwest, to reach, if possible, further to
he northward. At P. NJ. it was moderate
md clear, and in the lull an examination
vas made; but then no perforation of the
hip by the lightning could be found,
Although subsequently 1t was discovered
hat the ''thunderbolt" had gone through
he port side and made hole fully two feet
Quare. The pumps were sounded, but no
water was found at this time. All matches
luu UdlLeuSu UOWQ 10 Keep
'ut the air and all sail made to reach the |
and.
NIGHT OF TERROR.
At ten P. NJ. the wind again shrieked
rom the north-northwest, and the hope of |
he few sails impelling the burning ship
oward land was gone. They must be |
urled, and were. In little while there
Ifter the upper deck began to heat and the
cad in the scuppers to melt. Two hours
more and the demOniac flames Kissed and |
ent their forked tongues from every part |
II the vessel. Miss Owen, a young lady of |
nineteen, stood the ordeal nobly, while the |
rev listened respectfully to the orders from
heir superiors. Smoke all around Blind
ng, sufocating, with tempest raging and
he seas now and then breaking over an i'll |
ated vessel! One O'Clock A. M, finding |
hat no means could be used to save the |
hip, all hands were called to
GET READY THE BOATS.
This was speedily done and all provi- |
Toned. Courage0usly all preparations were |
made to leave the ship, and at two O'Clock |
|. NJ, with the frightful expectation of the |
re burning through the deck or being /
wamped by the turbulent sea- a few articles /
I dress and provisions for the ladies were /
ecured, and little hard tack for the men.
Daylight was earnestly looked for, and it
anne at last with increased seas. At eight |
!. NJ, nineteenth instant, the wind abated, |
nd as the deck still held firmly sgainst the |
re the boats yet remained alongside. hop
ng against hope for some favorable change.
SAVED.
AS with heavN hearts the word was about
0 De given to "shove off, into the bitter
ca and trust to merciful God for protec-
ION and safety, Captain Owen discovered
all to the southwest of his craft steering
orthwest, and Immediately jumped on
eek again at the peril of his life, and set
is ensign union down at the peak and also
t the mainmast head. at half past 10 A.
l., deliverance was at hand, as the vessel in
eht, seeing the signals OF distress, bore
"a L = r. ! i