LOSS OF LUXURY LINER

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19904, 14 September 1934, Page 9

LOSS OF LUXURY LINER

EVIDENCE OF RADIO EXPERTS SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS MADE United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright NEW YORK, September 11. The Federal investigation of the Morro Castle disaster heard the testimony of George W. Rogers, chief radio operator of the Morro Castle, who told the Board to-day that it was fully 30 minutes after he was awakened, because of the fire, that he received an order to send SOS calls. He 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 in further evidence, said that the instructions to send the S.O.S. signal 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 the first assistant, George Alaona, as well as Charles Mackay, the 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. I can't get any co-operation.” Meanwhile the freighter Luckenback, could plainly see the blazing vessel and repeatedly asked over the radio what was the ship’s position 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 second trip to the bridge. He shortly returned with the S.O.S. order. By this time the power was off and the room was in darkness. With the aid of a pocket flash light and the emergency storage batteries, Rogers flashed the S.O.S. signal 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 a radical and a trouble-maker by the late skipper of the Morro Castle, Captain Robert Wilmott,