The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1906-09-05

ences OF Cornelius Allison, one oil
the survivors of the Inflated Valen-
ella that went down of Vancouver
island Jan. %, 1906, was read before
q recent meeting of the Naval Vet
Grams Of Minnesota, a copy Of when
was sent to D. NJ. Rand OF this city.
Mr.. Rand Is a member OF the associa-
ton and his comrades. believing the
narrative would be interesting to
him, sent him a copy:
On Saturday, January 20, 1906, at
1880 a. NJ, Mr.. Fred Erickson, my
companion and foreman, and myself,
took passage at San Francisco on the
Valencia for Seattle and cleared the
wharf at about 1880 a. M, and went
through Golden Gate at about 1890.
Weather fine; a gentle breeze astern.
The passenger list consisted of about
one hundred men, women and children
and crew of about sixty. Every one
aboard appeared to be in the best of
spirits and enjoying the landscape, ever
on the watch seward for first glimpse
of q whale. Several hundred sea gulls
followed our ship, sometimes dropping
to the water and even lighting on the
ship. We were within sight of the coast
all day, nice light breeze blowing
astern. Towards evening it became a
little cloudy and the night was dark,
passengers generally seeking their
berths about 9 o'clock. Everything
went smoothly during the night al
though the humping of the machinery
disturbed somewhat our ship. Sunday
morning found us out of sight of land
with quite swell running but not
much wind which was still astern. The
skies were cloudy, little mist arising.
An enjoyable day was passed making
new acquaintance and swapping stor-
les, being especially Interested in an
old miner on his way back to Alaska,
where he said he intended to spend the
remainder Of his life, considering that
frozen country superior to Frisco or
any other part of America. Dame For
tune, had, I learned, especially favored
him, which probably accounted for
Alaska appearing so bright to him.
Watching the sea gulls pick up refuse
thrown from the ship was the source
of much amusement. We retired about
nine o'clock and rested fairly well, -aris
ing about 1880, the weather being a lit
tie heavier than on Sunday, little mists
of rain appearing at intervals. The en-
tire absence of sea gulls attracted my
notice, and a thought flashed upon me
that it meant bad luck. | am not
aware that l was ever possessed of any
of the many sailors superstitions, but
I could not help but think of the sea
gulls, at intervals, all day Monday. The
weather continued about the same all
day. Along towards evening officers
were looking over the Tog" or "indicat-
or" Of speed We were making and l
heard them say that we were making
about l01s knots and would not reach
Victoria, for our first stop, until 6 or
7 o'clock Tuesday morning
With the experience I have had as
sailor on the lakes and in the U. S. navy
I could not help but think they might
be mistaken as it appeared to me we
were making faster time than indicat-
ed
! went to supper about @ o'clock par
taking only of cup of tea and two
sma1 pieces Of bread and butter, this
being the first food I had eaten since
Saturday morning. We went to our
berths about o'clock but I did not
sleep soundly, could hear the officers
heaving the lead and taking soundings,
reporting to the captain; appeared to
be running very slow as if they real.
lied they were In dangerous waters.
seemed to have an eye open all the time
and believe l was awake when the ship,
with the grating, crashing noise, which
Jared the whole ship, seemed to clear
and strike again, telling US plainly we
had struck rock. l sprang to my feet,
as did every one else, hurriedly dressed,
grabbed my life preserver, and Fred
and I rushed out on deck when we
buckled on our life preservers. Full
one-half the passengers were already on
deck, partly clothed Before leaving
our state room we could feel the ship
backing of the rock and heading out to
sea, but she Immediately again re-
versed her engines and just after ]
reached the deck she went again sterr
frst towards the cliff onto the rocks
and laid over to port considerably, and
We believed she might roll over onto bel
side, the people all rushing onto the
starboard on opposite side. The outlines
Of the cliff IN the dark looked very
close. Within twenty minutes the cleo
tric upht dynamos were all drowned out