The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
On the night of February 18, 1942, three ships Ð the U.S.S. Wilkes, the U.S.S. Truxtun and the U.S.S. Pollux Ð were on route to the U. S. Naval Base at Argentia, Nfld. At 3.50 a.m., the Wilkes was the first to go aground. The Wilkes signalled the Truxton and Pollux to "Emergency Stop" and broadcast "Wilkes aground." The Wilkes managed to back off the beach but the Truxtun and the Pollux were not so lucky. Almost at the same time, the Pollux ran aground at Lawn Point and the Truxtun ran aground at Chambers Cove. It was a stormy night with wild seas and icy high winds. Prospects were very dim for the sailors until a group of sailors from the Truxtun managed to reach shore using an inflated rubber raft. One sailor from the Truxtun managed to reach Iron Spring Mine in St. Lawrence, Nfld. Immediately all work stopped at the mine. The miners and people of Lawn rushed to the scene. Hours of intense rescue followed with the miners using ropes and risking their lives on the ice covered cliffs to save the sailors. They managed to save 183 sailors but despite their courageous efforts, 203 American sailors died. In gratitude to the people of St. Lawrence, the American government built the St. Lawrence Memorial Hospital in 1954. Something to Ponder The fragrance always stays in the hand that gives the rose.
