The Eruption from a Steamer.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7319, 12 June 1902, Page 4

The Eruption from a Steamer.

[Por Frisco Mail]

Ni.w Yop.k, May 10. Tho Norton Lino steamer Etonia arrived horo to-day from the River Pinto via St. Lucia, whero sho c.lled for bunker coal on May 10th. "At Ht. Lucia on May llth," says Captain Cornell, "I wont on board the British steamer Roddam, which had escapod from tho terrible volcanic eruption at Martinique three days before Tho stato of tho Bhip was enough to show that thoso on board mu_t havo undergone an awful experience. Tho Roddam was covered with a mass of fino bluish grey dust or ashes, of coment-Jiko appoaranco. In somo parts it lay two foot deop on iho decks. This matter had fallon in a redhot stato all over tho stoamc-r, setting fire to everything it struck that was burnable, and when it fell on the men on hoard it burned off pieces of flesh. This wa. shown by tho finding of portions of human remains when tho decks woro cleared of debris. The ringing, ropes, tarpaulins, sails, awning-, etc., wero charred or burned, and meat ol tho upper spars had been swept overboard. Tho skylight, were .niHsh.d, nnd tho cabins wero filled iviih volcanic dust. I visited the captain of tho Roddam in tho hospital at St. Lucia, whero ho gavo me an account of his t.rriblo experience

"Ho had just arrived, and anchored at St. Pierre, Martinique, on die morning of Thursday, May Bth. The captain was standing near the accommodation ladder talking to the agent of the vessel, who had couio on board, when he saw what- appeared to bo an enormous black cloud like a wall with patches of lire iv it approaching towards tho sea from tho land. \\ ith it came an immenso tidal wave of burning water, accompanied by a loud and terrible noise. Ho shouted, ' Take shelter' to the crew. Immediately tho steamer was caught and tossed over on her side, almost capsizing. Darkness fell like a pull, and volumes of red-hoc matter were showered down, while the air was thick with sulphurous fumes and dust. The soft was n confused mass of boiling mud Fire soon broke out in different parts of tbe ship. Screams, groans, and shouts of agony from the injured people,, mingled with tho I orri bio noise of boiling^ water and rushing air, together with falling fire, caused a most horrible confusion and sight. Tho shock lasted a fow minutes.

" The captain of the Roddam, knowing the necessity of escape, rushed to ihe cngino-room annunciator, and signalled below to start tho engine at full speed. Tho captain's anxious moments, increased by his sufiorings from burns and agony of mind, wore relieved by the vibration of the ougines aud a reply from below. It happened, fortunately, that, although tho crew had been running off fiom duty at the engines, some of tlie engineers wero nc-iir by. The terrible tidal wavo which had swept over the Roddam and nearly capsized her had parted her cable, and tbo vessel was adrift. When tho engines started it was found that tho steering gear had b.comc disabled in some manner, and could no, bo worked. For nearly mi hour the Rcddam's engines were backing and going ahead with tho hope of bringing hor head toward the sea nnd away from limd. Once sho got- dangerously nc-.n-the sieamor Roriama. Both vessels weto in flames, and some oi thoso aboard jumped into tho boiling water, whilst some foil dyiog to tho deck-. All this timo red-hot matter was falling, and the water was hissing and steaming. Smoko and dost filled tho air, and poison, ous fumes woro spread about. After somo time, tho Roddam's steering gear moved a little and enabled the enp.ain to head her out to son, and with much difficulty he managed to steer her a littlo distance from hind. As tho air cleared, tho sceno on board tho ill-faied Roddam becamo all tho moro ghastly. Tho ship steamed on through thick, hot dust, and too screams from the injured became moro audible. Somo rushed frantically about with their clothes on firo and largo pieces of flesh burned from their arms; others in their agony lay writhing in red-hot dust. In about two uours the air became gradually clearer An investigation of the casualties on board showed that besides tho captain, who was frightfully injured, only two engineers, two suitors and a boatswain were able to do ducy. The firo was still burnitigaboiutheshipand tho rigging was in flames. The captain decided to try to reach tbo Island of St. Lucia, forty miles distant. This ho succeeded in doing by 0 o'clock on tho evening of May B.h. The steamer was difficult't handle owing to tho partially disabled steering gear, which could not b_ made to work properly. In tho time occupied on this terriblo voyage the experience of tbo survivors was still worse than that already gone through. The bravo captain aud iii. men fighting the lire, exhausted and scalded, ..mingled to do something to assist their ""dying .hipmates. Thoso working below stnvcd to keep up steam whilst tho captain, suffering the greatest, of agony, succeeded in navigating hi. vessel safely to ihe port of Casliies, St. Lucia, with ci«_teen dead bodies lying on deck, and human limbs scattered about. A sailor stood by constantly wiping the captain's injured eyes. I think that the performance of the Roddam's captain was most wonderful, and the moro so when I saw hi. pitiful condition. I 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 to attend to tho others first, and refused to bo treated until this was done. My interview with the captain brought out this account. 1 left him m good spirits and rcccivii:" even- comfort. The sight of his face would frighten anyone not prepared to sco it." l