The Demise Of Scotch Cap Light Station
By Dennis Dowling
Here's the written part.
We were on St. Paul Island on April 1, 1946, at the twin HF/DF station to the HF/DF
station on Unimak…We left St Paul on April 20, 1946 and picked up the fellows
from the HF/DF station….All of us USCGR had to be out by June 30, 1946. Our
enlistments were for DOW+ six months (duration of war). The war officially ended
Dec. 31, 1945..There were 143 passengers on the USCGC Cedar when we got to
Ketchikan.
Dennis Dowling RM2c USCGR 1944-1946
MEMORANDUM KEPT BY CHIEF RADIO ELECTRICIAN HOBAN SANFROD U.S. COAST GUARD
St 0130 Xray, 1 April, 1946, at which time I was awake and reading, a severe
earthquake was felt. The building (CG Unit 369 -
Unimak A/F station) creaked and groaned loudly. Objects were shaken from my
locker shelve. Duration of the quake was approximately 30 to 35 seconds. The
weather was clear and calm.
Knowing that the volcanoes to Northward of the building had been active at one
time, I immediately looked in that direction for signs of renewed activity and
upon seeing none, made a round of the building to see what, if any, damage had
been caused by the tremor. Inspection failed to reveal any damage other than
objects shaken from locker shelves. The crew were all awakened by the quake.
Intending to call Scotch Cap Light Station on the phone to ascertain if they had
felt, or been damaged by the quake, I went to the phone in operations but
Pitts, RM2c, who was on watch at the Light Station, had said that he was "plenty
scared" and was going to call Dutch Harbor Navy Radio to see what information
that unit might have regarding the earthquake.
At 0157 Xray a second severe quake was felt. This one was shorter in duration
lasting approximately 15 to 20 seconds, but harder than at 0130 Xray. I again
looked towards the mountains for any signs of volcanic activity, but still could
see none. I made a second round of the building to see if any damages had
resulted but none was apparent.
The crew was gathered in the Recreation Hall discussing the shocks, their
probable cause and location when a crew member stated he had talked with Scotch
Cap Light Station after the second shock and they were attempting to contact
Dutch Harbor Radio for any news of the quakes.
At 0218 Xray a terrible roaring sound was heard followed almost immediately by a
very heavy blow against the side of the building and about 3 inches of water
appeared in the galley recreation hall and passageway. From the time the noise
was heard until the sea struck was a matter of seconds. I should say retentive
and ten seconds at most. Ordering the crew to get to the higher ground of the
DP/DF building immediately. I went to the control room and, after a couple of
calls to Kodiak and Adak Net Control Stations, broadcast a priority message
stating we had been struck by a tidal wave and might have to abandon the
station, and that I believed Scotch Cap Light Station was lost.
(Message: PPP NMJ, NNA NNFV NNBE TIDAL WAVE MAY HAVE TO ABANDON THIS PLACE X
BELIEVE NNHX LOST INT R INT R XXX)
Received no answer to calls or receipt for message and did not know until
daylight that the receiving antennae had been carried away. electric power was
fluctuating badly and starting for the generator room to ascertained cause and
extent of damage, I found that D’Agostino, ET, and Campanaro,RM 2c, had
voluntarily remained behind to assist.
Water had struck the switchboards through a burst in door, and the voltage
control regulator was burning on the back of the board. ET D’Agostino used a CO2
extinguisher while I shut down the generator. This placed the station in
darkness.
Campanaro found and lit a kerosene pressure lantern and we proceeded to make
emergency repairs. The switchboards were shunted and the generator connected
directly to the line. This restored lighting and some power circuits. Campanaro
was sent to call back some members of the crew to get more clothing and canned
goods to be taken to the DP building in case of a second wave. While crew member
were thus engaged, D’Agostino and myself made a rapid survey of damage. At 0345
I went to edge of hill above Scotch Cap Light Station to observe conditions
there. The way was littered with debris, and the Light Station had been
completely destroyed. I returned to the DF Station and with D’Agostino,
continued cleaning up water and muck about generators. At 0550 had one generator
running full power, at this time transmitted a dispatch to the DCGO 17 ND via
Kodak re conditions. At 0700 went down to the site of the Light Station, the
sea by this time having receded to its usual limits, and in company with several
crew members searched among the debris for any signs of bodies of personnel, on
top of hill behind the Light Station we found a human foot, amputated at the
ankle, some small bits of intestine which were apparently from a human being
and what seemed to be a human knee cap. Nothing else was found. At 0725 was
informed Sarichef Beacon heard. At 0800 sent out searching parties to attempt
locate any trace of Scotch Cap personnel. Searching parties later returned and
reported no trace of Scotch Cap personnel. Searching parties later returned and
reported no trace of the Light Station crew. The crew of the legislation was
comprised of Petit CBM, Oinc: Pickering , MoMM2, Dykstra, S1c: Ness S1c, and
Colvin F1c
Searching parties were out daily when ever weather permitted until 20 April when
CBM, Sievers of CGC CLOVER, which was establishing a temporary light on the site
of the destroyed light, located a body which was identified as Paul J Ness S1c,
a member of the Light Station crew. The body was viewed by several crew members
and myself and all agreed that is was Ness, who had high cheek bones, slightly
prominent upper incisor teeth and a small goatee. The pharmacist mate from unit
368 had been observing the large toes of both feet of Ness and the nails were
pared away from the sides. This condition, also existed in the feet of the body.
the remains were wrapped in an old blanket and canvas and removed to above the
high water mark, pending burial instructions from DCGO 17ND. On 22 April at 1030
CBN Sievers who was conducting a search to eastward, returned to Unit 368 and
stated he had found another body. With several crew members I proceeded on to
the location, but was unable to identify the body. The body was decapitated,
disemboweled, and in a poor state of preservation. A homemade monel ring on the
right hand could not be identified by any member of the crew of Unit 368.
At 1100 crew members who had been searching to westward reported they had found
the right thigh and foot of a man. The foot could not be identified. these
remains were gathered in old mail sacks and placed in a rough coffin. The body
of Ness was placed in an individual coffin.
At 1545 23 April, the body of Ness was buried in an individual grave. The
unidentified portions of bodies were buried in a common grave adjacent thereto.
The graves are at the seaward edge of the western bank of the first ravine to
the eastward of Scotch Cap Light Station and are approximately 300 yards from
the site of the light, near the graves of two Russian seamen. The graves are
plainly marked with white wooden crosses with brass plates securely attached,
and are well covered with rocks to discourage depredation by animals.
The area covered by searches was approximately 5 miles eastward, 4 miles
westward from Scotch Cap Light Station, and inland to the high water mark of the
tidal wave.
Photos From The Era
All Photos By Jeano Campanaro who was stationed at the Unimak HF/DF station that was 35 meters (115 Feet) higher than the sea,
About the Author Dennis Dowling RM2c USCGR 1944-46 St. Paul Island winter of '45-46. He was in the USN (active) 1951-52 at Panama Canal Zone '51-52
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