The Bismarck tribune., 1934-09-11
e. o N T N U E ID
.0uQ Dono o..
Probers Seek Clue
To Support Theory
Someone Set Blaze
Wire Operator Appear,

vvbAO OpOA0VVV S1RGD00AO
George w. Rogers, chief wireless
operator Of the Morro Castle, also ap-
peared at the grand jury anteroom.
Arthur Stamper. Is. third assistant
engineer who was on watch at the
time Of the fire, was called next.
1.-THE first I knew that there was
fire aboard when when the telephone
rang and some one told me-" he said.
"The fire alarm rang about that
time. It was about 3 o'clock"
6tamper related he escaped from
the burning ship by jumping over
board after daylight.
He said he heard passengers
screaming on the decks as attempts
we're being made to reach the life
boats.
MANY were panicly."
There we.e no passengers in sight
when he left the vessel. Stamper said.
The board Of inquiry sought some
definite evidence. some real prop, to
support the suspicion, voiced without
substantiation by Acting Captain
william r. Warns Monday, that
someone set that fire"
While . new procession Of witnesses
was forming here to appear before the
board Of inquiry, other professions
were taking shape at private homes,
churches and naortuaries - funeral
professions Of the MORO Castles
dead. Many funerals were set for
Tuesday and others win be held We'd
nesday.
There Is Z third procession, inevit-
able wherever tragedy rests: The pro-
cession Of the cllrious-the camp fol-
lowers Of catastrophe. More than
100000 persons have flocked to Asbury
Park, N. J.. where the hulk Of the
five million dollar Ward liner, still
burning. sets In the sand.
Want TO Retain Coffin Shin
Already. though she is still the cof-
fin for unknown dead, the MORO
Castle Is the object Of tentative r,ego-
tiations. The Asbury Park city
council wants to make some arrange.
ment by which the hulk, 4 flame
Scared monument to an estimated l3S
dead. can be retained where she rests,
Just off Convention Pier. The coun.
cilmen have found her an attraction,
drawing visitors from many miles
around.
Even Is the agencies OF inquiry here
were striving to pierce together some
accurate picture Of what happened
aboard the Morro Castle before and
after It's wireless sent forth calls Tor
help at 3:2S o'clock eastern standard
tirae) Saturday morning. q warning Of
more seA disasters 70 come was shout
Cd from = Cuban pirate" radio Sta
tion.
Speaking over m unlicensed and
unidentified station Monday night. Z
voice warned al listeners to stay Oft,
ships touching ct Cuba. The threat
undoubtedly the mounting Of crank,
followed BY several hours q telephone
call 70 m airline company in which
the anonymous telephone caller sadd
that terrorists were plotting to place
. bomb aboard one Of the company's
planes.
Havana Suspects Red Plot
In Havana the opinion WAS express.
ed BY the chief Of the port police that
the Morro Castle was set afire "by an
agent Of the Caribbean Bureau Of the
Third Internationale."
Fire department officials at Balboa,
Canal Zone. began an investigation
Of the fire that broke out IN the Grace
Liner Santa Rita shortly after the
Moro Castle tragedy. They said the
fire was perhaps caused by spon-
taueous CONFUSION. but It could have
been started deliberately"
A body believed to be that Of Cap
tain Robert r. Willmott the MORO
Castle skipper whose death occurred
aboard ship several hours before tho