He yelled to get up the
anchor, but, before two fathoms were heaved in the Roraima was almost
upset by the boiling whirlpool, and the fire wave had thrown her down on
her beam ends to starboard. Captain Muggah was overcome by the flames.
He fell unconscious from the bridge and toppled overboard.

"The blast of fire from the volcano lasted only a few minutes. It
shriveled and set fire to everything it touched. Thousands of casks of
rum were stored in St. Pierre, and these were exploded by the terrific
heat. The burning rum ran in streams down every street and out to the
sea. This blazing rum set fire to the Roraima several times. Before the
volcano burst the landings of St. Pierre were crowded with people. After
the explosion not one living being was seen on land. Only twenty-five of
those on the Roraima out of sixty-eight were left after the first flash.

"The French cruiser Suchet came in and took us off at 2 P. M. She
remained nearby, helping all she could, until 5 o'clock, then went to
Fort de France with all the people she had rescued. At that time it
looked as if the entire north end of the island was on fire."

C. C. Evans, of Montreal, and John G. Morris, of New York, who were
among those rescued, say the vessel arrived at 6 o'clock. As eight bells
were struck a frightful explosion was heard up the mountain. A cloud of
fire, toppling and roaring, swept with lightning speed down the mountain
side and over the town and bay. The Roraima was nearly sunk, and caught
fire at once.

"I can never forget the horrid, fiery, choking whirlwind which enveloped
me," said Mr. Evans. "Mr. Morris and I rushed below. We are not very
badly burned, not so bad as most of them. When the fire came we were
going to our posts (we are engineers) to weigh anchor and get out. When
we came up we found the ship afire aft, and fought it forward until 3
o'clock, when the Suchet came to our rescue. We were then building a
raft."

"Ben" Benson, the carpenter of the Roraima, said: "I was on deck,
amidships, when I heard an explosion. The captain ordered me to up
anchor. I got to the windlass, but when the fire came I went into the
forecastle and got my 'duds.' When I came out I talked with Captain
Muggah, Mr. Scott, the first officer and others. They had been on the
bridge. The captain was horribly burned. He had inhaled flames and
wanted to jump into the sea. I tried to make him take a life-preserver.
The captain, who was undressed, jumped o