The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-03-24
Was Blown Up With
 Ship By Explosion
tcontinued from Page D


 others with arms in slings. They presented a spectacle which almost brought tears to the eyes of specta- tors on the pier. H
 The more seriously injured were below, however. Tenderly the am- bulance attendants lifted them into stretchers and carried item carefully off the ship. Not until they had been taken to the hospital, were the friends and relatives of members. of the Vikings crew permitted aboard the Sagona.
 Most of the survivors were disin- clined to talk about their experi- ences.
 T want to forget all about it." one said.
 ''It's too horrible to talk about" another said, dismissing the corre- spondent.
 W. G. Johnson, master of the Vik- ing's watch. who stood by mate Kean and other member of the crew from Sunday night until Wednesday noon, talked freely, however.
 ''The ship was blown up in the magazine" he told the United Prss, T have not the slightest doubt about that.
 Tt Is a wonder that the Viking was not blown up before because of the criminal carelessness of those responsible for the magazine and powder.
 "A few hours before had warned the Bo'Sun against the danger.
 ''The powder, stored in 25 pound sheet iron kegs-120 tons all told was thrown carelessly into the mag azine. Members of the crew had free access to the magazine and they saw kegs broken and powder leak ing all over the place. Men with lighted pipes moved carelessly in the magazine's vicinity and oil stoves burned close by. Even lamps were lit. tc
 ''Such were the conditions q board ship before the magazine blew up. l am ready to make that statement under oath"
 Nicholas Roache, shipmate who had been listening to Johnson's re- cita1. added:
 Yes. every word he says is true. It. is wonder we escaped so long. The kegs were dented. Powder leaked out from the breaks and was strewn over the floor where spark from pipe or cigarette could easily do the job.'
 And I'm ready to swear to that.'
 James Coady, another of the vik- ing's heroes who preferred to risk his own life rather than abandon Koache in the allegation that care- lessness was responsible for the tragic explosion.
 What they say Is correct" Coady said. T saw 1t myself and was not surprised when the tail was blown out of the old boat"
 Relating the events immediately preceding the disaster. Johnson said:
 We were about mile inside the outer edge of the ice and were about turning down for the night. Only the watch was on deck. Nearly all were below. Some already were in their berths. It being Sunday night, several of the sealers joined in pray CTS with the Catholic ehapsrs who were saying the Rosary. When the Catholic boys were through the in the silence that followed the hymns, John Wheeler, master watch, said, just before going on deck:
 Come on boys. Let's all join in singing Nearer My God to Thee.'".
 we all did. Then old John went on deck. never again to be seen, for ten minutes later came that awful blast"
 Nicholas Roache, discussing the chances of escape for the men in the Vikings aft. said "They had no more chance than snowbal1 in help.
 Most of them were killed where they stood or sat" he said. "All in the vicinity of the magazine were bio VII to pieces. Those above it were killed, crushed beneath found- ering timbers. The captain said men were nipped under timbers in the ".1 Hn. Those who escaped managed o' climb out through openings. Thre men climbed out through portholes. I helped out myself Henry Sargent (of Boston, and Cap- tain Kennedy. Radio Operator King ether was thrown from or crawled through the starboard side to get on sheet ice. Then they crawled to the stern from which they drifted on what they discovered to be part of the poop deck. They were res- cued, hungry, cold. wet, and dis couraged. of course.
 Roache then gave his version of the scenes in the cabin at the time of the explosion.
 '"The scene in the hold when the lights went out was terrible," he said. "Men screamed as they groped their way 10 the hatch. They climbed over each others backs but all got out on the main deck and forepeak safely. Not man forward the engine room was saved