The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-09-12

/ including Acting Captain w.
F. Warns, and was going to
be fired when the vessel
reached New York.
What we're they afraid of in re-
gard to this man AlagnaP" asked
D. N. Hoover, conducting the in
quiry.
A-Almost anything.
What does that mean?
A-That he might jam the radio
compass, jam the radio apparatus.
Captain Robert Willmott told me to
report the slightest trouble. He
was afraid something was going to
happen. He said he understood
Alagna was a vengeful person and
would not trust him further than
he could throw a rope.
Reports mo Cooperation"
Rogers also testified that:
l. He was awakened and reached
the radio room at 2:55 a. m. Smoke
was in the room and he could see
flames. Earlier witnesses had said
the fire was burning wildly in the
! lounge and writing room at that
! time.
2. He sent his first assistant, Ala
gna, to the bridge for orders. Ala
gna returned at 3:13 a. m. and re-
ported he could not get Intelligent
cooperation.
3. At 3:15 a. m, on his own irliti~
ative, Rogers sent out an emergency
stand by" signal after hearing a
ship at sea ask a land station
wether big liner was aflre of the
New Jersey coast.
a. The lighting system failed at
3:19 when Rogers had finished
sending a second message. They
started the auxiliary.
Smoke in Radio Room
5. At about 1925 a. m. or $3.50
a. m, Rogers said Alagna came
back from his second trip to the
bridge and said "Okay, send the
S o S." At that time the radio
room was dense with smoke, flames
were cracking around Rogers ta-
BILE and he was having great diff
ficulty in working his key. He was
breathing through a wet towel, he
said.
In addition, Rogers told of having
trouble with certain radio operators
on the ship, saying there had been
strike Of operators in New York
two months ago. He said Alagna
and former second officer, Barrow,
were leaders in the strike which was
a protest against the food. He said
the two referred to the late captain
Robert Willmott as "a yellow dog.
Alagna was arrested in New York
yesterday after testifying before a
federal grand jury.
The ship finally sailed, he said,
after an agreement was signed with
the line.
Barrow got drunk at Havana and
was fired, he said Rogers went
aboard as second officer and when
Pearson, chief operator, quit the
ship, Rogers became chief operator.
Things went smoothly for trip
or two, he said, and then, on the
Moro Castles last trip, one morn
ing Captain Wilmott talked to him
about Alagna.
Think He's Crazy"
Captain Willmott called me TO
the bridge. What's the matter with
this man Alagna, the captain said.
7 think he's crazy We've always
had trouble with him
II didn't know what it was all
about but the captain told me Of
trouble Alagna had caused over
landing passes and trouble he was
always starting with customs off,
Gals when he refused to obey GER
tain regulations. Captain Willmott
told me at that time, I want you
to get rid Of Alagna when we get
to New York. I also want you TO
take the key to the emergency ra-
do room and not let Alagna get TO
it. I don't trust him at all
The captain also told me that
he feared that Alagna would try TO
damage the radio compass or send
ing equipment. That was on this
last voyage"
Rogers said the captain told him,
he said, of an alteration between
Alagna and the mate which led to
bad feeling. The mate was Acting
Captain w. F. Warns, in charge OF
the vessel at the time Of the IRE
and whom Alagna alleged he could
not get TO give out the S o S order.
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