| Name |
Marguerite "Rita" Hamilton Stokes [1] |
| Birth |
Jan 1894 |
Barbados  [2] |
| Gender |
Female |
| Alt. Birth |
1896 [1] |
| Census |
1900 |
Brooklyn Ward 9, Kings, New York, United States [3] |
- United States, Household Members:
1 Clement Stokes, age 35, Husband
2 Mary Stokes, age 34, Wife
3 Marguerite Stokes, age 6, Daughter
4 Eric Stokes, age 2, Son
5 Olga Stokes, age 1, Daughter
6 Clara King, age 21, Servant
|
| Newspaper/Book Article |
- A WOMAN'S EXPERIENCE ON THE "RORAIMA"
Margaret Stokes, the 9 year old daughter of the late Clement Stokes, of New York, who, with her mother, a brother aged 4 and a sister aged 3 years, was on the ill-fated steamer Roraima, was saved from that vessel, but is not expected to live.
Her nurse, Clara King, tells the following story of her experience:
She says she was in her stateroom, when the steward of the Roraima called out to her:
"Look at Mont Pelee." She went on deck and saw a vast mass of black cloud coming down from the volcano.
The steward ordered her to return to the saloon, saying, "It is coming."
Miss King then rushed to the saloon. She says she experienced a feeling of suffocation, which was followed by intense heat. The afterpart of the Roraima broke out in flames. Ben Benson, the carpenter of the Roraima, severely burned, assisted Miss King and Margaret Stokes to escape. With the help of Mr. Scott, the first mate of the Roraima, he constructed a raft, with life preservers. Upon this Miss King and Margaret were placed.
While this was being done Margaret's little brother died. Mate Scott brought the child water at great personal danger, but it was unavailing. Shortly after the death of the little boy Mrs. Stokes succumbed. Margaret and Miss King eventually got away on the raft, and were picked up by the steamer Korona. Mate Scott also escaped. Miss King did not sustain serious injuries. She covered the face of Margaret with her dress, but still the child was probably fatally burned.
The only woman known at that time to have survived the disaster at St. Pierre was a negress named Fillotte. She was found in a cellar Saturday afternoon, where she had been for three days. She was still alive, but fearfully burned from head to toes. She died afterward in the hospital.
|
| Newspaper/Book Article |
15 May 1902 |
New York, New York, United States [5] |
- New York Times, Published May 15, 1902
Brookyln Family's Fate; History of the Parents of Margaret Stokes, a Roraima Survivor.
Margaret Stokes, the nine-year-old child, who is one of the survivors of the steamship Roraima, which sank in St. Pierre harbor, is the only remaining memeber of a family of five that lived in Brooklyn up to a few months ago. As the child is not expected to recover from her injuries, the whole family will probably be wiped out.
The child's father was Clement Stokes at one time a well-to-do merchant of Barbados, B.W.I., but for the last few years a bookkeeper employed by a department store firm in Brooklyn.
Some weeks ago he died of pneumonia, and the widow decided that if she could get back to her wealthy sister in Barbados she would be better able to take care of her three children, of whom Margaret was the oldest. Besides her there was a boy of four and a girl of three.
The widow packed her belongings, and with a faithful cloured nurse, Clara King, who had been with the family in Barbados, she started on the journey that was to be the last taken by the family.
|
| Newspaper/Book Article |
6 Jun 1902 |
Reading, Philadelphia, United States [6] |
- Reading Eagle - June 6, 1902
Reading, PA, USA
News.Google.com (Search used = "Edwin Croney"
Roraima Child out of Bed
Fort de France: Margaret Stokes, the little girl from Brooklyn who is the sole survivor of her family, the others having perished on the steamer Roraima, when the vessel was destroyed at St. Pierre by the eruption of Mont Pelee, was taken from the hospital here, with her nurse, Emma (should read Clara) King, by Edwin Croney a relative. They will leave to-night on the steamer Eden for Barbados, where Mrs. Croney, the child's aunt, lives.
The little girl is now convalescent. She is emaciated, and has not entirely recovered from the effects of the burns she sustained, it being still necessary to keep bandages on her body.
Some feeling has been created among foreigners here by the fact that Mr. Croney was compelled to pay to the hospital authorities the sum of 320 francs before they would release the girl and her nurse. The girl and her nurse are both British subjects, and in view of the fact that England contributed generously to the relief of the sufferers of Martinique, it is held that no charge should have been made for hospital treatment.
Furthermore, the other patients were treated free of charge. Mr. Croney will make a protest to the Governor of Barbados against the action of the hospital authorities.
|
| Burial |
1932 |
Westbury Cemetery, Saint Michael, Barbados [7] |
- GITTENS, DARNLEY ERROLL WYNDHAM
In loving memory of RITA Died 12th July 1932 Aged 38 years
She lived, loved and tried and
DARNLEY ERROLL WYNDHAM
1890 - 1960
At Rest [MI] DOWNES GITTENS, DARNLEY ERROLL WYNDHAM
Birth: 1890-- Death: 1960-Dec-23
|
| Death |
12 Jul 1932 |
Barbados [1, 7] |
| Person ID |
I380 |
Gittens Direct Line from Reunion |
| Last Modified |
24 Jan 2020 |
1894 - 1932 (38 years)