It was like the biggest oil refinery
in the world burning up on the mountain top. There was a tremendous
explosion about 7.45 o'clock, soon after we got in. The mountain was
blown to pieces. There was no warning. The side of the volcano was
ripped out, and there was hurled straight toward us a solid wall of
flame. It sounded like thousands of cannon.
"The wave of fire was on us and over us like a lightning flash. It was
like a hurricane of fire. I saw it strike the cable steamship Grappler
broadside on and capsize her. From end to end she burst into flames and
then sank. The fire rolled in mass straight down upon St. Pierre and the
shipping. The town vanished before our eyes and the air grew stifling
hot, and we were in the thick of it.
"Wherever the mass of fire struck the sea the water boiled and sent
up vast clouds of steam. The sea was torn into huge whirlpools that
careened toward the open sea.
"One of these horrible hot whirlpools swung under the Roraima and pulled
her down on her beam ends with the suction. She careened way over to
port, and then the fire hurricane from the volcano smashed her, and over
she went on the opposite side. The fire wave swept off the masts and
smokestack as if they were cut with a knife.
HEAT CAUSED EXPLOSIONS
"Captain Muggah was the only one on deck not killed outright. He was
caught by the fire wave and terribly burned. 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.
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