The Washington times., 1934-09-14

mony along such line. He
asked:
"Do you know this explosion
came from the generator"
81 don't know for sure, but l
imagine it did. think the
wires we're burning between the
decks because they were red
hot"
"What time was that ex'
pIosiOn?"
"After 3 a. M"
"Why did the lights on the
MORO Castle go out?"
81 think the fire burned the
insulation on the wires and
they blew out"
Excusing Angelo from the stand.
the inquiry board summoned
Joseph Pernal, of Bayonne, N. j.,
junior electrician on the Moro
Castle, a young looking witness.
He testified he had charge OF
auxiliary generators on the 8 p.
m. to midnight watch.
Mr.. Pernal did not notice any
evidence of ground on his lndl-
Gator.
"Any sparkS?"
No more than usual. He ex-
planned:
"There are usually sparks
from the carbon brushes"
Q.-Your generators were run
ming smoothly when you went off
watch at midnight the night OF
the fire?
A.-Yes, sir.
HEARD ALARM
The witness said his fire post
was in the control room near the
engineers deck hoses but he
couldn't reach it when the flames
burst. He didn't know exactly
when he was called but he was
awakened by the alarm. He said:
"After the alarm the chief
engineer came along and told
us to get to our posts. couldn't
get to mine because of the
smoke.
II got a hose at point above
the gymnasium, which was very
hot. The wireless shack was
all in flames. Couldn't say what
time this was. We had trouble
getting a valve opened. After
a while the pressure failed and
we went for our lifebelts."
Mr.. Pernal testified he left the
Moro Castle on lifeboat No. IL.
He said at t|H time the smoke
was so thick he couldn't see the
person next to him.
Mr.. Pernal said he heard no
explosions. He was then excused.
Oiler Tells Story
Reginald B. Roberts, OF New
York city, an oiler, came next.
He said he was down alongside
the motors at the time of the
fire. When he noticed the smoke
coming down he notified Junior
Engineer Wilson who went up to
investigate. He said:
'T heard no alarm in the
engine room. The junior en-
gineer instructed me to call the
engineers. I took the elevator
but it stopped. The lights
went out.
"Smoke was pouring in the
screen top. Finally the elevator.
responded to the down but
ton and I got back down to
the engine room.
II kept at my fabrication
post for five minutes after the
lights were out. Then, after
looking for the chief engineer
to see if he was arOund-Over-
come by the smOke-went went
out the shaft alley and up the
escape alley"
Q.-Who was looking after the
fire pumps?
; A.-The junior engineer and the
second and third assistants. I
heard two sanitary pumps and the
fire pumps working.
Q.-Do you know anything
about generator blowing up?
A.-No, 7 do not.
The witness testified the engine
room crew stayed as long as they
could and assisted in the saving
Of passengers.
The next witness was John
Kempf, fireman of New York
city, another of the surviving
passengers. He said he was
awakened by the smell of smoke
coming in a port hole. He re.
lated:
my fellow passenger, a little
jockey from Worcester. Mass,
jumped down on top of me,
ran out the door and kept go
ing. 1t was then 12:4S q. m"
Q.-Are you sure your watch
was right?
A.-Tm nrettv sire it was.