DELAYED S.O.S.

Evening Star, Issue 21825, 14 September 1934, Page 9

DELAYED S.O.S.

MORRO CASTLE TRAGEDY RADIO OPERATOR'S EVIDENCE Press’ Association—By Telegraph—Copyright NEW YORK, September 12. George W. Rogers (chief radio operator), in further evidence, said that the instructions to send the S.O.S. were nob available until the furnishings in the radio room were ablaze and all but the emergency sending equipment was out of commission through the extreme heat. Witness and his first assistant, George Alaona, as well as Charles Mackay, the second assistant, tveht to the bridge for instructions. Mackay did not return, but Alaona eventually returned, saying: “Let’s get out of here. They are running round the bridge, and I can’t get any co-opera-tion.” Meanwhile the freighter Luck•nbach could plainly see the blazing vessel, and repeatedly asked over the radio what the ship’s position was and what to do. However, for some reason the S.O.S. order was delayed and delayed. Finally on his own initiative Rogers sent the “ stand by ” signal, and sent Alaona on a short trip to the bridge, and he shortly returned with the S.O.S. order. By this time the power was off and the room in darkness. With the aid of a pocket flashlight and emergency storage batteries,, Rogers flashed the 5.0.5., and continued to do so until ho collapsed, overcome by smoke and fumes: Alaona dragged him to the deck, and somebody pushed him into a lifeboat. Ironically, Rogers was forced to testify that Alaona, the man who saved his life, was considered a Radical and a trouble-maker by the late Captain Wilmott. THE PRESIDENT CLEVELAND BELAY IN SENDING LIFEBOATS ALLEGED. NEW YORK, September 13. (Received September 14, at 10 a.m.) Chief-officer James M. Henderson and ibe third officer, Harold Peterson, of the rescue liner President Cleveland, told the Morro Castle Board of Inquiry to-day that they did not wish to serve longer with Captain Robert B. Carey, of the President Cleveland, because they alleged that Captain Carey delayed in sending lifeboats to the aid of the Morro Castle. Peterson said he believed that more lives could have been saved if the President Cleveland’s lifeboats had put out ■ooner. Carey said that two lifeboats were lowered “as soon as we could,” but ■aid that no people were picked up, as his men reported not seeking any to rescue.