The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1902-05-24
TWAS A STORM Of FIRE.
Awful Experience Of Steamer
ROddam at st. Pierre.
SEA CAPTAINS GRAPHIC STORY.
1t Rained Fire and the Sea Was Like
Unto Boiling Mud.
SEA CAPTAINS GRAPHIC STORY

arrived at New York recently from
the River Plata via st. Lucia, where
she called for bunker coal on May TO-
sat st. Lucia on May H." says
Captain Cantell, II went on board
the British steamer Roddam, which
had escaped from the terrible volcanic
eruption at Martinique three days
before. The state Of the ship was
enough to show that those on board
must have undergone an awful exper-
ience. The Roddam was covered
with mass Of fine blush gray dust
or ashes of cement like appearance
In some parts it laid two feet deep on
the decks. This matter had fallen in
a red hot state all over the steamer,
setting fire to everything it struck
that was burnable and, when it fell
on the men on board, burned off little
bits and large pieces Of flesh. This
was shown by finding portions Of
human remains when the decks were
cleared of the debris. The rigging,
ropes, tarpaulins, sails, awnings, etc,
were charred or burned and most of
the upper stanchions and spars had
been swept overheard before. Sky
lights were smashed and cabins were
filled with volcanic dust. The scene
of ruin was deplorable
81 visited the captain of the
Roddam in the hospital at st. Lucia,
! where he gave me an account of his
terrible experience. He had just
arrived and anchored at st. Pierre,
Martinique, on the morning of Thurs
day, May s. The captain was stand
ing near the accommodation ladder
talking to the agent Of the vessel,
who had come on board, when he saw
what appeared to be an enormous
black cloud, like wall with patches
of fire in it, approaching the sea from
} the land. With it came an immense
tidal wave of boiling water, accom-
panied by loud and terrible noise.
He shouted take shelter to the
crew. Immediately the steamer was
caught and tossed over on her side,
almost capsizing. Darkness fell like
pail and volumes of red hot matter
showered down, while the air was
thick with Isulphurous fumes and
dust. The sea was confused mass
of boiling mud.
"Fire soon broke out in different
parts of the ship. Screams, groans
and shouts of agony from the injured
people, mingled with the terrible
noises of boiling water and rushing
air, together with the falling fire,
caused a most horrible confusion and
fright. The shock lasted few
minutes.
"Tne captain Of the Roddam, know.
ing that his vessel had steam up, anc
instantly realizing the necessity o.
escape, rushed to the engine room
annunciator and signaled below tC
i start the engine at full speed. The
anxious moments increased by hi
sufferings from burns and agony O
mind, were relieved by the Vibration
of the engines and the reply from
below. 1t happened, fortunately
that although the crew had been runs
of duty at the engines, some Of thl
engineers were nearby. The terrible
tidal wave which had swept over th,
Roddam and nearly capsized her, hat
parted the cable, and the vessel wa
adrlft, When the engines started |
was found that the steering gear ha'
become disabled in some manner, AM
could not be worked. For nearly al
hour the Roddam's engines wer
worked, backing and going ahead
with the hope Of bringing her hea
toward the sea, and away from tn
land. Once she got dangerously nea
the steamer Rorraima. Both vessel
were in flames. Some Of those aboar
jumped into the boiling water: som
fell dying to the deck All this tim
the red hot matter was falling, an
the water was Kissing and steamin
dense masses Of yapor Smoke an
dust filled the alrand poisonous fumI