Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1902-05-13
Little Children Unable
to Drink.
Were Choked With Volcanic
Ashes.
Even the Water in the Harbor Was
Hot.
VOLCANO IN MEXICO.

New York, May 13.--James Taylor,
one OF the officers of the Roraima the
Quebec line steamship which was 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, ST. Chris
topher,. B. w. l.:
1--WE experienced the greatest diff
Guilty in getting into port" said he.
"Apppalling sounds were issuing from
the mountains behind the town, which
were shrouded in darkness. All the
passengers were up and some were
trying to obtain photographs. Sud-
denly | heard a tremendous explosion.
Ashes began to fall thicker upon the
deck, and l could see black cloud
sweeping down upon us. | dived be-
low and dragging with me Samuel
Thomas, gangway man and fellow
countryman, sprang into room, shut
ting the door to keep out the heat
which was already unbearable. The
ship rocked and | expected every mo-
ment it would sink. heard a voice
outside pleading for the door to be
opened. 1t was Scott, first officer, and
l opened the door and dragged him
into the room. Soon it became un-
bearably hot and | went on deck and
all about were lying the dead and dy'
ing. Little children were moaning for
water. did what could for them
/ obtained water. but when 1t was held
to their swollen lips they were unable
to swallow 1t because of the ashes
which clogged their thrOats. One lit
tie child took the water in this man
ner and rinsed out the ashes but even
then could not swallow, so badly was
the throat burned. He sank back un
conscious, and few minutes later
was dead.
''All aft of the ship was afire and
from the land came draughts of terri
BILE heat. At last when / could stand
1t no longer, l sprang overheard. The
water was almost hot enough to par
boil me, but wave soon swept in from
the ocean, bringing with it cool water
was caught in receding wave which
was of tidal velocity and carried out
to sea. Then on the second round o1
the wave | was washed against an up
turned sloop. to which clung. A min
ute later | was Joined by another mar
whom / learned was Captain Muggah
of the Roraima. He was in full agony
and kept begging piteously to be put
on board his ship.
picking up some wreckage and
tool chest | and five others who Joined
me, succeeded in forming rude raft
on which we placed the captain. See
ing an upturned boat ! asked one ol
the five to swim out and bring 1t over
so Captain Muggah might have an op
portunity 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 di
rection of Fort De France. Seeing the
Reddam. which had arrived in por'
soon after we anchored, making fol
the Roraima, said good bye to Cap
tain Muggah and swan to the Reddam
Before | could reach her she burst II
flames and put out to sea. finall!
reached the Roraima about 23O in thu
afternoon and was later taken on b.
the cruiser Suchet. Samuel Thomas
the gangway man whose life wa
saved by Taylor. describes womal
who was burned to death while sh
held her baby in her arms protecting
it with her own body from the fire tha
filled the air. The Cid was alive loni
after the mother ceased to suffer"