TRAGEDY AT SEA

Taranaki Daily News, 14 September 1934, Page 5

TRAGEDY AT SEA

SCENE IN WIRELESS ROOM BURNING OF MORRO CASTLE DELAY IN SENDING OF SOS EVIDENCE OF OPERATOR BLAZE INVADES QUARTERS By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 7 p.m. New York, Sept. 12. The Federal investigation into the Morro Castle fire disaster to-day heard the testimony of George W. Rogers, chief radio operator. He said that it was fully 30 minutes after he was awakened because of the fire that he received the order to send an SOS. Rogers further testified that some time ago his first assistant, George Alaona, and another operator, “tried to instigate discontent on 'the ship.” Alaona is now held as a material witness.

Rogers said the instructions to send the SOS were not available until the furnishings of the radio room were ablaze and all but the emergency sending equipment was out of commission through the extreme heat. Witness and Alaona, as well as Charles Mackay, second assistant, went 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-operation.” Meanwhile the freighter Luckenback could plainly see the blazing vessel and repeatedly asked over the radio the ship’s position and what to do. 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 was in darkness. With the aid of a pocket flashlight and emergency storage batteries Rogers flashed an 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 radical and a trouble maker by the former skipper, Captain Willmott.