Waterbury Democrat., 1902-05-19
0UTOF DEATH'SJAWS
Captain of the Roddam Tells of Mont Pelee's Eruption.
THE TERRIBLE RAIN OF FIRE.
After the Disaster Only Five of the Ships Crew Were Fit For Duty. These, Led by the Heroic Cap-
 tain, Ran Vessel to Safety.


 These, Led by the Heroic Cap-
 tain, Ran Vessel to Safety.
 NEW YORK, May 19.-The Norton line steamer Etona has just arrived here from the River Plate via St. Lu- cia, where she called for bunker coal on May 10.
 .'At St. Lucia on May 11,'' says Cap tain Cantell, T went on board of the British steamer Roddam, from London, 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 expe- rience The Roddam was covered with a mass of fine bluish gray dust or ashes of cementlike appearance. In some parts it lay two feet deep on the decks This matter had fallen i'll a redhot state all over the steamer, setting fire to everything it struck that was burnable, and when it fell on the men on board it burned off limbs and large pieces of flesh. This was shown by finding DOT tions of human remains when the decks were cleared of the debris. The rig ging, ropes. tarpaulins, sails, awnings, etc, were charred or burned, and most of the upper stanchions and spars had been swept overheard or destroyed by the fire. Skylghts were smashed and cabins were filled with volcanic dust The scene of ruin was deplorable.
 T visited the captain Of the Roddam in the hospital at St. Lucia, where he gave me an account of his terrible ex perience. He had just arrived and an chored at St. Pierre, Martinique, on the morning of Thursday, May 8. The captain was standing near the accom- modation ladder talking to the vessels agent, who had come on board, when he saw what appeared to be an enor- nous 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, accompanied by a loud and terrible noise. He shouted, Take shelterp to the crew.
 Immediately the steamer was caught and tossed over on her side, almost capsiZing. Darkness fell like a pail, and volumes of redhot matter showered down, while the air was thick with sul phurous fumes and dust. The sea was g 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. min gled with tke terrible noise of boiling water and rushing air. together with the falling fire, caused a most horri- ble confusion and frightful din. This shock lasted for a few minutes.
 'sThe captain of the Roddam, know ing that his vessel had steam up and instantly realizing the necessity of es- cape, rushed to the engine room annun- ciator and signa1ed below to start the engines at full speed. The anxious mo- ments, increased by his sufferings from burns and agony of mind, were reliey- ed by the vibration of the engines and the reply from below. 1t happened, for tunately, that. although the crew had been rung off from duty at the engines, some of the engineers were near by. The terrific tidal wave which had swept over the Roddam and nearly capsized her had parted the cable, and the vessel was adrift. When the en- zines started, it was found that the steering gear had become disabled in some manner and could not be worked. For more than an hour the Roddam's engines were worked, backing and go- Ing ahead with the hope of bringing her head toward the sea and away from the land. Once she got danger ously near the steamer Roraima. Both vessels were in flames. Some of those aboard jumped into the boiling water; some fell dying to the deck. All this time the redhot matter was falling and the water was hissicg and steaming dense masses of yapor. Smoke and dust filled the air, and poisonous fumes spread about.
 After some time the Roddam's steering gear moved a little and ena- bled the captain to head her out to sea, and, with considerable difficulty, he managed to steer her a little distance from the land. As the air cleared the scene on board the i'll fated Roddam became all the more ghastly The ship steamed on through thick hot dust The screams from the injured became more audible. Some rushed frantically about with their clothes on fire and large pieces of flesh burned from their arms. Others in their agony laid writh- ing in the redhot dust.
 .'In about two hours the air became gradually clear. An investigation of the casualties on board showed that be- sides the captain, who was frightfully injured, only two engineers. two sailors and the boatswai, were able to do duty.
 Fire was still burning about the ship, and the rigging was in flames The captain decided to try to reach the Island of St. Lucia, forty-five miles dis tant. This he succeeded in doing by 6 o'clock on the evening of May s. The steamer was difficult to handle owing to the partly disabled steering gear. which could not be made to work prop erly. In the time occupied on this terri bIe voyage the experience of the surviv- ors was still worse than that already gone through. The brave captain and his few men fighting the fire. exhaust ed and scalded. struggled and worked, trying to do something to assist their dying shipmates. Those working below strived to keep up the steam.
 "The captain, suffering the greatest agony, succeeded in navigating his yes
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