McCABE, Joseph

McCABE, Joseph B. (1929-1960), diver who drowned at Lover's Cove on June 3, 1960. He was trying to recover a 16th century anchor in 200 feet of water at the time.

In the News~

June 4, 1960 [Valley TImes]: “Divers have found the body of an Anaheim skin diver, drowned in the ocean off Santa Catalina Island. Joseph B. McCabe, 31, drowned yesterday while trying to raise a 16th century anchor in 200 feet of water.”

June 4, 1960 [Valley TImes]: “Skin diver dies in search for Spanish galleon. Avalon, Catalina Island—A search for a sunken Spanish galleon has claimed the life of veteran skindiver Joseph B. McCabe, 31. McCabe disappeared in 190 feet of water as he sought to place a buoy to mark a wreck he believed to be a sailing vessel sunk off Catalina Island 400 years ago. McCabe, a diver for 10 years, and members of his party were preparing to bring up an anchor found on the bottom 200 yards offshore.”

June 9, 1960 [The Catalina Islander]: “Death claims diver and fisherman. Two men, a skin-diver and a fisherman, lost their lives in the Avalon area last weekend. Joseph B. McCabe, 31, of Anaheim was drowned Friday afternoon in 200 feet of water in Lover's Cove when he was trying to raise a 16th century anchor. His body was found three hours after he failed to come up from a dive. McCabe and five other divers were operating from a sports fishing boat, the Islander. Only one of his two tanks of air had been used and divers think that McCabe panicked when one tank emptied and he fought to turn on the other. He was an experienced certified diving instructor. Harold Warner, Jr. recovered the body in 200 feet of water.”

June 9, 1960 [Anaheim Gazette]: “The body of Joseph B.McCabe, an aviation engineer, was recovered from a depth of 200 feet off Abalone Point on the island's western edge. McCabe and five other skin divers were attempting to salvage an ancient anchor from the ocean floor. The Anaheim diver's companions said McCabe disappeared while attempting to secure buoys to the anchor. Vivian Mar of 1836 S. Los Angeles St., Anaheim, said that McCabe disappeared about four minutes after diving beneath the surface. His body was recovered nearly four hours later by Harold Warner, an exhibition diver who lives on the island. Others in the diving party were Kenneth Marx of 1836 S. Los Angeles St.; Dick Spencer of 656 S. Bruce St.; Shari and Bob Retherford of 10471 Brookhurst St., all of Anaheim, and a Long Beach man.”