Evening journal., 1902-05-19
DEAD LITTRRRD
RODDAM'S DECK
Terrible Experience Of Crew
in Fleeing From the Vol
CanO'S Eruption

~
New York, May 19.-The Norton
Line steamer Etona arrived here yes
terday from the River Platte via st.
Lucia, where she called for bunker |
coal on May 10. AT ST. Lucia, on
May IL" says Captain Cantrel. I'll
went on board the British steamer
Roddam, which had escaped from the
terrible volcanic eruption at Mart- |
nique three days before The state OF
the ship was enough to show that those
on board must have undergone an aw-
full experience. The Roddam was
covered with a mass of fine blush gray
dust or ashes of cement-like appear
ance. In some parts it laid two feet
deep on the decks. This matter had
fallen in a red-hot state all over theI
steamer. setting fire 70 everything It'll
struck that was burnable. and, when
it fell on the men on board burned or
limbs and large pieces of flesh. This
was shown by finding portions of hui
man remains when the decks were
cleared of the debris. The scene OF
ruin was deplorable
81 visited Captain Freeman. OF the
Roddam, in the hospital at St Lucia,
| where he gave me an account of his
terrible experience. He had just ar
rived and anchored at st. Pierre, Mar
Unique, on the morning of Thursday
May s. The captain was standing
near the accommodation ladder, talk
ing to the agent of the vessel. when
he saw what appeared to be an enor-
nous black cloud, like a 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 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 sulphurious fumes and
dust. The sea was a confused mass of
I 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
, noise of boiling water and rushing air
5 together with the falling fire, caused
a most horrible confusion and fright
full din. This shock lasted for few
S minutes
1.-THE captain Of the Roddam. know
ing that his vessel had steam up
4 rushed to the engine room annuncia
!. tor and signalled below to start th'
T engine at full speed. 1t happened for
u tunately that although the crew hat
e been rung off from duty at the engines
Z. some of the engineers were nearby
i The terrible tidal wave which hat
+ swept over the Roddam and nearl,
e capsized her had parted the cable ans
the vessel was adrift. When the en-
gines started it was found that tht
steering gear had become disabled II
some manner and could not b,
worked. After some time the Rod
dams steering gear moved a little anI
enabled the captain to head her on
to sea, and he managed to steer he
a little distance from the land Al
; the air cleared the scene on board th'
ill-fated Roddam became all the NOR
! CHASTITY. The ship steamed on through
E thick hot dust. The screams iron
! the injured became more audible
9 Some rushed frantically about, witt
their clothes on fire and large piece
z of flesh burned from their arms; 9th
ers. in their agony, lay writhing in TIL
= red-hot dust
In about two hours the air becam
i gradually clear An investigation 0
the casualties on board showed that
y besides the captain, who was fright
fully injured, only two engineers, twl
= sailors and the boatswain were able L
I do duty. Fire was still burning abou
the ship. and the rigging was il
q flames. The captain succeeded il
reaching ST. Lucia on the evening 0
May 8. In the time occupied on thi
terrible voyage the experience OF tn
survivors was still worse than tina
!, already gone through The brave CAP
! tain and his few men, fighting the fire
. exhausted and scalded, struggled ant
i worked, trying to do something to as
sist their dying shipmates. Thos
. working below strived to keep up thl
! steam. The captain, suffering thl
greatest agony, succeeded in navigat
! ing his vessel safely to the port O
/, Castrles, st. Lucia, with is deaf
f bodies lying on the deck and human
= limbs scattered about A sailor stool
4 by constantly wiping the captains
injured eyes think the performance
of the Roddam's captain was mos
t. wonderful. and the more so when
5. saw his pitiful condition.
4 "My interview with the eaptaii
brought out this account / left hin
in good spirits and receiving ever,
comfort The sight of his face woult
frighten anyone not prepared {,
\ see il -