Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1906-01-29

CclSO at III a. III. saturday III clear
weather, en- route to Victoria. with
ninety-fou passengers and crew of
silky, went ashore on the west coast
of Vancouver island at midnight Mon.
day night during thick fog, and a
large number were drowned when at
tempting to leave the ship.
The steamer is on the rocks against
high cliff, between Cape Beale and
Cloo Ose, and is likely to go to pieces
at any time.
One boats crew Of six men reached
Cape Beale at 3 o'clock yesterday af.
ternoon, and nine men got ashore near
the telegraph huts about fifteen miles
from the lighthouse.
According to the survivors, the Va
lencia encountered thick weather after
leaving San Francisco, and Capt.
johnson had consequently to navigate
by reckoning.
The officers of the steamer thought
they were near Umatilla reef light.
ship when the vessel drove in on the
Vancouver island coast. Soundings
had been taken. thirty fathoms having
been secured few minutes before the
ship struck.
The steamer was successful in back
ing off the rocks into deep water and
the hope was felt that the Valencia
would be able to proceed on her
course. This hope was soon dispelled,
however, and the hold beagn to fill,
proving that the vessel was doomed.
The engine room quickly filled. driv-
ing the firemen and engineers out.
The captain saw that there was no
chance to save the vessel, and as the
only means of saving the lives Of the
passengers and crew, drove the steam
er on the rocks again.
When the six survivors who have
arrived at Cape Beale left the Valen.
cha she was lying head on to the sea
and about thirty yards from the high
bluff on shore. with the water over
her main deck.
What were left Of her passengers,
many of whom had been drowned,
were huddled on the saloon deck.
Seven boats and two life RATS we're
lowered and only two of them have
been heard from.
The steamer Queen, which arrived
here at 1880 p. m. from San Fran
cisco, landed her passengers and left
at once for the scene of the wreck.
Other boats have also left for the
scene. to render assistance, if possible.
The Valencia was one of the best
known boats on the Pacific coast. She
first came into prominence in 1898,
when she was bought by the Pacific
Steam Whaling Company and brought
to this coast from the East. The ves-
sci was placed on the run to the Cop.
per river country in Alaska during the
season Of 1898. At that time Capt.
Omar J. Humphrey, now connected
with the Alaska Commercial Compa-
ny, was her master. The vessel was
used to handle the rush to that Sec
ton. After making several trips
north the steamer was chartered by
the government for the transport serv-
ice and carried troops to Manila until
1900, when she was placed on the
Nome run by the whaling company.
Next year she was sold to the Pa.
cific Packing and Navigation Compa.
ny, and after few trips north was
bought by the present owners, the Pa
cif1c Coast Steamship Company. Since
then the vessel has been used on the
run from Seattle to San Francisco,
with the exception of a short time
last summer, when she was placed on
the Nome run to help handle the bust
ness. On her last trip north the ves-
sci went ashore near St. Michaels and
had narrow escape from being a to.
tai loss.
The Valencia was built by the
Cramps, in Philadelphia. in 1892, and
used on the run to the caribbean isl.
ands as fruiter. She is vessel of
1888 tons. Her hull is of wood. Her
speed is about ID knots an hour.
Seattle, Jan. 25.-A special repre-.
sentative of the Post Intelligencer
wired from Port Angeles at $3.50 o.
clock this morning that the rescue
ship City of Topeka picked up large
raft at l o'clock yesterday, six Miles
off Cape Beale with eighteen survi-
vors of the Valencia on board. The
men were in a pitiable condition from
exposure. The rescued are:
G. D. Harden, passenger; NJ. Tarpey.
quartermaster; P. O'Brien, waiter;
w. Raymond, messmate; J. F. Car
rick, first assistant engineer; W. D.
johnson. coal passer; j. Cegalis. FIRE
man: c. Flemme. baker: Frank Lehn,
first freight clerk; Joseph McCaffrey.
passenger; J. WEIGH, waiter: A.
Hawkins, passenger; P. Peterson. Sec
ond officer; J. Poddent. waiter: John
johnson. third cook; c. L. Allison.
passenger: W. Dorsthy. fireman: G.
Willis. passenger; P. Primer. fireman.
The survivors were half frozen and
unconscious from the ex-
posure.
The raft was sighted about ~ o clio