The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-05-13
STORY OF THE TRAGEDY
AS Told by an officer of the Lost
Steamer Roraima.

New York, May 13.-James Taylor,
who was one Of the officers of the
Roraima, the Quebec line steamship
which was destroyed in the harbOr OF
st. Pierre, gives a graphic story of the
tragedy of last Thursday, says dis
patch to the Herald from St. Kits. ISL
and of St. Christopher, B. w l.
I'VE experienced the greatest diff
Guilty in getting into port" said he.
appalling sounds were issuing from
the mountains behind the town, which
were shrouded in darkness All the
passengers were up and some were try
ing to obtain photographs.
Suddenly heard a tremendous explO-
sion. Ashes began to fall thicker upon
the deck and 1 could see a black cloud
sweeping down upon US. I dived below,
and dragging with me Samuel Thomas,
gangWay man and fellow country
man, sprang into a room, shutting the
door to keep out the heat that was al
ready unbearable.
THE ship rocked, and expected
every moment that it would sink. Out
side heard a voice pleading for the
door to be opened. It was Scott, the
first officer, and 1 opened the door and
dragged him into the room.
1T soon became unbearably hot, and
L went on deck. All about We're lying
the dead and the dying. Little children
were moaning for water. I did whst
could for them I obtained water but
when it was held to their swollen lips
they were unable to swallow because
of the ashes which clogged their
throats- One little chap took water in
this method and rinsed out the ashes.
but even then could not swallow, so
badly was his throat burned He sank
back unconscious, and a few minutes
later was dead All aft the ship was
atlre, and from the land came
draughts of terrible heat At last, when
could stand it no longer, I sprang
overheard. The water was almost hot
enough to parboil me, but a wave soon
SVNnnf in from Ha h,~fv, -, y,
it cool water
I was caught in the receding wave
which was of tidal velocity and was
carried out to sea. Then, on the second
return OF the wave, I was washed
against an upturned sloOp, to which 1
clung-
"A few minutes later I was joined by
another man who I learned was Capt.
Muggah of the Roraima. He was IN
dreadful agony and kept begging pite-
ously to be put on board his ship
Picking up some wreckage and
tool chest, I and five others who Joined
me, succeeded in forming a rude raft,
on which we placed the captain. Seeing
an upturned boat. asked one of the
five to swim out to it and bring it over
SO that Capt. Muggah might have an
opportunity to leave. The man succeed
ed in getting the boat righted, but in
stead of returning, he picked up two of
his countrymen and went away in the
direction OF Fort de France.
Seeing the Roddam which had arrfv-
ed in port soon after we anchored max
ing for the Roraima, I said goodbye to
Capt. Muggah and swan to the Rod
dam. Before 1 could reach her she burst
into flames and put out to sea finally
reached the Roraima at about 2:30 in
the afternoon and later was taken off
by the cruiser Suchet.''
Samuel Thomas, the gangway man,
whose life was saved by Taylor de-
scribes a woman who was burned to
I. I, 1arJ CHI hold
arms, protecting it with her own body
from the fire that filed the air The
child was alive long after its mother
had ceased to suffer.