Detroit Advertiser and Tribune (Detroit, MI), 24 Jun, 1877
- Full Text
STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. - The schooner Eveline, bound from Chicago for Alpena, when about sixty miles out from the former port on Wednesday night, was struck by lightning. The bolt shivered the mainmast to pieces, throwing three large pieces over the vessel's sides. The large spar was split perpendicularly in two, the electric current following the grain of the wood in a circular manner until it reached the main boom jaw, which is enclosed in a band of iron fastened by a large bolt. This bolt was literally cut in two, and carried out of its place with great force. The mate, George Mayom, was severely injured, but it is believed he will recover. The left side of his body, where he received the worst injury, is blistered and the skin burned off from the shoulder to the foot, while the right leg and hands and arm are severely burned. He also suffered internal injuries and bled freely.
- Media Type:
- Item Type:
- Lightning strikes to lakes ships were fairly common, being reported four or five times a year. Though there are a fewreported instances of vessels being destroyed by a stroke, the results were usually as shown here. According to my records, only the schooner APPELONA (1822) was directly sunk, though the steamers HERO (1901) and HENDRICK HUDSON (1860) and the prop SAMOA (1909)were destroyed by fires started by lightning strikes.
- Date of Original:
- 24 Jun, 1877
- Local identifier:
- Language of Item:
- Dave Swayze
- Copyright Statement:
- Public domain: Copyright has expired according to the applicable Canadian or American laws. No restrictions on use.
Maritime History of the Great Lakes