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SS
RORAIMA
The Roraima was a steel-hulled
Quebec Line steamship. She was transporting a cargo
of potassium when the volcanic eruption occurred from
Mont Pelee, Martinique
in April 1902.
She had arrived in St. Pierre only an hour or so and
was anchored within a few hundred feet of the doomed
city. Her
combustible cargo caught fire, and she burned for
three days before sinking in 165 feet of
water, where she remains.
Only 15 of the 68 on
board survived, being taken off by a rescue vessel.
It is from these survivors that the best eyewitness
accounts of the catastrophe were gathered:
- "The blast from the
volcano lasted only a few minutes... after the
explosion, not one living being was seen on land."
- "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. One of these 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 swept off the masts and the
smokestack...."
.JPG)
We would love to build
one of these models for you. Our email is
services@modelshipmaster.com
"Just unpacked the Roraima
ship. She is far above expectations.
Thank you very much for this work. Some of my
friends seeing it may become customers to you very
soon. I'll let you know. Have a nice
day. Bruno in France."
"Thank
you very much for the nice quality of the model
ship. I just receive it yesterday (the customs
charge me 150 $.) I have a friend that asks
you for a wreck model sip of the Roraima... If
you do it, may be it can interest me too... Have a
nice Week end. Jacky"
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