Evening star., 1934-09-20
PLEADED FOR SOS,|
ALAGNA TEST|F|ES|
Radio Officer Says He Got
Instructions on Fifth
Trip to Bridge.
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flames leaping so high above the
rooms roof that he believed the fire
had been burning at least an hour
before he awoke
In the closet in the radio room
there was smoke, he said. 1t was in
there, Alagna told the board that
mattresses and some combustible
polish was carried. The polish, he
said, was a paste which, when being
used, was mixed with kerosene to
make 1t more effective.
Officers Knew of Kerosene.
Alagna said that he had been told
the kerosene was kept in a locker
behind the radio room and that all
the sailors, the deck department and
the officers knew that it was kept
there
When he had gotten the order to
send the S o S and started back to
the radio room, Alagna testified, the
smoke was so dense that he blundered
past the radio room and 1t was not
until flames leapt up In front of him
that he realized 1t and had to turn
back.
The S o S was first sent at 3:25
am, Alagna testified. The position
was given as 20 miles off Scotland
Light.
Alagna said that he remembered
each trip he made to the bridge be-
cause each was significant in that he
from 40 hridun
He said that he made all the trips but
one on his own initiative and after
each had to encourage Rogers.
1t was at BIS that the standby"
signal was sent out without orders
from the bridge after Alagna had re-
ported back to the radio room for the
third time without orders.
Used Direction Finder.
Alagna also told the board that on
the ships last trip south the radio
direction finder was used to get broad
casts, and that when he objected the
first officer threatened to have him
fired.
Alagna testified that when he
Joined the ship in June it was Gus
tomary to feed the officers stale bread
and use dirty, greasy silverware on
which the residue of food from pre-
Nous meals appeared.
That was the reason he got up the
protest petition, he told the board.
Hackney Signed Petition.
The petition was signed b. Clarence
c. Hackney, one of the navigating
officers, Alagna said, in addition to
the chief radio officer, Mcpherson,
who was aboard the MORO Castle at
the time the petition was circulated
Alagna said that Hackney was the
only one of the officers willing to
sign the petition and that the petit
tion was then destroyed at Hackney's
request.
He requested that I destroy this
paper" Alagna said, "if I could not
get every one to sign because he was
afraid that the Ward line would pun
tsh those who signed"
Alagna testified that it was follow
ing this that he was dismissed and
that the radio operators went on
strike
S0Pts EHkCES nO0fu.
The first assistant operator took the
witness stand just after acting Capt.
Warns came into the hearing room
and handed a note to Chauncey
Clarke, Ward line counsel.
Alagna, questioned by Dickerson N.
Hoover. chairman of the board, said
he realized he might have been dis
missed for starting a strike, but said
he took this step because food and
dining conditions were revolving to
him, because I was just out of
college"
Sitting with Hoover were James
Smith and John L. Crone, local
steamship inspectors.
In answer to questions Alagna said
he was first assistant radio officer on
the Moro Castle at the time of the
fire, had been on the ship as such
approximately one month and that
about four months ago.
About a month ago." he said.
"when Rogers took one trip off I was
promoted to chief officer with the
captains consent"
Was that Capt. Willmott Capt
Robert r. Willmott, who died the
night before the ship burned) ?"
Yes
"You held it one trip?"
"Yes. 1 was replaced as chief off,
Ger the following trip by Rogers"
Disconnected With Food.
Alagna, questioned by the board
regarding allegations by other wit
nesses that he fontented trouble, said
he was discontented with the food
and sanitary conditions on board
and lent assistance in circulating a