Daily National Intelligencer

NEW YORK, JUNE 13.

Loss of the Solon. The valuable ship Solon, a regular London trader, belonging to this port, was struck with lightning and set on fire, on the evening of the 27th of April. On the following day, at 11 o'clock, and before the flames, which were raging in the hold, had burst through the deck, the captain, crew and passengers, 38 in number, were most providentially rescued from their perilous situation, by the brig Poacher, from Liverpool. The circumstances of the case are more fully detailed in the following article:

From the Boston Daily Advertiser of Thursday.

Arrived, the brig Poacher, Malcolm, 65 days from Liverpool, and 34 from Fayal, with crockery and glassware—April 28th, fell in with the ship Solon, Stoddard, from London for New-York, with hemp dry goods, copper, &c. which had been struck with lightning the evening previous, and set on fire in lat. 40, 15, long. 27, then 20 days out. Took off the passengers, 27 in number, and crew, amounting in all to 38, and shortly after the fire burst through the deck, and we saw the masts go over the side. The following account of the disaster, furnished by a passenger, and politely handed us from the Exchange Coffee House, agrees with the minutes made on the log book as recorded by Mr. Topliff, with which we have also been favored:—"On the 27th of April, at nine o'clock P. M. a body of lightning struck the ship, attended by a singular explosion, disordering every thing in its passage down the mainmast. The captain, with many others on the upper deck, were at once knocked down; on the middle deck, the same effect was produced—yet in either case no lives were lost. Immediately columns of smoke rose from the hold through every aperture; and such was the strength of the devouring matter, that it must, at the same instant, have set fire to every part of the cargo which was liable to take fire from it. In this emergency, the thickness of the smoke became such as to prevent any further respiration. All rushed on deck in confusion—the lightning still bursting forth, so that the whole sea appeared like a furnace.

Here was one of the most distressing scenes that ever was witnessed—the most part of the people half naked, and it being impracticable to return for their clothes, and with no more of the necessaries of life than would be required for about two days subsistence. All that now remained to our hopes, was to keep the fire under by chocking up every aperture where the smoke had issued—and should this be effected, we were fearful a few hours might close the scene. The boats could not take two thirds our number, and the tremendous sea also forbid the trial; the hope of falling in with a vessel was precarious, yet the hand of a gracious Providence was over our heads. In this state we continued till next day about eleven o'clock, when the brig Poacher, capt. Malcolm, appeared in sight, and ultimately saved our lives.

The last boat had scarce reached the brig when the Solon's mizen mast fell by the board, and the main mast followed in about half an hour after. At this time the flames had burst out in every direction, so that Providence had sent this vessel to our aid in a most critical moment.

So great a number of persons being added to those already on board the Poacher, she having before seven passengers, it became necessary to make for the Western Islands for water and provisions. We arrived at Fayal on the 1st of May, where every attention was paid to our wants by Mr. Dabney the American Consul, and other persons, particularly Messrs. Searle Parker, Bayley and Correa."

Three of the Solon's passengers here went on board the ship Norfolk, for London; seven of the passengers and crew on board the schooner Prudence, Leggett for Halifax, and the remainder have arrived at this port in the Poacher. The persons who have arrived here express the warmest gratitude for the attention of Capt. Malcolm, and of the officers, passengers and crew of the Poacher.