EFFECTS OF LIGHTNING. 32J 



Set on fire by the electric matter ; and the fire commm'cated 



from it to the sandlewood, pla'^ed in a large quantity ever the 



olibanura ; which had produced a c;reat mass of fire in the hold 



before it was discovered, when it forced itself through the decks The ship wafi 



and burnt the ship to the water's edge, although every exertion ^^^^^^yed. 



was made to save her. 



In August 1 804, the Bombay frigate, belonging to the Hon- The Bombay 

 curable East India Company, at anchor in Malacca Road, ^'fgtg^j^^'Jg'lj^' 

 <vas struck by lightning. It embraced the centre masts of the and her sails 

 ship and rendered the niainmast unserviceable ; although the the°",,(j3*j^g,t" 

 yai ds received no injury. The sails were set on fire by the <3amaged. 

 lightning, notwithstanding they were wet by the heavy rain 

 which continued to fall at the time, and assisted the exertions of 

 the crew in extinguishing the fire. 



In July 1804, the ship Page, at anchor in Malacca Road, fihif) Page had 

 was struck by lightning. It first embraced the fore-top-gallant- ^^\ ^^^.H 

 mast head, shivered this mast and the fore-topmast in pieces, ed ; but not 

 and continued its vertical direction down the foremast, tore and ^^' 'J'^^^*- 

 rent it greatly, without injuring any of the yards, which were 

 fixed across on these masts. This happened a little after mid- 

 night ; at which time we were about thirty miles distant from 

 Malacca, and perceived much distant lightning in the direction 

 of it, although none prevailed where we were. On the following 

 night, there was a hard squall from the coast of Sumatra, with 

 much thunder, lightning, and rain. The lightning this night 

 Was very vivid, accompanied with a loud hissing noise over th» 

 town, but fortunately it did no damage during the night, 

 excepting that the flag-staff of the fort (in the morning) was 

 found injured by it. 



In September 1804, the ship Ardassier, at anchor in Malacca The same befel 

 Road, had her main-topmast and top-gallant-mast destroyed Ardassier, 

 by lightning ; but none of the yards or caps received injury. 



In September 1802, the ship Daniel, distant from Malacca Ship Daniel's 

 about nine or ten miles, had her fore-topmast and top-gallant- &c^ g'eTon^fire 

 mast destroyed by lightning, during a squall of wind and rain, by lisrhtningj 

 The topsail and topmast rigging, although wet with rain, were notafected' 

 set on fire by the lightning ; and, with the topmast, were cut 

 away to save the ship. The yards were not injured by the 

 lightning. 



Vol. XIV,— August, 1806, Tt Hi» 



