Evening star., 1934-09-11

ing on the decks as attempts were
being made to reach the lifeboats.
Many were panicky."
There were no passengers in sight
when he left the vessel, Stamper said.
Water pressure on the fire lines
was maintained at 100 pounds until
he left the engine room, Stamper
testified.
He said he knew of no failure of
the pressure on any upper deck
MY men left the engine room just
ahead OF me. I left after calling out
to make sure everybody was out of
the engine and fire rooms"
Asked about gas masks, Stamper
said there was only one in the engine
room and it was not used.
The hearing recessed for lunch in
the midst of Stamper's story.
Hoover Explains Status.
Anthony Bujia, first assistant engi-
neer, was called at the afternoon Ses-
sion.
Before he was sworn, Hoover ex-
planned the Board of Inquiry had no
jurisdiction to prefer charges of GRIM
inal negligence, that it was concerned
only with licensed officers and ships.
Criminal jurisdiction rests with the
United States district attorney, Hoover
added.
There has been some criticism of
the appearance of Chauncey Clark, at
torney, with the witnesses.
I'VE take judicial notice of the fact
he is attorney for the Ward Line.
I'VE also point out that officers are
not entitled to counsel, although if
they are put under charge before the
grand jury they are entitled to
counsel"
The Ward Line attorney kept his
seat beside the testifying seamen, and
it was understood Hoover's statement
was not intended to dismiss him.
Bujia, a Cuban, spoke with de-
cided accent.
Smoke Heavy in Engine Room.
He testified the first he knew of the
fire was when the general alarm
aroused him from his bed. q.
Fire pumps were started shortly
afterward he said. The pressure was
IS pounds at first, but was increased
to 100 he related.
Smoke got so heavy short while
later that we were unable to work in
the engine room," he testified.
II met the chief on the way up
from the engine room to report. He
asked, How are things I said not
SO good He said don't leave until
you are driven OUT"
Bujia said the first order to the
engine room from the bridge was
Standby" signal 1t was followed
by an order for half speed ahead.
Last Rites for Victims.
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 mortuaries-funeral
professions of the Moro Castles dead
Many funerals were set for today and
tonight. Others will be held tomor-
row.
There is a third procession, newt
able wherever tragedy rests: The pro-
cession of the curious-the camp fol-
lowers of the catastrophe. More than
100000 persons have flocked to AS
bury Park, N. j., where the hulk of
the IS 900 900 Ward liner, still burn
ing, sets in the sand.
Already, though she is still the
coffin for unknown dead, the Moro
Castle is the object of tentative ne
gotiations. The ASbury Park City
Council wants to make some arrange
/ Inv foI, 411a 11tI1lr
SCARED monument to an estimated
! 1873 dead, can be retained where she
rests, just off Convention Pier. The
Councilmen have found her an at
traction, drawing visitors from many
miles around.
A body believed to be that of Capt.
Robert r. Willmott, the MORO Castle
skipper, whose death occurred aboard
ship several hours before the vessel
burst into flames, was found aboard
the vessel last night. The body, badly
burned, was on the floor of the cap
tain's cabin Fire Chief Taggart of
Asbury Park made the discovery, but
identification was not positive. The
body was not removed.
Widow Is Suspicious.
The Daily News quotes the widow of
Capt. Robert Willmott of the MORO
Castle as saying he knew that the
threat of sabotage hung over the ves-
sell and that he tried desperately to
avert it.
The News also says the widow is
suspicious of the captains sudden
death few hours before the fire.
Il can't understand his dying of
heart trouble brought on by acute in
digestion as reported" she said.
The captain had every stevedore
who loaded cargo searched as he came
on the dock and kept under constant
watch while working"
Capt. and Mrs. Willmott were mar
ried year ago.