The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-05-19
SCENE Of RUIN IS
MOST DEPLORABLE,
Captain of Steamer That Escaped
From St. Pierre NarrateS Vivid
Story Thanks to America.

New York. May i9-The Norton line
steamer Etona arrived at New York.
yesterday from the River Platte. via st.
on May 10.
"At ST. Lucia on May 1lth," says Capt.
Cantell, "I went on board OF the steamer
Roddam. which had escaped from the
terrible volcanic eruption at Martinique
three days before. The Roddam was COW
cred with mass OF fine blush gray dust
or ashes OF cement-like appearance.
Some parts II laid two feet deep on the
decks. This matter had fallen in red
hot state all over the steamer. setting
fire to everything IL struck. that was
burnable. and when 1t fell on the men
on board. burned off limbs 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 or destroyed by the fire. Sky
lights were smashed and cabins were fill
ed with volcanic dust. The scene of ruin
was deplorable.
IL visited the captain OF the Roddam
in the hospital at st. Lucia. where he
gave me an account OF his terrible expe-
rience. He had just arrived and anchored
at st. Pierre. Martinique, on the morning
,f tai
talking to the vessels agent when he
saw what appeared to be an enormous
black cloud, like a wall with patches of
fire in II approaching the sea from the
land.
TERRIFIC TIDAL WAVE.
with Il came an immense tidal wave
OF boiling water accompanied 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 a pail and volumes of red-hot matter
showered down, while the air was thick
with sudphurous fumes and dust.
"The sea was a confused mass of boil
ing mud. Fire soon broke out In differ
ent parts of the ship. Screams, groans and
shouts Of agony from the injured people
mingled with the terrible noise or boil
ing water and rushing air. and together
with the falling fire caused n most hor-
rible confusion. This shock lasted for a
few minutes. The captain Of the Roddam
signalled TO start the engines at full
speed IL happened, fortunately, that al
though the crew had been rung of from
duty at the engines, some OF the engi-
neers were nearby.
"The terrific tidal wave which had
swept over the Roddam and nearly cap
sized her had parted the cable and the
vessel was adrift. When the engines start
ed II 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 going ahead, with the hope
OF bringing her head toward the sea and
away from the land. Once she got dan
gerously near the steamer Roraima. Both
vessels were In flames.
Sor1e of those aboard jumped into the
boilln; water: some fell dying to the
deck All this time the red-hot matter
was falling into the water and Kissing
and s,eaming; dense masses OF vapor,
smoke and dust filled the air and pol
sonous fumes spread about.
SCENE WAS CHASTITY.
After some time the Roddam's steer
ing gear moved n little and enabled the
captain TO head her out to sea and with
considerable difficulty he managed TO
steer her a little distance from the lead.
AS the air cleared the scene on board OF
the ill-fated Roddam became all the
more CHASTITY.
The ship steamed on through thick hot
dust. The screams from the injured
became more audible. Some rushed fran
finally around with their clothes on hre
and large pieces of flesh burned from the
arm, others in their agony writhered In
the red hot dust.
In about two hours the air became
gradually clear. An investigation OF
casualties on board showed that besides
the captain, who was frightfully injured,
onIy two engineers, two sailors and the
boatswain were able to do duty.
Fire was still burning about the ship
and the rigging was in flames. The cap
tam decided to try to reach the Island OF
St Lucia, 45 miles distant. This he sue
ceeded in doing by 6 o'clock on the even
ing OF May 3. In the time occupied on
this awful voyage the experience OF the
survivors was still worse than that al
ready gone through.
The brave captain and his few men
fighting the fire, exhausted and scalded,
struggled and worked. trying TO do some
thing TO assist their dying shipmates
Those working below strived 60 keep up
the steam. The captain. suffering the
greatest agony. succeeded In navigating
his vessel safely 10 the port OF Castries,
ST. Lucia, with Is dead bodies lying on
the deck and human limbs scattered
about.
MASS OF ASHES AND LAVA.
A sailor stood by constantly wiping
the captains injured eyes. I think the