Harry C. Claiborne

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Harry C. Claiborne (January 1859 - 1918) was an American lighthouse keeper. [1]

Contents

Biography

He was born in January 1859 in New Orleans. [2] He began his career as assistant keeper of the Southwest Pass Light in Louisiana in 1887. [3] In 1889 he was made head keeper of the Pass a l'Outre Light. In 1895 he was transferred to the Bolivar Point Light near Galveston, Texas. He was on duty when the Galveston Hurricane hit the station on September 8, 1900. [1] 125 people eventually took refuge inside the light tower, including Claiborne's family and that of the assistant keeper; Claiborne oversaw their care until further help was forthcoming. [1] [4] In 1915, he again cared for 50 hurricane refugees who took shelter in the tower.

Claiborne died on duty at the Bolivar Point station in 1918.

Legacy

A United States Coast Guard coastal buoy tender, USCGC Harry Claiborne, WLM-561, based in Galveston, Texas, is named after him. [1] [3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Coast Guard names ship after hero of Galveston hurricanes Lighthouse keeper's efforts saved 125 people in 1900 and 50 more in 1915". The New York Times . April 2, 2000. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
  2. ↑ Harry Claiborne in the 1900 US census in Galveston, Texas
  3. 1 2 Robicheau, Leanne M. (25 December 1999). "Rockland welcomes Coast Guard crew Christmas party to brighten long voyage". Bangor Daily News .
  4. ↑ Reports of the Department of commerce and labor 1904-1912: Report of the secretary of commerce and labor and reports of bureaus. United States Department of Commerce and Labor. 1905. p. 231.


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