The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-19
Her Anchor Chains snapped by the
Same Force, and Steering Gear
Also Rendered Useless.
AN HOUR IN A SEA OF FLAME
TRYING TO GET THE VESSEL OUT
OF THE HARBOR.
Only Five Wounded Men to Help Him
His Own Injuries Very Severe
The Trip to st. Lucia.

NEW YORK. May 1S.-The Norton line
steamer Etona arrived here to-day from
the River Plata via st. Lucia. where she
called for bunker coal on May 10.
AT St. Lucia on May II" says Captain
Cantell. Il went on board the British steam
er Roddam. which had escaped from the
terrible volcanic eruption at Martinique
three days before The state of the ship
enough TO show that those on board
must have undergone an awful experience.
The Roddam was covered with a mass of
tne. blush gray dust or ashes of cement
like appearance. In some parts it lay two
feet deep on the decks This matter had
fallen in a red-hot state all over the steam
er, setting hre to everything il struck that
was burnabe. and when ii fell on the men
board burned off limbs and large pieces
OF flesh. This was shown by finding por-
tiOns OF human remains when the decks
were cleared of the debris. The rigging,
ropes. tarpaulins. sails, awnings, >tc., were
charred or burned, and most of the upper
stanchiOns and spars had been swept over
board or destroyed by fire. Skylights were
smashed and cabins filled with vol
canic dust. The scene of ruin was de-
plorable.
II visited the captain of the Roddam IN
the hospital at St. Lucia. where he gave me
an account OF his terrible experience. He
had just arrived and anchored at ST. Pierre
on the morning of Thursday. May s. The
captain was standing near the accommoda-
zion ladder taking 10 the agent of the YES
sci. who had come or board, when he saw
what appeared TO be an enormous black
cloud, like wall with patches of fire in II,
approaching the sea from the land. With
II came the immense tidal wave of boiling
water, accompanied by loud and terrible
noise He shouted, Take shelter to the
crew. Immediately the steamer was caught
and tossed over on her side. almost cap
sizing. Darkness fell like a pail and vol
umes of red-hOt matter showered down.
while the air was thick with sulphurous
fumes and dust. The sea was a confused
mass of 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 rush
ing air. together with the falling fire,
caused a most horrible confusion and
frightful din. This shock lasted for a few
minutes.
SHIP UNMANAGEABLE.
''The captain of the Roddam knowing
that his vessel had steam up, and instantly
realizing the necessity of escape. rushed to
below TO start the engines at full speed.
The anxious moments. increased by his suf-
ferings from burns and agony of mind,
were relieved by the vibration of the
gines and the reply from below. 1t hap
pened, fortunately. that although the crew
had been rung off from duty at the engines
some OF the engineers were near by. The
terrible tidal wave which had swept over
the ROddam and nearly CapsiZed her had
ma ted nEa Il e nFa "A
When the engines started il was found that
the steering gear had become disabled IN
some manner and could not be worked. For
more than hour the ROddam engines
were worked, backing and 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 10 the deck. All this time
the red-hOt matter was falling and the
water was Kissing and steaming dense
masses of vaDor. Smoke and dust filled the
air and poisonous fumes spread about
After some time the Roddam's steering
gear moved a little and enabled the captain
10 head her out 10 sea and. with ccEsid-
erable difficulty. he managed TO steer her
a little distance from the land. As the air
cleared the scene on board the ill-fated
ROddam became all the more CHASTITY. The
ship steamed on through thick hot dust.
The screams from the injured became more
audible. Some rushed frantically about with
their clothes on nre and large pieces of
flesh burned from their arms; others in
their agony laid writhing in the red-hot
I'm about two hours the air became grad
uallv clear. An investigation OF the casual
ties on board showed that, besides the cap
tain. who was frightfully injured. only
two engineers. TWO sailors and the boat
swain able 10 do duty
Fire was still burning about the ship
and the rigging was in flames. The captain
decided TO try to reach the Island Of St.
Lucia forty-five miles distant This he sue
ceeded in doing by o'clock in the evening
OF May S. The steamer was difficult TO
handle owing 10 the partially disabled steer
ing gear. which could not be made TO work
properly. In the time occupied on his terri
bic voyage the experience of the survivors
was still worse than that already gone
through. The brave captain and his few
men lighting the fire. exhausted and
scaIded. struggled and worked trying 10 co
something 70 assist their dying shipmates.
Those working below strived 20 keep up
the steam. The captain. suffering the great
est agony. succeeded In navigating his yes
sci safely 20 the port Of Castries St Lucia
with eighteen dead bodies lying on the deck
and human limbs scattered about. A sailor
stood by constantly wiping the captains
injured eyes
HEROIC PERFORMANCES.
81 think the performance of the Rod
dams captain was most wonderful. and the
more so when / saw his pitiful condition.
do not understand how he kept up; yet
when the steamer arrived at ST. Lucia and
medical assistance was procured this brave
man asked the doctors 10 attend TO the
others first and refused 10 be treated until
this was done.
My interview with the captain brought
out this account. ] left him in good spirits
and receiving every comfort. The sight OF
his face would frighten any one not pre-
pared 10 see IL. We sailed from St Lucia
on the morning OF May II. and az o'clock