Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1902-05-14
OFFICER Of RORAEMA
TELLS OF ERUPTION
Graphic Story of Awful Trag-
edy at st. Pierre.
OCEAN A BOILING cAuLDRoN

Fiery Cloud Swept Down Upon Ship
ping In Harbor and People Died
Almost Instantly from the Intense
Heat.
New York, May 13.-James Taylor
who was one of the officers of the Ro
raima, the Quebec line steamship de
stroyed in the harbor Of ST. Pierre
gives graphic story Of the tragedy
of last Thursday, says dispatch to
The Herald from ST. Kits, island OF
st. Christopher, B. w. l..
1--WE experienced the greatest diff
Guilty in getting into port" said he
Appalling sounds were issuing from
the mountains behind the town, which
was shrouded in darkness. All the
passengers were UP and some were
trying to obtain photographs.
Black Cloud Swept Upon Ship.
Suddenly heard tremendous ex
PAco1OA' EHohC0 pC6@lA w AoAI bAASNOA
upon the deck and l could see black
cloud sweeping down upon us. ]
dived below, and dragging with me
Samuel Thomas, gangway man and
fellow countryman, sprang into a
room, shutting the door to keep out
the heat that was already unbearable
''The ship rocked and I expected ev
cry moment that it would sink. Out
side | heard a voice pleading for the
door to be opened. 1t was Scott, the
first officer and | opened the door and
dragged him into the room.
ut soon became unbearably hot and
l went on deck. All about was ly.
ing the dead and the dying Little
children were moaning for water.
did what | could for them. | obtain.
ed water, but when it was held to
their swollen lips they were unable to
swallow because of the ashes which
clogged their throats. One little chap
took water in this method and rinsed
out the ashes, but even then could not
swallow so badly was his throat burn.
ed. He sank back unconscious and
few minutes later was dead.
Desperate, Springs Overheard.
"All aft the ship was afire and from
the land came draughts of terrible
heat. At laIt, when | could stand it
no longer, | sprang overheard. The
water was hot enough to parboil me,
but wave soon swept in from the
ocean, bringing with it cool water.
Il was caught in the receding wave,
which was of tidal velocity, and was
of the second wave l was washed
against an overturned sloop, to which
| clung. A few minutes later l was
Joined by another man, whom | learn.
ed was Captain Muggah, of the Rorai.
ma. He was in dreadful agony and
kept begging piteously to be put on
board his ship.
Picking up some wreckage and a
tool chest and five others, who joined
me, succeeded in forming a rude raft,
on which we placed the captain. See
ing an upturned boat | asked one of
the five to swim out to it and bring it
over so that Captain Muggah might
have an opportunity to live. The man
succeeded in getting the boat righted,
but instead of returning, he picked up
two of his countrymen and went away
In the direction of Fort de France.
Ship Bursts Into Flames.
Seeing the Roddam, which had ar
rived in port soon after we anchored,
making for the Roraima | said goodby
to Captain Muggah and swan to the
Roddam. Before | could reach her she
burst into flames and put out to sea.
| finally reached the Roraima about
half-past 2 o'clock in the afternoon
and later was taken off by the cruiser
SWchet."
Samuel Thomas, the gangway man
whose life was saved by Taylor, de.
scribed woman who was burned to
death while she held Eer baby in her
arms, protecting it with her own body
from the fire that filed the air. The
child was alive long after it's mother
had aaaaad to cuffor