Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1902-05-13
A GRAPHIC
DESCRIPTION
OF Last Thursdays Catastrophe As Told by
an Officer Of the Inflated
Roraima.
FROM HIS own EXPERIENCE
Had 10 Jump Overheard to Save His LIfe-Compsiisd
to Leave the CAPTAIN 10 His Fate-A Woman
Seeks to Protect Her Babe, But
Both Perish.

New York. May 13.-James Taylor
one of the officers of the Roraima,
Quebec line steamship, which was de
stroyed in the harbor of st. Pierre
gives graphic story Of the tragedy OF
last Thursday, says a dispatch to the
Herald from st. Kits, Island Of ST.
Christopher, B. w. I.
I'VE experienced the greatest difficult
ty in getting into port said he. CAP
palling sounds were issuing from the
mountains behind the town, which was
shrouded in darkness. All passengers
were up. and some were trying to OBJ
tain photographs. Suddenly I heard a
tremendous explosion. Ashes began to
fall thicker upon the deck, and I could
see black cloud sweeping down upon
us. I dived below. and dragging with
me Samuel Thomas, a gangwayman
and fellowcountryman sprang into a
room, shutting the door to keep out the
heat, which was already unbearable.
The ship rocked and expected every
moment she would sink. heard a
voice on the outside pleading for the
door to be opened. 1t was Scott, the
first officer. and I opened the door and
dragged him into the room. Soon it
became unbearably hot, and went on
deck. All about were lying the dead
and dying. Little children We're moan
ing for water. did what could for
them. T obtained water, but when 1t
was held to their swollen lips they
were unable to swallow, because of the
ashes which clogged their throats. One
little child took water and rinsed out
the ashes, but even then could not
swallow. so badly was its throat burn
ed. He sank back unconscious, and a
few minutes later was dead. All aft of
the ship was afire, and from the land
came draughts of terrible heat At last
when T could stand 1t no longer I
sprang overheard. The water was al
most hot enough to parboi1 me, but a
bringing with 1t cool water. wa
caught In a receding wave, which was
of tidal velocity. and carried out to
sea. Then, on a second round of the
turned sloop. to which 7 clung. A few
minutes later I was Joined by another
man, whom I learned was Captain
Muggah, of the Roraima. He was in
nj =
eously to be put on board his ship.
Picking up some wreckage and tool
chests, I and five others, who Joined
me, succeeded In forming rude raft
on which we placed the captain. Seeing
the upturned boat, asked one Of the
five to swim out to it and bring 1t over
so that Captain Muggah might have an
opportunity to live. The man succeed
ed In getting the boat righted, but in
stead of returning, HE picked up two
of his countrymen and went away In
the direction of Fort de France. Seeing
the Roddam, which had arrived in port
soon after we anchored, making for the
Roraima, said goodbye to Captain
Muggah and swan to the Roddam, Be-
fore I could reach her, she burst in
flames and put to sea. finally reached
the Roraima about 2:30 in the after
noon, and later was taken off by the
cruiser Suchet"
Samuel Thomas, gangwayman,
whose life was saved by Taylor, de-
scribes a woman who was burned to
death while she held her baby to her
arms, protecting it with her body from
the fire that filled the air. The child
was alive long after the mother ceased
to suffer
DEATH STILL STALKS.
Castries, Island of st. Lucia, May 10.
1T is announced by advices this morn
ing (Tuesday) from the Island Of st.
B. W. T., that 1900 persons
perished there since the Soufriere VOL
cano has been In reuptfon.
Hsuackled Reautiea,n t.