Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Story
October 17, 1751
The Virginia Gazette
Richmond, Williamsburg, Richmond County, Virginia
What is this article about?
Capt. Wood recounts a voyage from Cadiz via Gibraltar to South-Carolina, hit by a gale and then a midnight lightning strike on March 10th that killed three crewmen, injured others, and severely damaged the ship with shattered masts, burst pumps, and torn planks amid sulphurous smoke.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Extract of a Letter from Capt. Wood, at South-Carolina, to his Friend in London.
"We left Cadiz the 20th of January, and next Day had a hard Gale of Wind westerly, which drove me into Gibraltar; which I left the 3d of February, and had a fine Passage until I got within 120 Leagues of this Place; where on the 10th of March, about Midnight, I met with a dismal Crack, together with a Shower of Fire, which broke over us, as if the whole Dissolution of the World was come. It killed me three Men, and several others much hurt; it split my Topgallant Mast to Pieces, shattered my Main-mast in such a Manner that I am obliged to get a new one. It split my Pumps, burst one of them between Decks, tore up three of my lower Deck Planks, and burst through my main Wale, about two Foot above Water, and filled the Ship full of a Cloud of sulphurous Smoke. The Crack was of no longer Continuance than the Snap of breaking a Pipe."
"We left Cadiz the 20th of January, and next Day had a hard Gale of Wind westerly, which drove me into Gibraltar; which I left the 3d of February, and had a fine Passage until I got within 120 Leagues of this Place; where on the 10th of March, about Midnight, I met with a dismal Crack, together with a Shower of Fire, which broke over us, as if the whole Dissolution of the World was come. It killed me three Men, and several others much hurt; it split my Topgallant Mast to Pieces, shattered my Main-mast in such a Manner that I am obliged to get a new one. It split my Pumps, burst one of them between Decks, tore up three of my lower Deck Planks, and burst through my main Wale, about two Foot above Water, and filled the Ship full of a Cloud of sulphurous Smoke. The Crack was of no longer Continuance than the Snap of breaking a Pipe."
What sub-type of article is it?
Disaster
Extraordinary Event
Journey
What themes does it cover?
Catastrophe
Misfortune
Survival
What keywords are associated?
Lightning Strike
Ship Damage
Maritime Disaster
Crew Casualties
What entities or persons were involved?
Capt. Wood
Where did it happen?
At Sea, Within 120 Leagues Of South Carolina
Story Details
Key Persons
Capt. Wood
Location
At Sea, Within 120 Leagues Of South Carolina
Event Date
10th Of March
Story Details
Capt. Wood's ship encounters a violent crack and shower of fire at midnight on March 10th, killing three men, injuring others, and causing extensive damage including splitting masts, pumps, and deck planks, filling the ship with sulphurous smoke.