Royal Society. 371 



The ship which met with the accident of which the effects are 

 the subject of this communication, was the American packet the 

 New York, of 526 tons, commanded by Captain Bennet. She 

 sailed from New York for Liverpool, on the 16th of last April ; and 

 on the morning of the 19th was struck by lightning, which shattered 

 the main royal mast, and gliding down the iron chain main-top-sail 

 tie, burst the iron bands on the main-mast head. It was thence 

 conducted by the iron main-top-sail sheets, to the iron work of 

 the pumps. It then entered between decks, demolishing the bulk- 

 heads that formed the store-room, in its way to a small leaden cis- 

 tern : whence it was conducted, by a leaden pipe, through the star- 

 board side of the ship, where it started three five-inch planks, ten 

 feet in length, at the lower part of the bends. Many other parts of 

 the ship, not in the direct line of its passage, were also shattered, 

 apparently from the effects of a lateral explosion ; several doors 

 and partitions were thrown down, a large mirror in the cabin was 

 shivered into small fragments, and a piano-forte was thrown down, 

 its top blown off and broken in pieces. The loudness of the ex- 

 plosion was appalling and spread universal consternation. A sul- 

 phureous smoke, which had issued with a bluish flame from the 

 hatches, filled the cabins ; and at first inspired alarm, lest the cargo 

 in the hold, consisting chiefly of cotton and turpentine, had taken 

 fire ; but on clearing the main hatch, it was soon ascertained that 

 no danger from fire existed. The ship however had sprung a leak 

 which made four inches of water every hour, but which on washing 

 the pumps was found to be under command, and would not prevent 

 her proceeding on her voyage to England. 



When the first terror created by the accident had somewhat sub- 

 sided, it was found that none of the passengers or crew had sus- 

 tained any injury. The chief mate was sleeping in the birth op- 

 posite to the main hatch, near the spot where the lightning entered 

 the store-room, the lock of which was forcibly driven into his cabin : 

 but he was not himself affected by the shock, and a quantity of 

 gunpowder which was kept under (lis bed was fortunately not ig- 

 nited by the lightning. An ewer and a basin placed on a stand over a 

 child's bed were thrown down by the explosion, but the child had 

 escaped unhurt. A remarkable effect was however produced on an 

 elderly gentleman, who for the last five years had not been able to 

 walk half-a-mile at a time : terrified by the crash, he forgot his debi- 

 lity, and springing from his bed, rushed on deck with singular quick- 

 ness and agility. He has retained, ever since the event, the power 

 over the muscles of his limbs, derived from this sudden emotion. 



The threatening aspect of the heavens, the appearance of numer- 

 ous water-spouts on the surface of the sea, and other electrical in- 

 dications, gave rise to apprehensions of further danger, and induced 

 the captain to put up the conductor with which he was provided, 

 but which had not been previously applied. It was made of iron 

 links eighteen inches long, connected by iron rings one inch in dia- 

 meter ; and was furnished at the top with an iron rod four feet long 

 and half an inch in diameter, tapering to a fine point. This rod was 

 fixed so as to rise three feet above the main royal mast head ; and 



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