The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-06-04
A BOLT OF LIGHTNING.
Terrible Scenes on a Schooner in
Mid-0cean.

One woman and eleven sailors,
the crew OF the ship~recked bark Il.
E. Cam, of Nova Scotia. were landed
in this port yesterday after an
eventful voyage from Tucoluts,
Mexico. The bark left Tucoluta on
March 30th, and bad only been out
two days when she encountered a
succession of tremendous gales, the
sea beating with terrific force against
aud over the vessel. The gales con-
tnued until the Cult of Mexico had
been traversed and the bark made the
open ocean. The bufeling waters
bad caused a series OF leaks, and the
vessel began to fiji rapidly. For three
days the entire crew we're kept at the
pumps. but it was impossible to make
any Roadway against the incoming
water. The vessels course was altered
aud efforts were made to gan the
South Carolina coast, which was about
259 miles west. The captain. how
ever, discovered tc st this would be
impossible, snd the boats were pre-
pared and preparations made to de-
sert the slowly hut surely sinking
bark. On the 9th of April. when
seven and q half feet OF water was
discovered in her hold, g made q
heavy lift TO starboard, and was evil
IDENTIFY preparing to plunge to the
bottom. At this moment the sails OF
a schooner were discovered in signr,
and signals OF distress we're hoisted.
The rescuing vessel proved to be the
George ". Lochner Captain Whit
hank, bound for Philadelphia, and
the entire crew OF the Cam were
taken on board before she sank. The
schooner with the rescued party
eleven men and q woman, the wife OF
the Etewsrd-ssiled away, leaving
the doomed vessel to her fate. That
night the schooner encountered
terrible storm, the wind blowing the
waves mountain high, threatening TO
eugulf the rescued and IeFcuers in a
common grave. The lighting flashed
like great sheets of fire about the
schooner's masthead and the thun-
der split the heavens with such DOW
erful crashes as to drown the sound
OF both wind and waves. At o'clock,
when the storm was at its worst, the
clouds seemed to be parted by
sword of fire, and with q terrific
crash an electric bolt struck the
schooner With a report like the crack
of doom. Captain Whitbapk and
mis- first mate were struck to the deck
and appeared to be dead, while all of
the crew then on deck were stunned
by the shock and blinded by the flash.
A part of the watch who were below
deck and the Captain and crew of the
Cam were hurled from their hunks,
and the whole schooner was envel.
oped in cloud OF sulphurio smoke.
The smell OF birthstone pervaded the
air, and every body expected to go to
the bottom the next moment. The
vessel had, however, not sustained
fatal damage. Her mizzenmast had
been shattered from topmast to mast.
coat, and a portion of her sails torn in
ribbons. The captain and mate rs
covered IN few moments, and all
hands we're set to work looking for
fire, the general suPpostion being
that the schooner had been set on fire
by the lightning. Fortunately such
a calamity bad not occurred, and,
the storm having tpent its fury in the
last shock, the vessel escaped further
injury, and was enabled to reach
Philadelphia in safety under forsaiI
and spanker.
Captain William Brooks of the |
bark Cam, who related the above |
graphic s'ory to Record reporter last
night, estimates the value of the |
lost vessel at so, 900, and the cargo, !
which was of sugar, coffee and gen.
ersl merchandise, at $1,000. The
Cam was owned by James Cosman !
and others, OF Nova Scotia, and was
of SO tons register. Captain Brooks
speaks very highly of the generous
treatment he received at the hands of
Captain Whitbank and his crew.
PHILADELPHIA Record.