The copper era. (Clifton, Graham County, Ariz.) 1899-1911, 1902-05-22
BELLOWS OF LAVA
ROLLED DOWN.
a Settling Observation-Disclosures
Death to Thousands.

James Taylor, one OF the officers OF
the Rolama, the Quebec line steam
ship which was destroyed in the har-
Dor at St Pierre, gives graphic
story OF the tragedy to the Herald
from St. kits island. 81. Christie
phcr, Z. ". l.
we experienced the greatest diff
Guilty in getting into port" he said,
"Appalliug sounds were issuing from
the mountains behind the town, which
was shroudcd in darkness. All the
passengers were up and some trying to
obtain phOtOgr Suddenly heard
a tremendous explosion. Ashes began
10 fall thickly upon the Geek and |
could see q black cloud sweeping down
anon US. divcd below and dragged
with M Samuel Thomas, gangwaym
and fellow country man sprau& into a
room shutting the door to keep out the
heat which was already unbearabie.
The ship rocked and ! expected any
moment she would sink. / beard a
voice outside pleading for the door to
be opened. Il was Scott, the first OH
cor and ! opened the door and drag
god him into the room. 1t soon De-
came uubearably hot aud | went on
deck. All about were lying the dead
and dying. Little children were moan
ing for water. / did what | could FOR
them. / obtained water. but when 1t
Was held to their swollen lips they
were unable TO swallow because OF the
ashes which clogged their throa:s.
ono little child took water in this
manner and rinsed out the ashes, but
even then could not swallow so badly
was the throat burned. He sank back
unconscious and in a few minutes was
dead.
All aft the ship was afire and from
tho land came draughts OF terrible
heat. At last when | could stand 1t no
longer | sprang overheard. The water
was almost hot enough TO boil me, but
"A wave soon swept in from the ocean
bringing with it cold water. was
caught in the reccding wave which
was OF tidal velocity and was carried
ont to sea. Then ON the second round
OF the wave | was washed against an
upturned slOOp, 10 which ! chung. y
minute later | was joined by another
man whOm ] learned was Captain Mug
gah Of the Rolama. He was in dread
ful agony and kept begging piieously
to be nut on board his ship.
tool chest, | and FIVE others who joined
me succeeded in forming 4 rude raft
on which we placed the captain. See
ing an Ipturncd boat | asked one OF
the men to swim out to it and bring 1T
oyer so Captain Muggah might have
an opportunity to live. The man sue
coedcd in getting the boat righted,
bat instead Of returning he picked up
two Of his countrymcn aud went away
in the direction OF Port de France.
Seeing the Reddam, which had ar
rived in port soon after we anchored
making Tor the Roralma, | said good
bye to Captain Muggah aud swan 20
the Rcddam. Before | could reach
her she burst into flames and put out
to sea. finally reached the I;oralma
about half past o'clock in the after
noon and later was taken off by the
cruiser Suchut."
Samuel Thomas, the gangway-man
whose life was saved 10y Taylor, de-
scribcs Il woman who burned TO death
while she held u baby in her arms
protecting it with her own body from
the fire that filed the air. The child
was alive long after the mother ceased
to suffer.