MARINE DISASTER.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12750, 14 September 1934, Page 5

MARINE DISASTER.

RADIO OPERATOR'S DISCLOSURES DELAY IN CALLING FOR AID. United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph- -Copyright. NEAV ATORK. September 12. George W. Rogers, chief radio operator of the Alarro Castle, told the Inquiry Board to-day that the instructions to send the SOS alarm were not available until the furnishings of the radio room were ablaze and all but the emergency sending equipment out of commission through the extreme heat. AVitness and his first assistant, Alaona, as well as Charles Maekay, second assistant, went to the bridge for instructions. Alackay 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-operation.” Meanwhile the freighter Luchen-bac-h could plainly see the burning vessel and repeatedly asked over the radio what was the ship’s position and what to ck>. However, for some reason, the- SOS order was delayed and delayed.

Finally, on his own initiative, Rogers sent the “stand by” signal and sent Alaona on a. second trip to the bridge. He shortly- returned with an SOS order. By this time the power was off and the room in darkness. AVith the aid of a pocket flashlight and the emergency storage batteries Rogers flashed the SOS and continued to do so until he 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 aj Radical and a trouble-maker by the late skipper, Captain AVilmott. DELAY BY RESCUERS. OUTSPOKEN OFFICERS. (Received 10 a.m.) NEAV YORK, September 13. The Chief Officer, James M. Henderson and the third officer Harold Peterson, of the rescue liner, President Cleveland, told the Morro Castle Inquiry Board to-day that they did not wish to serve longer with Captain Robert E. Carey, of the President Cleveland because they alleged that 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 sooner. Captain Carey said that two lifeboats were lowered “as soon as we could,” but he said no People were picked up as his men reported not seeing any to rescue.