. A wall of fire swept over the town and the bay.
The Roddam was struck broadside by the burning mass. The shock to the
ship was terrible, nearly capsizing her.

AWFUL RESULTS

"Hearing the awful report of the explosion and seeing the great wall of
flames approaching the steamer, those on deck sought shelter wherever it
was possible, jumping into the cabin, the forecastle and even into the
hold. I was in the chart room, but the burning embers were borne by so
swift a movement of the air that they were swept in through the door and
port holes, suffocating and scorching me badly. I was terribly burned
by these embers about the face and hands, but managed to reach the
deck. Then, as soon as it was possible, I mustered the few survivors
who seemed able to move, ordered them to slip the anchor, leaped for
the bridge and ran the engine for full speed astern. The second and the
third engineer and a fireman were on watch below and so escaped injury.
They did their part in the attempt to escape, but the men on deck could
not work the steering gear because it was jammed by the debris from the
volcano. We accordingly went ahead and astern until the gear was free,
but in this running backward and forward it was two hours after the
first shock before we were clear of the bay.

"One of the most terrifying conditions was that, the atmosphere
being charged with ashes, it was totally dark. The sun was completely
obscured, and the air was only illuminated by the flames from the
volcano and those of the burning town and shipping. It seems small to
say that the scene was terrifying in the extreme. As we backed out we
passed close to the Roraima, which was one mass of blaze. The steam was
rushing from the engine room, and the screams of those on board were
terrible to hear. The cries for help were all in vain, for I could
do nothing but save my own ship. When I last saw the Roraima she was
settling down by the stern. That was about 10 o'clock in the morning.

"When the Roddam was safely out of the harbor of St. Pierre, with its
desolations and horrors, I made for St. Lucia. Arriving there, and when
the ship was safe, I mustered the survivors as well as I was able and
searched for the dead and injured. Some I found in the saloon where they
had vainly sought for safety, but the cabins were full of burning embers
that had blown in through the port holes. Through these the fire swept
as through funnels and burned the victims where they l