C/20] 
A Relation of the Efe^ of a Thunder Clap on the 
Compafs of a Ship on the Co afi of New England. 
ON Jiity Anno i6li. The Ship called the Jl- 
bemarle, whereof Mr. Edward Lad was then Mafter, 
being a hundred Leagues from Cape-Cod, in Latitude 48^^. 
about 3^ p. m. met with a Thunder Stormj the lightning 
burnt the Main-top-Sail, fplit the Main Cap in pieces, 
rent the maft all along y There was in Special one dread- 
ful clapofThunder, in report bigger then of aGreatGun, 
at which all the Ships company were amazed 5 then did 
there fall fomething from the Clouds , upon the Stern 
©f the Boat, which broak into many Im.U parts, fplit 
one of the Pumps; the other Pump much hurt alfo; It 
was a Bituminous matter, fmelling much like fired 
Gun-powder: It continued burning in the Stern of the 
Boatj they did with fticks diflipate it, and powred much 
water on it, and yet they were not able by all that j:hey 
could doe , to extinguiili it, until fuch time as all the 
matter was confum'd. But the ftrangeft thmg of all is yet 
to be mentioned. 
When night came obferving the Stars, they perceived 
that their compaffes werechangedj as for the Compafles 
in theBittakle, the NorthPoint was turn'd clear South. 
There were two other Compafles unhung in the Locker 
in the Cabin, in one of which the North Point ftood 
South, like that in the Bittakle , as for the other , the 
North Point ftood Weft So that they failed by a needle 
whole Polarity was quite changed; The Seamen were at 
firft puzzled to work their Veflel R^ght , confidering 
that the South Point of their Compafs was now become 
North 
