More than two hundred American sailors died in February, 1942, when two ships of the U.S. Navy were wrecked near St. Lawrence. The Pollux ran ashore at Lawn Point while the "Truxton" met her fate in Chambers Cove. However, due to the heroism of the local people and the shipwrecked seamen, 186 men were saved.
The U.S.S. Truxton passed through the entrance of Chambers Cove at approximately 5:00pm on February 18,1942 . The U.S.S. Pollux ran aground at Lawn Point at about 4:00pm. When the Truxton first hit land, it reversed right away and then the ship backed into a large reef. During this there were heavy seas. A group of sailors from the ship reached the shore with the use of an inflated rubber life raft. The group of sailors brought the news of the Truxton to the people of St. Lawrence. The town of St. Lawrence could not contact the ship and all the sailors on board the ship was helpless. At the Iron Springs mine, the news of the tragedy reached the workers at approximately 9:00, by a cold, water soaked, oil covered sailor.
Hours of intense rescue follow, tales were told of the heroism and true valour of the hardy miners risking their own lives to save their fellow man from the ravages of the sea - they themselves later would become victims to a cruel industrial disease. We commemorate these victims and acknowledge their fortitude in pioneering the social, economic, and cultural development of our town. Cries of encouragement echoed from the rescuers, intermingling with cries for help from the distressed - a drama of life and death, true humanity and bravery unfolded. The cliffs of Chambers Cove and Lawn Point would forever perpetuate the true valour portrayed that night of the tragic U.S. Naval Disaster - U.S.S. Truxton and U.S.S. Pollux,
February 18, 1942. 293 lost their lives, 186 were saved.
In gratitude for the heroic effort that the residents of St. Lawrence displayed in one of the greatest naval disasters ever, the U.S. donated the U.S. Memorial Hospital to the people of St. Lawrence which opened in 1954.
This monument, with silent respect and gratitude, remembers also those brave men of St. Lawrence who gave their lives in World War I, and World War II, that we may have the peace we enjoy today.
Lanier Phillips Story - Triumph Over Racism
Newfies - Chicago Public Radio
Lanier Phillips - Memories of being accepted as a black man on foreign shores entitled "Newfies".
CBC, The National
The Ambassador of St. Lawrence - After being shipwrecked in 1942, Lanier Phillips' life was forever changed by the brave and kind Newfoundlanders who saved him.
Comedian Bill Cosby is bringing attention to the story of a small group of Newfoundlanders whose actions taught a black American decades ago that racism didn't exist everywhere. Cosby recently brought Lanier Phillips onstage to tell his story, after he heard about the experience Phillips had in Newfoundland
Listen to interview - CBC Radio, St. John's