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Photo # NH 84820:  Destroyers Nicholas and S.P. Lee wrecked at Honda Point, California, September 1923

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- EVENTS -- The 1920s -- 1923

Honda Point Disaster, 8 September 1923 --
Surface Views of the Northern Wrecks

Three of DesRon ELEVEN's destroyers went aground near the tip of Honda Point. Squadron flaghip Delphy was worst off, broadside to the cliffs and rolling violently. Her fragile "tin-can" hull was threatening to break up, making it imperative that her crew get off as soon as possible. Her stern was close enough to the lower rocks that some men jumped ashore and made fast a line, over which nearly all the rest followed. However, three Delphy Sailors lost their lives and the ship soon broke in two, with the forward section rolling over onto its port side.

A short distance to the north, but hidden around a rocky corner, the S.P. Lee also lay near the cliffs, to which her crew was able to ferry themselves via life rafts. Once on land, both Delphy's and S.P. Lee's men had to pull themselves up the sharp rock face. Most were badly cut and bruised in the process, providing a great deal of work for the ships' two Pharmacist's Mates, who also had more serious injuries to care for.

USS Nicholas had sunk further out, with her stern toward S.P. Lee. Distance and surf prevented her abandonment until the following morning, when a life raft ferry system was established to bring her crew ashore. By that time, a good deal of help was at hand.

At about the time the closest-in ship's crews had reached land, the sound of a train whistle revealed that they were really on the mainland, and not miles away on San Miguel island. In fact, the Southern Pacific's coastal railway line, with a well-staffed maintenance section house, was less than a half-mile inland. Workers from that facility were soon on the scene to lend assistance and a call had been sent out for more. Bonfires were built from used railroad ties to warm the shivering Sailors. More helpers came in by rail from the village of Surf and city of Lompoc, some miles up the line, and these brought medical aid, food and blankets. A special train, sent from San Francisco, arrived in mid-afternoon to carry more than 550 shipwrecked Sailors down to the Naval Base at San Diego, where they arrived the following night.

This page features all the surface views we have of wrecked destroyers on the northern side of Honda Point, California, soon after they went aground on 8 September 1923.

For more images related to the September 1923 Honda Point Disaster, see:

  • Honda Point Disaster, 8 September 1923.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions.

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: NH 69059

    Honda Point Disaster, September 1923


    USS Delphy (DD-261) capsized and broken in two at Honda Point, California, shortly after she ran aground in a fog during the night of 8 September 1923.
    USS Nicholas (DD-311), wrecked at the same time, is in the background.
    Courtesy of the San Francisco Maritime Museum, San Francisco, California, 1969.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 97KB; 740 x 575 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 44825

    Honda Point Disaster, September 1923


    USS Nicholas (DD-311) wrecked at Honda Point, California, shortly after she ran aground in a fog during the night of 8 September 1923.
    Note boat at left, possibly conducting salvage operations.

    Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1965.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 91KB; 740 x 445 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 84820

    Honda Point Disaster, September 1923


    USS S.P. Lee (DD-310), at right, and USS Nicholas (DD-311) wrecked at Honda Point, California, soon after the night of 8 September 1923, when they went ashore in a fog.
    Photograph by Aston.

    Donation of Captain George M. Grening, USN (Retired).

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 85KB; 740 x 540 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 86412

    Honda Point Disaster, September 1923


    USS Nicholas (DD-311) and USS S.P. Lee (DD-310), at far right, wrecked at Honda Point, California, soon after the night of 8 September 1923, when they went ashore in a heavy fog.

    Collection of Edward C. Knapp, Sr., courtesy of John E. Knapp, 1978.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 62KB; 740 x 550 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 86414

    Honda Point Disaster, September 1923


    Wrecked destroyers on Honda Point, California, soon after the night of 8 September 1923, when they went ashore in a heavy fog.
    USS Nicholas (DD-311) is at left and USS S.P. Lee (DD-310) is in the center, close to the rocks.

    Collection of Edward C. Knapp, Sr., courtesy of John E. Knapp, 1978.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 62KB; 740 x 480 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 42174

    Honda Point disaster, September 1923


    USS S.P. Lee (DD-310) and USS Nicholas (DD-311) -- partially visible in upper left -- on the rocks at Honda Point, California, shortly after they ran aground in a fog during the night of 8 September 1923.
    Note life rafts alongside S.P. Lee.

    Donation of BMGC Ralph E. Turpin, 1963.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 77KB; 740 x 435 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 67123

    Honda Point Disaster, September 1923


    USS S.P. Lee (DD-310) wrecked at Honda Point, California, soon after she ran aground in a fog during the night of 8 September 1923.

    Courtesy of Leonard Aquillard, 1969.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 84KB; 530 x 765 pixels

     

    For more images related to the September 1923 Honda Point Disaster, see:

  • Honda Point Disaster, 8 September 1923.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions.


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    Page made 14 July 2002
    Text added 27 July 2002