Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-01-25
THRILLING RESCUE.

Twenty Persons Taken From Isaft by t3l'
steamer city Of Topeka.
Seattle, Wash. Jan. %. "A special
representative of the Pcsi Inteliigenuer
wired from Port Angeles az $50
O'Clock this morning that the rescue
chip City Of Topeka picked ur lifs
craft at ! O'Clock yesterday afternoon
six miles cff Cape Beale with % sur
vivors Of the wrecked steamer Valencia
on hoard.
The rescued are: G. d. Harden. pas
senger NJ. Tarqey, quarteFmaster p.
O'Bfien. waiter; w, Ray mond, mess
man; W. ID. johnson, c.al passer; j.
q. ERales, foreman; q. tieeme, baker
Frank Lehn, first freight clerk; Joseph
McCaffery, passenger; j. WEIGH, wait
er; A. hawkins, passenger; p. Eeter-
sen. second officer; J. Poodent, waiter;
John johnson, third cook q. Il. ALI
Sun, passenger; John Cigodas, fire
man; Thomas Gnrriok, first assistant
engineer; G. Milets, passenger; +.
Primer, fireman, and W. Doherty, fire.
man.
The condition Of the survivors was
pitiatle. They we're half frozen and
practically unconscious from the ex-
posure.
O'Clock, but, on account Of the thick
weather, it was supposed 10 be nothing
but q log. At last 10y the aid OF
powerful glass, it's true nature was
determined. A terrible sea was run
ming. One minute the raft was poised
on top of a wave and the next IL would
be lost from view in the gully formed
by the mountainous breakers.
The 20 men on the fTail support bat
tied hravely with a pair Of oars to
reach the City of Topeka, which,
owing to the dangerous ooast, could
not run in any closer to them. Within
half a mile Of the raft a boat was low
cred from the Topeka, in charge Of
Second Mate Burke. who with much
difficulty succeeded IN making fast a
/ line to the raft. The spectators on
/ the Topeka breathlessly watched the
struggle of the gallant seamen. One
minute they wers high IN the air and
the next lost to sight. At last they
succeeded in bringing the raft TO the
side of the steamer. The sight Of the
poor creatures on the raft brought
tears 20 the eyes Of the sailors on the
vessel. In the stern OF the raft sat an
old man. His snow-White hair and
pallid features we're oreased and torn
by the flying spray, but the instinct of
life was strong In him, and be held on
bravely to his place. Three others
were lying in a senseless hear u the
rear, washed by every swell and re-
tanned solely by the bodies OF the Other
men, who were closely packed Time
and time again great seas swept over
them, sending a shuddsr through the
on-lookers, who feared to see them
swept away. The work of rescuing
them was dangerous. Tho men we're
too exhausted TO even tie a rops about
themselves. When the raft vas sighted
a cry went up from the steamers deck.
Orders we're shouted and men on the
raft screamed and called fruitlessly foI
aid. For a minute it locked as though
the old man with snow white hair
was gone when the raft gave 4 sudden
lurch, but the prompt work of Mate
burke and his men m the boat finally
got him on deck. This man no sooner
was safe when another fainting form
was swept away and was only rescued
by quick work on the part OF the
blat's crew. The next man 70 bt
swept from the raft managed to grasI
line and cling 70 il until he wal
hoisted half way up the ships side,
when his strength gave out and be iei
back. lie was picked up by the boat
The raft put out ffom the wreck yes
teTday morning, on sighting th'
steamer Queen, and attempted to reaci
her, but before the men on the raf