Lost in Storm off St. Lawrence
Pollux steaming in company with USS Truxtun (DD 229) encountered heavy weather conditions off St. Lawrence Harbor, Newfoundland at Laun's Point and Chambers Cove. ... In the early morning hours searchlights were sighted revealing land 2 points on the port bow. The skipper of Pollux, having just arrived on the bridge from the chart house ordered full speed astern and hard right rudder, but it was too late and the ship grounded. Realizing that she was hard aground and starting to go down slightly by the head, the CO ordered full speed ahead to prevent the ship from sliding off and sinking in deep water. ... Difficult sea and winter weather conditions caused heavy loss of life as heroic efforts were made to reach shore. Some of the crew attempted to swim ashore, many unsuccessfully. Finally lines with a boatswain's chair were rigged to a ledge and the remaining personnel were conveyed ashore. ... The destroyer broke up almost immediately after grounding and POLLUX soon followed. The survivors owed their rescue in large measure to the tireless, efficient and in many cases heroic action of the people of St. Lawrence, Newfoundland. 93 of POLLUX crew perished in the incident.
