Rutland Herald

SHIP POLAND BURNT AT SEA!

The packet ship Poland, Captain Anthony, which sailed from New York for Havre on the 11th instant, was struck by lightning on the fifth day out, in lat. 41 35, long. 58 30, at 3 P. M. during a shower of rain. The lightning struck the fore top gallant yard on the larboard side, and ran down the ties to the foreyard, thence along the foreyard to the head of the foremast, where it knocked off a piece of the fid of the topmast. It then ran down the mast into the lower hold, where it is supposed it set fire to the cotton which was stowed near the mast. After an ineffectual attempt to get at the fire to extinguish it, the men being driven from their work by the smoke, the hatches were closed about eight o'clock and the boats were cleared and got out, and, about ten P. M. the females and children, with as many men as was thought proper, were put into the long boat, and moored astern, where they remained all night, and the next day and night till Monday morning, the ship being hove to, in order to be easy, and in hopes of being discovered by some passing vessel. On Monday morning, the wind having very much increased, with a rising sea, and the fire not appearing to have much increased, the boats were hoisted in again and sail made to the N. E. About 1 o'clock, a Liverpool sail, bound to N. Y. succeeded in saving them from a watery grave.

The ship was abandoned about 10 o'clock A. M. at which time the fire was very fast increasing, and the decks were growing hotter every minute. The passengers and crew saved little except the clothes they had on, and a few light articles of small value.