It was one of the worst disasters in U.S. Naval history. On February 18th, 1942, two desrtoyers, the Wilkes and the Truxtun and the supply ship Pollux went aground in a storm off the coast of Newfoundland. The Wilkes managed to get free, the other two were finally battered to pieces. Two hundred and three sailors died in the disaster, 185 survived. They owe their lives to the people of Lawn and St. Lawrence, who, though unable to launch boats in the heavy seas, hauled survivors up the sheer cliffs by ropes and carried them to food and warmth. Visit the developed hiking trail to discover more about the disaster and the role Iron Springs mine and the communities of Lawn and St. Lawrence played in the rescue of so many American sailors.

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• By travelling approximately 4km along the old mine roads from St. Lawrence you will come across the old site of Iron Springs Mine. The storyboard here will shed some light on the significant role that the Iron Springs Mine played on February 18th, 1942.

• If you continue to travel down the same road that brought you to Iron Springs site you will come across the Miners Memorial Bridge. This bridge is dedicated to the men and women of the St. Lawrence Fluorspar mines for their perseverance, dedication, and sacrifices. 

• After passing the bridge there will be a fork in the road with a sign of the hiking trails in a case. Straight ahead is the Chamber Cove Trail and to the left is the Bergeron Trail. The option to take either is there, however, it is suggested that you take the Chamber Cove Trail to the site and the Bergeron Trail back from the site. The hike will take approximately 40 minutes and is around 3.4km.

• Around 20 minutes into the hike, the two trails will meet and there will be a gazebo overlooking the ocean. In the 1930's this area was used by families that would fish seasonally in the summer months. The green fields have rock walls placed all around them. The grassy meadows were used as pasture land for sheep and cattle and the rock walls were used to separate the different properties owned by the families. 

• If you walked the Chamber Cove Trail to the gazebo you take a right turn once you reach the gazebo to walk to the Chamber Cove site. Along the walk to Chamber Cove, you will pass Little Salt Cove. This was where the fishermen would land their catch and salt and dry their fish years ago. Continue up the stairs to reach the cliffs of Chamber Cove.

• Once you reach the top the hike will seem more than worth it because the view is beyond spectacular! Continue to follow the trail to reach the Memorial Cross. This cross was erected by the parishioners of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in memory of those who lost their lives in the Truxtun and Pollux disaster. 

• A 10-minute hike from the Memorial Cross is the Pinnacle Head which is the highest point of the land in the area and can be seen for miles from the sea. From the summit, you can get a panoramic view of the surrounding, including Red Head, Chambers Cove, Lawn Point, and in the far distance the French islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon. It was from the top of the pinnacle in 1942 that the sailors were raised in a dory, pulled by rescuers.

• On the way back it is suggested that you take the Bergeron Trail. This was the trail that Ed Bergeron, a survivor of the USS Truxtun walked in order to reach Iron Springs Mine and get help. He did all this in a winter storm while being soaked in oil and water.

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