SHIPS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IX, Issue 587, 19 June 1858, Page 4

SHIPS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.

One of the most extraordinary instances of the dangers which threaten ships from this terrible element, and one also which affords certain proof of the completeness which with the recent discoveries of practical science enable us toward off its destructive effects, occurred recently to her Majesty's ship Shannon, 50, in her voyage out from this country to China. This fine frigate, under the command of Captain, now Sir William Peel, was ordered out in the spring of last year to join the force in China. .It appears from the ship's log, which has only just reached the Admiralty, that during the voyage out. and when about 90 miles to the south-west of Java, the vessel became .completely enveloped in one of those terriffic thunderstorms so prevalent in those latitudes, and which in former years have caused so much destruction to our ships in traversing the Indian Ocean. The log describes the approach of the storm at 50 4 p. m. in the shape of streams of the most vivid lightning, with deafening thunder, rain and hail, the ship being j driven before the storm,, with remarkable high ' seas, which threatened to poop her. At sp. m. what appeared to be an immense ball of fire covered the main-topgallant mast, whence it seemed to run up the royal pole and exploded into the air with a most terrific concussion; covering all the surrounding space with bright sparks of electrical light, which seemed to be driven rapidly to leeward by the wind. At 5 15 the ship was struck a second time on the mainmast by an apparently immense mass of lightning, and the foretopsail was lowered before the violent gust of wind with which this second shock was attended. At 5 34 ano.ther very heavy discharge of lightning fell on the mainmast, and from this time till 6 p.m. the ship was completely enveloped in sharp forked lightning, accompanied by incessant peals of thunder. At 810 they sheeted home the maintopsail, and at 9 30 set the foresail; a confused sea with long heavy rollers from the W. N". W.., followed this terrible display of atmostpheric electricity. On the next day the ship's course wa3 altered, and the masts and rigging carefully over hauled, but no injury was found to have been sustained to either, nor do any of the men either below or aloft appear to have been hurt in the least. The permanent system of fixed lightning conductors, invented by Sir Snowe Harris, and now universally employed in her Majesty's ships, most effectually i protected both ship and crew. In looking back upon the journals of the Royal Navy, we find an almost similar instance of a frigate being struck three times by lightning under the head of "Remarks on board his Majesty's frigate

Lowestoffee, Bth March, 1795, Minorca distant 5 degrees W., 134 miles." In this case we find _J that the Lowestoffe also got involved in a thun-_l derstorm, and at 12 25 p.m. a heavy flash <j_fl lightning struck the ship, knocking three men _ out of the tops, one of whom was struck dead 1 on the spot. Within five minutes afterwards J the ship was again struck by a heavy flash of _ lightning, which shivered the maintopmast to 1 splinters, and in a minute or two more a still more heavy discharge fell upon her. This third Bhock shivered the foretopmast in pieces—the mainmast to the deck, set fire to the ship in many parts of the masts and rigging, carried away the foretopsail-yard, -struck one man dead, and knocked several otHers, who had most imprudently been [sent aloft out of the tops. The same discharge passed along between decks knocking down many of the sailors, whom it paralized or burnt severely. About half an hour after this they were obliged to cut away the mainmast, and crippled and disabled in the other parts of their rigging, make the best of their way to Minorca. What a contrast is presented by this accident compared with that which hap penned to the Shannon the other day I it iv always gratifying/to record the triumphs of practical science in succouring the other powers of man amid such terrific forces of nature. Timce