FIELD NOTE:
|
PLACE: |
CORREGIDOR |
DATE: |
5 DECEMBER 2009 |
LOCALE: |
ROCK POINT |
OBSERVATION: |
SEARCHLIGHT NO. 2 |
BY: |
JOHN MOFFITT |
|
REF: FOTS2/091205 |
|
|
Here is a quick visit to the Rock Point area on
the north-west coast of Corregidor. Just inland of the point is Searchlight
#2.

Map of Rock Point with Searchlight #2 above it. The cliff face has moved
inland recently due to a large landslide. A small portion of the end of the
searchlight track is now overhanging the cliff.
(map courtesy of Mapmaster)

Since the old road is so overgrown it is best to make your way down the
hillside from the North Shore Road. Here is the first view you see as you
approach Searchlight #2. The entrance to the searchlight shelter is visible
plus part of the wall.
To prepare the searchlight for operation, it would be rolled out of the
shelter on a track. The track turned left 90 degrees passing along the wall
and then turns left again to its final position out near the cliff.

The view along the wall which is almost parallel to the cliff.

The view straight out towards the cliff.

The new cliff face is at the end of (or actually slightly under) the end of
the searchlight track.

Boat view of the recent landslide. At the top of the new cliff you can see a
‘V’ with white concrete at the bottom. This is the outer end of the
searchlight track overhanging the cliff.

The view back along the wall to the searchlight shelter.

The doorway to the searchlight shelter.

Viewing directly into the searchlight shelter.
I was standing at the doorway to the shelter
when I took the above photo. From the doorway to the new cliff face is
approximately 36 feet. The rear wall of the shelter is obviously even closer
to the cliff. I wonder if the next landslide will take the whole
searchlight?

This little building may have been the searchlight control room or at the
very least, the communications centre.

This phone directory may explain why there is no diesel generator building
here. It looks like they got their power from the nearest battery, Battery
Grubbs.

shaft on top of the control room.
Opposite the long concrete wall is an embankment
containing two rough unlined tunnels. The left side tunnel goes straight in
and ends 6 to 8 feet from the entrance. Not much to see here.

The view along the searchlight wall showing the embankment at the rear. Note
the tunnel entrance to the right. (left side tunnel)

Closer view of this tunnel entrance.

View from the entrance directly into the very short tunnel.

Looking out the searchlight shelter, note the mostly collapsed entrance to
another tunnel. (right side tunnel)

Closer view of this tunnel entrance. It is easy to slide into this tunnel.

The view back out the tunnel entrance.

Near the entrance are vertical wooden beams buried on each side of the
tunnel.
This tunnel goes straight in a short ways to a
‘T’ intersection.

At the ‘T’ intersection, the tunnel to the left is a dead end after only 10
feet or so. The end is very square and relatively smooth giving me the
impression that they did not intend to tunnel any further in this direction.

The tunnel to the right slopes down and has a gentle turn to the left.

Looking back up the tunnel.
Soon you come to a ‘L’ intersection where the
tunnel continues to the right.

Looking back up the tunnel from the ‘L’ intersection.

Past the ‘L’ intersection and looking back. To the left you can see the
tunnel’s upward slope as it heads back towards the entrance.

The tunnel continues curving towards the left.

Dead end. I wonder if this is why the cliff collapsed. It looks like
sandstone and not solid rock. There are no drill holes. Perhaps this tunnel
was dug with picks and shovels.
I did not measure the total distance but I would
estimate the final end is about 50 or 60 feet from the entrance. There is no
airshaft or second entrance to this tunnel.

Finally, a view of Rock Point looking down from Searchlight #2.
Searchlight #2 is a little difficult to get to
but it is very intact when compared to some of the other ones. Although it
is an interesting place to visit I wonder if it is a bit dangerous now.
Perhaps the new cliff face is still unstable, time will tell.
|