New-York tribune., 1902-05-21
RORAIMA SURVIVORS HERE
STORIES OF THE MARTINIQUE DIS
ASTER FROM EYEWITNESSEs.
THRILLING RESCUE OF THE CHIEF Off.
GER AND THE ASSISTANT PURsER-
EXPERIENCES TOLD FOR THEM.

Ihompson-the latter a colored man-survivors
or the crew Of the steamship Roraima. destroyed
IN the harbor of St. Pierre on May s. by the
eruption of the volcano Mont Pelee arrived here
yesterday on board Of the Korona, of the Quebec
Steamship Company. The tug DalzelI Brothers
took them off at Quarantine
According to George johnson. Of St. Louis
passenger on the Korona, Thompson and Scott
are both still somewhat shaken by their ex-
periences and do not tell connected stories Mr.
johnson says they show no marks of their ex-
perience in the rain Of fire which descended on
the Roraima and her crew from the volcano.
except that there is a burn on Thompson's neck.
lie says that Scott told several stories while he
was on the homeward voyage on the Korona.
and that he does not appear TO know exactly
what did happen.
Mr., johnson says that the Korona left Bar
badoes at . O'Clock the morning of May s.
the day Of the eruption of Mont Pelee. They
arrived at st, Pierre the next day. Ashes were
sun falling from the volcano, and the sky
thick with black clouds. so that it appeared as
II heavy thunderstorm was impending The
harbor of ST Pierre was so thick with bodies
that it was impossible to count them. The
hulk OF the Roraima could he seen still burning
MT johnson said that one of Scotts stories
was that the rain Of fire from Mont Pelse was
only about two minutes in duration. although
the ashes and hot mud continued to shower for
about two hours. Scott said that Captain Mug
gah Of the Roraima told the men to open all
the ports when he saw the eruption Of the vol
cano. There were about one hundred and
twenty fathoms of chain on the ship and about
siNty-hve fathoms were run out. Then the rain
Of fire struck the ship. and they had to let go.
Scott told the passengers Of the Korona that
he went up deck and found Captain Mug
gah leaning against the door of the stateroom.
SO terribly burned that he could scarcely recog-
nize him. The captain tried to jump overheard.
but Scott restrained him Then Scott said he
was obliged to run himself, and he made for
the forecastle. The fire struck him, and ne IelI
70 the deck. Two st. Kits negroes, who were
IN the foTecastle. dragged him in, and as soon
as he got there he buried himself in wet blan-
kets
on May S, when they left Barbados. they
went within ninety miles Of st Vincent. and
could hear reports of the volcano there, so
loud that il appeared to he the noise Of thou
sands Of cannons. Although the Korona was
fully ninety miles away from ST Vincent, the
decks were covered with about three inches of
ashes, as were those Of another ship, New-York
bound the Telisman. Later they learned that
at Barbados. which IS one hundred ard fifty
miles from ST Vincent, ashes lad fallen.
Miss c. Y. Dayton, another passenger on the
steamship Korona. told a graphic story Of the
experiences OF Assistant Purser Thompson,
which she said he had told her
Thompson stated" said Miss Dayton. that
h. was the forward deck Of the Roraima
when he saw what seemed to him the whole top
Of the mountain shoot up in the air. Then came
q terrific report. Thompson called to the other
officers TO come and see the sight. not realizing
that there any danger. Suddenly there
came shout from Captain Muggah. Look out!
it's coming this way and then Thompson says
orders were given to let go the anchor chain.
Thompson said he saw the people the
shore being struck down by fire which came
in sheets. He then ran below and buried him
self in the blankets OF his bunk. He only
partially protected by them, however, the fire
coming through the portfolio and burning
through the covering.
How long he lay there Thompson said he did
not know, but at last he heard call from the
deck, and. going up, found Scott standing at the
head of the companionway. The fire had
stopped. but ashes and hot mud were falling
fast. Thompson and Scott tied number Of
spars and pieces Of wood together and lowered
them over the side. They were about to embark
their improvised raft when the warshlp
Suchet came up and took them, with the other
Miss Dayton although she would not give her
address, said she lived in New-York City. and
had come from Guadeloupe.
Joseph Frits the second steward of the Ko-
roma talked with an officer the French war
ship Suchet while they were in the harbor OF
Some officers of the suchet." said Frits,
came on board while we were In the harbor OF
St Pierre, and asked us II We could furnish them
with some supplies for the stricken town. This
we could not do, as We only had enough lot our
selves"
L talked to the officer about the rescue Of
Scott and Thompson. which he describes as
thrilling in the extreme. When they got 10 the
harbor, he said, the rain Of ashes and mud was
falling thickly that the town could not De
seen. The fire from the burning Roraima llght-
ed up the harbOr however, and enabled theIl
for a short distance. The stream OF
lava which had enveloped the town was run
ming into the and sending up enormous
clouds OF steam The roar Of the steam MADE
so much noise that even at close quarters TWO
people had TO shout when talking 10 each other
According to the officer. the Suchet went
around to the starboard side Of the burning
ship as the wind was blowing the flames the
other way, ard, although the heat was terrlhc,
ged 10 rescue the ofncers ana ere" anu 'ie
stewardesS, Mrs. Reid.
'.The vessels smokestack. bridge and in fact.
her entire upper works had dlsappeaIed' anu
the fire seemed to be all around her Inc peo-
pie rescued in such condition that theS
had to he carried bodily up the rope LADDER 10
the warship which was done under the greatest
kind of difficulty. Scott and thompson, the ON ON
Ger said were the least hurt but even they
xrere erosning aloud from their hurts ano
burns The water in the bay was bolilng not
this officer told me. and the spray Whlch pleN
onto the deck of the warshlp scalded some OF
the mon severely When we arrived at the mar
bor the water was a deep yellow color. While II
is naturally of the deepest blue. ooo.
Herman Rosenberg. an importer, or NO %V-f
IIorona saw several st. Pierre survivors al
Fort de France, and talked with them
II visited the hospital at Fort de France
- eaid land heard from the lips OF some OF
tbosa moor people stories that are too horrible
RI relate A native, lying in his bed suffering
from the most horrible burns on his arms ana
legs told me he had run for ten miles. when
the fire struck ST. Pierre. until he dropped
from utter exhaustion. He told me that people |
running ahead Of him were struck down by
nd several times feIl