The Savannah morning news., 1902-05-19
FLED FROM DEATH
Glory OF THE RODDAMs ESCAPE
FROM ST. PIERRE.
MOST HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE.
THE SHIP CONVERTED INTO A
DEATH PEN.

ing of His ship ana a Few Menu
hers of His Crew-Eighteen Dead
Bodies and Limbs and Flesh OF
survivors Uttered at Deck When
the Vessel Arrived at st. Lucia.
Terrible Yet Wonderful story to
New York.
New York, May 18.-The Norton Line
steamer Etona arrived here to-day
from the River Platte via St. Lucia,
where she called for bunker coal on
May 10.
AT St. Lucia, on May H. says Capt.
Cantell Il went on board the British
steamer Roddam, which had escaped
from the terrible volcanic eruption at
Martinique three days before. The state
of the ship was enough to show that
those on board must have undergone
an awful experience. The Roddam
was covered with a mass of fine blush
grey dust or ashes of cement-like ap-
pearance. In some parts it laid two
feet deep on the decks. This matter
had fallen in red hot state all over
the steamer, setting fire to everything
if struck that was burnable, and, when
it fell on the men on board burned off
limbs and large pieces of flesh. This
was shown by finding portions of hu-
man remains when the decks were
cleared of the debris. The rigging,
ropes. tarpaulins, sails, awnings, ETC.,
we're charred or burned and most of
the upper stanchions and spars had
been swept overheard or destroyed by
fire Lights were smashed and cabins
we're filled with volcanic dust The
scene of ruin was deplorable.
Found Captain in Hospital.
q visited the captain of the Rod
dam 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,
Martinique, on the morning
of Thursday May g. The
captain was standing near the accom-
mediation ladder talking to the agent
OF the vessel, who had come on board,
when he saw what appeared to be an
enormous black cloud, like a wall with
patches of fire in it, approaching the
sea from the land. With it came an
immense tidal wave of boiling water.
accompanied by a loud and terrible
noise He shouted Take shelter!' to
(
was caught and tossed over on her
SIDE, almost capszng. Darkness fell
like a pail and volumes of red hot mat
ter showered down. while the air was
thick with sulphurous fumes and dust
The sea was a confused mass of boil
ing mud.
Fire soon broke out in different
parts of the ship. Screams, groans and
shouts of agony from the injured peo-
cd 1xrsyh -. l. Of
boiling water and rushing air, together
with the falling fire, causing a most
horrible confusion and frightful din
This Shock lasted for a few minutes.
A Captains Fight for Life.
The captain of the Roddam, know
ing that his vessel had steam up. and
instantly realizing the necessity of
escape rushed to the engine room an
nunciator and signalled below to start
the engine at full speed The anxious
moments, increased by his sufferings
from burns and agony of mind, were
relieved by the vibration of the engines
ana the reply from below. 1t happen
ed, fortunately, that although the
crew had been rung off from duty at
the engines, some of the engineers
we're near by. The terrible tidal wave
which had swept over the Roddam and
cable and the vessel was adrift When
Tie engines started it was found that
lhe steering gear had become disabled
IN some manner and could nOt.be work
ca. For more than an hour the Rod
Jam engines were worked and going
ahead with the hope of bringing her
read toward the sea and away from
lhe land. Once she got dangerously
near the steamer Roraima Both yes
in
ABOARD jumped into the boiling water;
some fell dying to the deck All this
unle the red hot matter was falling
ana the water was kissing and steam
Ig dense masses of vapor. Smoke and
uust hlled the air and poisonous fumes
spread about
After some time the Roddam's
s,terlhg gear moved a little and en-
"pied the captain to head her out to
"a ana with considerable difficulty he
managed to steer her a little distance
from the land. AS the air cleared the
55Cene on board the Inflated Roddam
lane all the more CHASTITY The
mp on steamed on through thick hot dust.
ne screams from the injured became
-iiore audible. Some rushed franticallv
,HCout with their clothes on fire and
ioIse pieces of flesh burned from their
Ems others in their agony lay with
- u 4Eu llDL uuSL.
IN about two hours the air became
Gradually clear. An investigation of
NE casualties on board showed that
'pesIue the captain, who was frightful-
~ INJURED, only two engineers. two sail
duty an aoie " 40
Terrible Experience.
Ire was still burning about the shin
onu the rigging was in flames. The
~I'dln decided to try to reach the ISL
~ ~ OF ST. Lucia, forty-five miles dis
eant This, he succeeded in doing bv
luck on the evening of MAY s. The
seeaIner was difficult to handle. owing
VIE partially disabled steering gear
MI, could not be made to work
tcrI pe[ly. In the time occupied on this
,Ilole voyage the experience of the
- INors was still worse than that al
49, gone through. The brave captain
bsHls lew men fighting the fire, ex-
~, ga and scalded, struggled and
sis. Neu trying to do something to as
IN, Suelr dying shipmates. Those work.
~ "eIoW strived to keep up the steam.
60 captain, suffering the greatest
81 ~ succeeded in navigating his yes
H. sdiely to the port of Castries. st.
~ "a with eighteen dead bodies living
81 me deck and human limbs scat
sts.t, ABOUT. A sailor stood by con-
avssHS Wlping the captains injured
~ think the performance of the
I'm an captain was most wonder
bis ana the more so when / saw
60 tlul condition. / do not under
'Nhl now he kent nm. ,Fat uyhe,, tha