1942 - THE DISASTER OF THE TRUXTON & POLLUX On 18 February 1942, a blinding snow blizzard forced two U.S. ships - the S.S. the rescue Pollux and the S.S. Truxton - to run aground near St. Lawrence within two miles and a few hours of each other. When the alarm went out, men rushed from the Director and Iron Springs mines to the scene of the disaster. Some risked life and limb by launching dories into the storm toward the stricken vessels. Others threw ropes from cliff tops down to the beaches and hauled the sailors inch by inch up the precipice, using mine lamps to illuminate their work. Those survivors who could, walked back to town. The rest were pulled on sleds to the Iron Springs mine for first aid and then to St. Lawrence for soup and shelter. Altogether, 182 men were saved by the local people. When the American sailors returned home they praised their rescuers so highly that the United States government felt moved to present St. Lawrence with a hospital
Posted on: Thu, 18 Sep 2014 00:41:44 +0000
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