Year: 1870

Prssirated 6y Lishtninx-A Gaiiani Rescue


The brig Omega, Captain Peter Kerr, from
Cienfuegos, which arrived at New York yester-
day, brought to port Captain Charles Owen and
his wife, and the crew of the ship Thomas Free
man, which was burned at sea on Tuesday last
From Captain Owens report it appears that his
ship left New Orleans on Tuesday, April s. for
Cronstadt, and had light and variable winds
until Monday last, which opened with very
squally weather and strong, gales from the
southeast. At $50 P. M. the wind changed
suddenly to the northwest, and the squall came
over with great violence.


While the crew were engaged shortening sail
at 4'15 ?. NJ, a bright flash of lightning struck
the ship, and every person on board was pros
trated. AS soon as the shock passed off the
masts were examined, and all found to be stand
ing, and the ship by all appearances safe. Soon
after smoke was discovered issuing from the
pump-wel. Upon removing the pump-well
scutte it was found that the ship was full of
smoke, and apparently on fire fore and aft. The
closest inspection failed to reveal to those on
board the place where the lightning had entered.
Upon sounding the pumps Captain Owen salts
fled himself that the ship was making no water
From all the matches the black smoke rolled up
in dense volumes, rendering the blackness OF the
night more ip ense, and nearly suffocating the
crew.


In order % prevent the air from reaching the
ships hold, wet sails were thrown over the
chain lockers, and desperate eXertions put forth
to run the vessel into the land on the Gulf coast.


At 10 o'clock the decks began TO heat, and the
lead in the scuppers on the port side to melt, the
pitch running at the same time from the seams
on deck All hope of saving the ship was now
abandoned, and the boats got in readiness with
the necessary provisions to leave her to her fate.


At daybreak on Tuesday morning the gale was
still raging, with high sea, yet no fire had yet
made its appearance. At 8 o'clock the storm
ahated somewhat, though every moment it was
expected the fire would burst through the deck.
At this time sail was discovered to the south
west. The smouldering ship then displayed
signals of distress, which the strange craft an
swered in the storm by promptly bearing down
upon her. She proved to be the Omega, bound
to New York. Her commander, Captain Kerr,
signalled that he would stand by and afford all
the assistance in his power The mate of the
Thomas Freeman was then sent in charge of
one of the boats with the captains wife and
daughter to the brig. The sea was rough, and
it was very difficult getting alongside.


Atl1 80 A. M. the fire burst through the deck
on the port side. At l'30 P. M. all hands left in
the long boat, saving nothing but few provi-
| sions, chronometers, and some clothes. As the
| brig could not take more than the two quarter
boats on board, the long boat was let go adrift.
At $50 P. M. the ship was entirely enveloped
| in flames, the mizzen mast soon afterwards went
| overheard and at p. NJ she went down. In
leaving the burning ship the discovery was made
that the lightning penetrated the port side of the
| ship, cutting hole nearly two feet square near
the bends under the main rigging.