Daily Kennebec journal., 1902-05-19
HEROIC BRAVERY
Of Captain of Steamer Roddam
Saved at St. Pierre.
Plenty of Supplies Now on Hand for
Martinique Sufferers.
Excitement Quieting characterization
at ST. Vincent Terrible.

steamer EtOna arrived here, today.
from the River Plate. via St Lucia.
where she called for bunker coal.
May 10.
AT st. Lucia. May H." says CAPTAIN
Canten, Il Went on board of the
steamer Roddam, which had escaped
from the terrible volcanic eruption at
Martinique three days before. The
Eoddam was covered with 4 mass of
fine blush gray dust or aches of ce-
nent-like appearance. In some parts
il laid two feet deep on the decks
This matter had fallen in d red hot
state all over the steamer, setting fire
10 everything it struck that WAS burn
Bile and when it fell on the men on
board, burned OFF limbs ana large
pieces of flesh. This was shown by
finding portions Of human remains
when the decks were cleared Of the
debris. The rigging, ropes, tarpaulirs,
sails, awnings. ctc.. We're charred or
burned and most of the upper stan
chions and Spars had been swept Over
board or destroyed by the fire. Sky
lights We're smashed ana cabins were
filled with volcanic dust. The scene of
ruin was deplorable
Il visited the captain of the ROddam
in the hospital 1T st. Lucia, where he
gave me an account Of his terrible cX-
pericnco. He had just arrived ANA an
chorcd at st. Pierre. Martinique, on
the. morning of Thursday. May 3. The
captain was talking to the vessels
agent, when hc saw what appeared to
be an enormous black cloud, like wall
with patches Of fire in it. approaching
the sea from the land. With it came
an immense tidal wave of boiling wa
ter accompanied by loud ana terrible
noise. He shouted take shelter to the
crew.
Immediately the steamer was
caught and tossed over on her side. al
most capsizing. Darkness fell like q
pan ana volumes Of red hot matter
shoWered down. while the air was thicl:
with sulphurOus fumes ana dust. The
sea was confused mass Of boiling
mud. Fire soon broke out in different
parts of the ship. groans ana shouts Of
:; gony from the injured people mingled
with the terrible noise of boiling wa
ter and rushing air, and the ground
with the falling fire. caused q most
horrible confusion. This shock lasted
for u few minutes.
The captain of the Roddam signal
led to start the engines at full speed.
It happened, fortunately. that although
the crew had been running off from
duty at the engines, some Of the on
gineers were near by The terrific tidal
wave which had swept over the Rod
dam and nearly capsized her, had part
ed the cable and the vessel was adrift.
When the engines started it was
found that the steering gear had be
come disabled in some manner and
could not be worked.
For more than an hour the Rod
dams engines were worked backing
ana going ahead, with the hope Of
bringing her head toward the sea and
away from the land. Once she got
dangerously near the steamer Roraima.
Both vessels were in flames. Some of
those aboard jumped into the boiling
water: some fell dying to the deck. All
This time the red hot matter was fall
ing and the water was kissing and
steaming; dense masses Of vapor,
smoke and dust filled the air and
poisonous fumes spread about.
After some time the Roddam
steering gear moved a little ana en-
abled the captain to head her out tt
sea and with considerable difficulty, ne
managed to steer her a little distance
from the land. As the air cleared the
scene on board of the Inflated Rod
dam became all the more CHASTITY. The
shin steamed on through thick hot
dust. The screams from the injured
became more audible. Some rushed
frantically about with their clothes OF
tra ana large pieces of flesh burnec
from thei:. arms. others in their agony
laid writhinc in the red hot dust.
in about two hours the air became
gradually clear An investigation o
the casualties on board showed thal
besides the captain, who was frightfui'
ly injured. only two engineers, tW'
sailors and the boatswain were abi'
TO do duty.
Fire was still burning about th'
ship and the rigging was in iiaIneS
The captain decided to try to reach m
island of ST Lucia, 40 miles dlStaht
This he succeeded in doing 10y ocioc'
in the evening of May ..
IN the time occupied on this terilbi'
voyage the experience OF the SUI
Niyors was still worse than that a.
ready gone through. The brave cap
tain and his few men fighting the lire
exhausted and scalded, struggled ah'
worked trying to do something 10 as
sist their dying shipmates. nos
working below strived to keep up IN
steam. The captain, suffering IN
greatest agony. succeeded in navlsat
ing his vessel safely to the port OF 'as
tries. St. Lucia. with Is DEAD pooie
living on the deck and human li',o
scattered about. A sailor stood %!
constantly wiping the captains ihJure'
eyes ~,
II think the performance OF the itou
dams captain was most wonderiui an
the more so when i saw ms pi.i ~ :
condition. / do not understand no" -
kept up; yet when the steamer
rived at st. Lucia ana medical "Na. 20,
ance was procured, this praNe th,
asked the doctors TO attenu -,
others first and refused to De 'ie'''e>
until this was done -, o,,toi,
MY interview with the -, !,
brought out this account, iele NJ, -,
good spirits and receivins ese'S ,yonl,
fort. The sight of his race o, =
frighten anyone not prepares - tb,
we sailed from St. Lucia on 'tl' =
morning of May II and a. ,,aod r, y
the afternoon passed the isi.al .aarfa,t
Martinique. The weather Mas Few q
ly o1aar and we had n good view !"