History Lesson: A Race with Death

A Race with Death

40 years later the former CO of the ESCANABA recalls a daring night rescue that saved 31 souls

By CAPT Alban Landry, USCG (ret), ’55

“What with the raging seas; the wind whistling across the ocean surface, it would, however, only be a matter of time before either (or both) sections sank. This had become a race with death. . . .”

- Excerpted from J.C. Carney’s “Howling Winds; Turbulent Waters.” [Read Carney’s full recount of the rescue at www.jacksjoint.com/ragny.htm]

During the morning of Dec. 26, 1970, the 255-foot Cutter ESCANABA II unmoored at State Pier in New Bedford, MA, on its way to weather patrol duties at Ocean Station Echo, 1,000 miles southeast of Boston. A nor’easter was howling with driving snow that never touched the ground because of the high winds. We went through the harbor seawall cut and passed through Buzzards Bay before turning eastward. Just before we put Nantucket on our port beam, a faint SOS was heard from the Finnish Tanker, SS RAGNY. We confirmed the distress call with CG Radio Station New York. Then it was all engines ahead full, with the storm taking a heavy toll on the ships gear as it plowed through 40 -foot seas. The RAGNY had broken in half in heavy seas southeast of Cape May, NJ, and about 170 miles from us; there were 36 souls on board. In the meantime, the SS PLATTE arrived on the scene early that evening.

Attempting to rescue the 31 crewmen on the RAGNY’s stem section, the PLATTE launched a small boat manned by three men. Heavy seas capsized the PLATTE’s boat and one of the crewmen could not be retrieved from the frigid water. “Commander Landry was livid. He had initially ordered the Platt’s captain via radio to not attempt a rescue unless deemed absolutely necessary. Yet, for one reason or another, CG Radio-New York may not have relayed his message. Now Escanaba had one more person to try and find in that tempestuous sea. A job Landry did not relish. The winds being as high as they were, coupled with the towering seas and poor visibility, caused this rescue to turn into a virtual nightmare.” -J.C. Carney

When the ESCANABA arrived on scene about midnight, she began a search for the missing crewman, but without success. Turning to the plight of the RAGNY, the ESCANABA looked in vain for signs of life when it came on the scene of the ship’s bow. “There was no distinguishable evidence of human kind . . . no rafts . . . no bodies floating . . . only the moanful sound of the driving wind---like echoing cries of the doomed---slamming against what was left of the bow’s freeboard. Captain Landry ordered the Escanaba to sail the four miles to the stern section.” -J.C. Carney

Then it turned to where the stern was floating, with 31 men aboard. A shot line was used to transport a mobile radio from the Cutter to the men. Due to the heavy seas and darkness, I decided to wait until daybreak for any rescue attempt. However, all plans were completed for rescue procedures before standing by to assist in case an emergency arose before sunrise.

At about 0330, the second mate of the RAGNY informed ESCANABA that the stern section of the stricken vessel would remain afloat for only a short time. In addition, weather reports indicated a worsening of the storm towards daylight.

I decided to start rescue operations immediately. First, we passed about 600 feet of line to the RAGNY, to be used to tether her survivors to one another during the rescue. The frigid waters and howling gale would probably send the men into a state of paralysis as they jumped from the stern. However, we planned that our small boat crewman would have a hold of one end of the line, heaved to them from the stem section, and could pull the survivor on board. We then launched two small boats to pick up the survivors. In a little over two hours, with a total of three boat trips, the 31 men on the RAGNY’s stern section were rescued, with no injuries to the crews of either vessel. “The remainder of the night was spent in search of the other 6 men. Yet all that was found was a prone body lashed to a raft; frozen stiff. The bow section had long disappeared, leaving an oil slick to note it was ever there. Landry, not wanting to again risk the exhausted crews lives in that heaving sea over the departed, left the body where it was, as nothing could be done for him.” -J.C. Carney

The ESCANABA was directed by Commander Eastern Area to proceed to Bermuda, the nearest port, to offload survivors. But once again, the ESCANABA was to be diverted from her task at hand. Enroute to Bermuda, she changed her course to rendezvous with the German ship HASSELBURG, which had reported that one of her cooks had been seriously injured (fractured skull) in a fall aboard ship. The rendezvous was effected and the U.S. Public Health Service doctor aboard the ESCANABA was transferred by small boat to the HASSELBURG.

Due to the serious condition of the crew member, the doctor remained on board the German vessel, which was escorted to Bermuda. Both ships arrived in Port Royal Bay the following morning. It was later learned that the ship’s cook survived. After discharging survivors and retrieving the ships doctor, the ESCANABA refueled and left Bermuda later that day to continue her much delayed journey to Ocean Station Echo. “And, after some long good-byes and heartfelt “thank you’s”… the lucky survivors disembarked. Just another ‘routine’ week for the crew of the USCGC Escanaba. . . .” -J.C. Carney

CAPT Landry entered CGA as an enlisted man from the Air Force and graduated in 1955. He gained a Masters Degree in Financial Management from the US Naval Postgraduate School and served as Deputy Comptroller before retiring on September 1, 1976. He then served as Deputy Director, Massachusetts Environmental Police for 20 years. CAPT Landry was urged by fellow officers to submit this story for publication.