THE MORRO CASTLE

Evening Star, Issue 21823, 12 September 1934, Page 9

THE MORRO CASTLE

FIRE ALARM WITHHELD NO DANCER ANTICIPATED I >rew Aaociation—By Telegraph—Copyright. NEW YORK, September 10. 'At the inquiry Acting Captain Warms told of many wild parties on the boat. He said he understood that six young girls were so intoxicated that it was necessary to carry them from the staterooms. He added that he was continually on the bridge after the death of Captain Wilmott, as the weather was rough and visibility poor. He was informed about 2 a.m. of a fire in the library, and sent the first mate to investigate. He himself never left the bridge during the entire episode, ■ basing his judgment on the reports of his subordinates. The alarm was withheld for a full hour in the belief that the flames could be controlled. According to the first and second' mates, the fire was in the library, and their efforts to extinguish it were futile. Then an explosion occurred in a locker which must have contained petrol, kerosene, or other inflammables. At once the fire became completely out of control, and the crew proceeded with rescue work on their individual initiative, some handling themselves well, and, he was forced to admit, others poorly.