BURNED OFF PIECES OF THEIR FLESH.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10668, 12 June 1902, Page 2

BURNED OFF PIECES OF THEIR FLESH.

This was shown, by the finding of poitions of human remains, when the decks were cleared of the debris. The rigging, ropes, tarpaulins, sails, awnings, etc., were charred or burned, "and most of the upper spars had swept overboard. The skylights were smashedand the cabins filled with volcanic dust. I visited the captain of the Boddam in the hospital at St. Lucia, where he gave an account of his terrible experience., He. had just arrived and anchored at St. Pierre, Martinique,' on the morning of Thursday, May Bth. The captain was standing near -the accommodation ladder, talking to the agent of the 708801, who, haa come' on board, when he said what appeared to be an enormous ' BLACK CLOUD LIKE ,A~ WALL; WITH PATCHES.OF FIRE IN FT, approaching to' the sea from the land. With it came 'an immense tidal wave ,of burning, water,, accompanied by a' loud and terrible noise. He shouted Take shelter* to the crew. Immediately the steamer-was caught and tossed over on L her aide, almost capsizing. The darkness fell; like a pall, and volumes of red,, hot matter showered down, while the air was' thick with sulphurous fumes, and- dust. The sea waa a confused mass of boiling mud. ■ FIBE SOON BBOKE, OUT in different part* of the ship. Screams, .groans, < and. *houta^ of < agony from injured people were mingled with a terrible noise of boiling water and the rushing air, together with the falling' of fire, and. caused the moat horrible confusion and fright. The shock lasted a few minutes. The captain of the-Bod-dam, knowing the necessity of escape, rushed to the engine-room annunciator and signalled below to start the engines at full speed. Anxious moments, increased by his sufferings from burns and agony of mind, were relieved by the vibration of the engines, and the reply from below. It happened foitunately that although the crew nad been running off from duty at the <ngines, some' of the engineers were near by. THE TERRIBLE 23DAL WAVE which had swept over the Boidam tnd nearly capsized her,' had parted the cable, and tne vessel was adrift. When the engines started it was found that the steering gear had become disable i in some manner, and could not be worked for nearly an hour. The Boddam's engines were backing and going ahead with, the hope of bringing her head toward the sea and away from the land. Once she got' dangerously near the steamer Borauna. BOTH VESSELS WEBE IN FLAMES. Some of those aboard jumped into the boiling water; Borne fell dying to the deck. All thi* time red hot matter was .falling and the water was hissing and steaming. Smoke and dust filled the air, and poisonous fumes spread about. After some time the Boddam's steering gear moved a little and enabled the captain to head her out to sea, and with much difficulty he managed to steer her a little distance from the land. As the air cleared the scene on board the ill-fated Boddam became all We inorVghasfly.' TKe ship steamed on 'through the thick hot dust. SCBEAMS FBOM THE INJURED became more audible. Some rushed frantically about with their clothes on fire, and large pieces of flesh burned from their arms. Others, in their .agony, laid writhing in the red hot dust. In about two. hours the air became gradually clear. An investigation of the casualties on board showed that beside* the captain, who was frightfully injured, only two engineers, two sailors, and the boatswain were able to do duty. The fire was still burning about the ship and the rigging was in flames. The captain decided to try to reach the Island of St. Lucia, 40 miles distant. This he succeeded in doing by 6 o'clock on the evening of May Bth. The steamer waa difficult to hanlle, owing to being partially disabled. The steering gear could not be made to work properly in the time occupied on this terrible voyage. The experience of the survivors was still worse than that all day gone through by the brave captain and his men. FIGHTING THE FIBE, EXHAUSTED AND SCALDED, they struggled to do something to assist their dying shipmates. Those working below stnved to keep up steam. The captain, suffering the greatest agony, succeeded in navigating bis vessel safely to the port of Castoies, in the island of St. Lucia, with - 18 dead bodies lying on the deck, and human limbs scattered about. A sailor stood by constantly wiping the captain's injured eyes. I think: the performance of the Boddam'* captain wa* moat wonderful, and the more so when I saw his pitiful condition. I do not understand now he kept up. 'Yet when the steamer arrived at St. Lucia, and medical assistance was procured, this brave man asked the doctor* to attend to the others first, and refused to be treated i:ntil this was done. My interview with the captain brought out this account: 'I left him in good spirits, and lecoiving every comfort. The sight of hi* face would frighten anyone not piepartd to see it.'"

"Now, then, ye true and honest Scots; > off wi' your breeks and don your kilts for knee inspection. Legs staeightr