The Litchfield County Post

Tremendous Storm at sea.—The following singularly interesting narrative is communicated to the Liverpool Commercial Chronicle of May 12 :—

"Ship New-York, Prince's Dock, Liverpool, May 11, 1827.

"SIR—I trust that, although a stranger, I shall find a sufficient apology, in the very uncommon nature of the occurrences herein described, for troubling you with the detail of the following particulars. This ship has twice been struck with lightning on her present voyage from New-York. On the 19th day of April, our third day out, about half past five in the morning, being in our berths, we were roused by a sound like the report of cannon close to our ears. In a moment we were all out, and the cabin and all parts of the ship were filled with a dense smoke, having a strong smell of sulphur. From the deck word was quickly passed that the ship was on fire. The consternation which for some time prevailed may be more easily imagined than described. Every one ran on deck with a full impression that the ship was in a blaze. It had been broad day, but so dark, so dense, and so close upon us were the clouds, as to produce almost the obscurity of night. There was just sufficient light to give a bold relief to every object in the appalling scene. The rain poured down in torrents, mingled with hail stones as large as filberts, which lay fully an inch thick. Over head blazed the lightning on all sides accompanied by reports almost simultaneously, thus evincing its nearness. The sea ran mountains high, and the ship was tossed from one sea to another with incredible rapidity. One appearance was peculiarly remarkable. The temperature of the water was at 74 degrees of Fahrenheit, while that of the atmosphere was down to 48. This produced a copious evaporation, and caused immense clouds of vapour to rise, which ascending in columns all around us, exhibited the appearance of innumerable pillars supporting a massive canopy of clouds. These phenomena, are extremely unusual, no person on board ever having witnessed any thing like it before. In all directions might be seen water spouts, which, rising fearfully to the clouds seemed actually to present to the eye a combination of all the elements for the destruction of every thing on the face of the deep. Altogether the scene was one of awful sublimity, which baffles description. Amid this scene of impending ruin, when all nature was in the utmost confusion—when nautical science and experience could avail nothing—while an irresistible element was playing about us, and the ship seemed on the very verge of fate; when, in short, dismay and despair was reflected from every other countenance—nothing could exceed the calmness with which every order was given, to examine the ship in prospect of meeting fire below deck—nothing could equal the manner in which every one was encouraged, with the hope of security, even beyond what in reason could be expected; thus I but echo the sentiments of all on board.

"But I hasten to my narrative. Some parts of the ship and spars were for a moment on fire but were quickly extinguished by the rain. The ship was then, though roughly, examined to ascertain where the electric fluid had penetrated among the combustible part of the cargo below the lower deck. This investigation disclosed the following facts: The lightning, having struck the main royal mast head, shattered the mast head, and, descending thence, penetrated the deck in one of the store rooms, the bulk heads and fittings of which are completely demolished. Then separating, one part was conducted by a leaden tube to the side of the ship, through which it passed out between wind and water, starting the ends of three five inch planks. Another portion from a store room passing into the ladies' cabin, shivered to atoms the plate of a large mirror, leaving the frame uninjured. From the looking glass to the pianno-forte was an easy transition; it touched the instrument with no delicate impulse, dismounting it and leaving it out of tune. Thence it passed through the whole length of the after cabin and out at the stern windows. Fortunately we were all in our berths at the moment. Upon these facts I would venture briefly to remark, that the mast head was bound with four iron hoops, say from two or three inches wide, and nearly half an inch thick. These attracting the fluid and being themselves insulated by other less powerful conductors, would naturally the instant accumulate a large repletion of the fluid, which by the violence of its action, burst the hoops asunder, and shattered the mast head and cap. Into the cabin store room it seems to have been conducted by a leaden pipe near the main mast under the deck.—The quick-silver on the back of the mirror was sufficient to attract it thither, when it would be diffused over the whole surface of the glass, which being the most perfect non conductor known, was thus shattered into countless pieces. The atmosphere being very moist, the dampness of the cabin floor for want of a better conductor, might probably aid in carrying it to the windows.

"Being all in our berths, enveloped in beds and bedding of non conducting materials, we reposed in comparative safety, while the deathly bolt careered around us with fierce & restless energy. Doubtless, a featherbed is the most safe retreat in such cases. Had it been later in the day, and the passengers about the cabin, the chances are, that it would have been fatal to many of us.

"The operation of the second shock was very different from the former, and is more deserving of attention as furnishing a new instance of the efficacy of lightning-rods as a protection at sea. We had a chain conductor on board; but it not being the season to expect much lightning, and the first shock coming on quite suddenly, it was not up at the time. The morning squall was over; it continued, however, to blow fresh all the day and about noon, heavy clouds began to gather on every side, rolling their volumes apparently among the rigging. We had reason to expect more lightning, the conductor was prepared, and Capt. Bennett ordered it to be raised to the main royal mast head. It consisted of an iron chain, having links, one fourth of an inch thick, and two feet long, turned in hooks at each end & connected by rings of the same thickness, and of one inch annular diameter. This chain was fastened to a rod of iron, half an inch thick and four feet in length, with a point well polished and tapered, in order to receive the fluid with facility; it was secured to the main royal mast, the rod extending two feet above the mast head, thence it was brought down over the quarter; and repelled by an oar, protruding, say ten feet from the ship's side, and sinking a few feet below the surface of the water.

"Dr. Franklin was of an opinion that a rod of this size would sustain without injury the severest shock of lightning. I have been thus minute in stating the dimensions of the chain for the double purpose of conveying some idea of the force of the shock, and suppressing the necessity of providing larger conductors. The chain, however, in this instance performed its office and it was in happy time to avert a blow that, in the opinion of all on board, must have sent this staunch vessel in an instant to the bottom.

"Soon after 1 P. M. we saw lightning; a little before 2 o'clock observed a very smart flash: looking at my watch which marks seconds, I counted four, when the report followed: I felt no alarm, however having frequently known it to approach nearer without any injury. At two o'clock we were astonished by another shock like that in the morning; the flash was simultaneous. I happened to be in the cabin with another passenger: a ball of fire seemed to dart down before us: at the same time the glass in the round-house came rattling down below. Those on deck agreed that the whole ship appeared to be in a blaze, from the vividness of the principal flash, which they distinctly saw darting down the conductor, and agitating the water. All parts of the ship, as before, were filled with smoke smelling strongly of sulphur.

"The ship was again thoroughly examined. The conductor had been rent to pieces by the discharge and scattered to the winds: small fragments of it were found on deck; in saving the ship it had literally yielded itself to the fury of the blast. The pointed rod was found to be fused and shortened several inches, and covered with a dark coating; some of the links snapped off and others melted.—The whole operation was singularly striking, and affords another of those rare cases where the conductor yielded to the violence of the shock, while it effectually averted the bolt from the object it was designed to protect.

"Mr. Ross, the second officer, was prostrated and three of the men struck, but none much injured. It affected the polarity of all the compasses, causing them to vary from the true point and between each other. They gradually assumed a bearing, by which we have steered though still three points out as we have just discovered. The captain's chronometer, was very materially affected; it usually crosses the Atlantic without varying three seconds; it has now proved to be out as many degrees; and 3 lever gold watches, belonging to three gentlemen passengers in the ship, contracted the magnetic power to such a degree as actually to require the principal part of the steel work to be renewed."