The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-01-24
Steamer Valencia, With l54
Persons on Board, Wrecked.
DURING GALE AT MIDNIGHT
Fully Fifty Drowned Alongside Steamer
Will, Trying 10 Embark In the Boats.
Worst In Years

Victoria b. c.. Jan 2i.-The steamer
Valencia Capt. Johnson OF the Pacific
Coast Steamship company. with 81 pas
sengers on board and a crew OF so. was
wrecked 20 the eastward OF Cape Bealo
on the Vancouver Island coast in the
early morning Of Monday. with n heavy
loss OF life. greater than that OF any other
disaster that has occurred near here slncs
the terrible loss OF life following the coll
lLsion OF the ship orpheus. with the
steamer Pacific, when en- route from VIC
toria TO Portland.
The survivors who have reached Cape
Beale. the boatswain and five seamen.
sent 10 secure assistance i'm one OF the
steamers boats report that at least 30
persons were drowned alongside the
steamer when boats loaded with women
and children smashed against the steam-
ers side soon after they were lowered
from the vessel
REST HAVE SLIM CHANCE.
When they left over one hundred per-
sons were huddled on the saloon deck
OF the steamer which was then partly
submerged with the inrolling sea wash
ing over the main deck. A southeast gale
was blowing with the wind whistling
through the cordage OF the wrecked ves-
sci al a velocity OF over 40 miles an hour.
and high sea WAS beating against ths
hull, sending spray high over 1t and huge
seas pounded on the deck. threatening to
break up the wreck.
Unless the several steamers which have
been hurried TO the assistance OF the
wrecked vessel. can arrive in time TO save
those who remain on the wreck. IL !s
doubtful IL any OF them will reach shore
for a landing In such n place is extreme
ly difficult II at all possible.
The Valencia sailed from San Francisco
on her second trip TO Victoria. replacing
the recently disable dsteamer City OF Pu-
bla. at III a. m. Saturday This was tho
only clear day. and from Saturday even
ing, Capt. Johnson and his officers had to
navigate by means OF dead reckoning.
STRUCK THE REEF.
Nearing the entrance TO the straits the
weather was very thick and the officers
thought they were in the vicinity OF the
Umatila Reef lightship near Cape Flah-
erty. which has a good fog signal on
board. Having had no observations. and
unable 20 make out their position In the
thick weather prevailing soundings were
taken showing 30 fathoms. Immediately
after the men with the leadline reported
80 fathoms OF water. the steamer struck
heavily against some reefs of shore with
a shock which awoke all on board.
The steamer did not run upon the reef
and was Immediately backed away. AS
she went into deep water. she began TO
fill. the impact with the rock having
greatly damaged the steamer The engi-
neer whistled 10 the bridge that water
was pouring up over the engine room
plates and they were unable to stand by
the engine room.
They and the fremen were driven on
the deck but before they were driven out
in answer to excited jungles from the
bridge, they gave what speed was possi
bic. and Captain Johnson turned the ves-
sci again toward the beach.
TRIED TO BEACH HER.
As the Valencia was foundering. as a re-
suit OF her impact with the rocks the
only possible chance TO save any OF those
on board. was TO put the vessel ashore
again with the hope. scant though Il was
Of landing those on board on tho rocky
coast. Before she struck again on the
rocks, the engineers firemen and all be-
low had been driven above by the in
rush or water, and the seas soon began 10
roll over the main deck
Water was over the deck when the
boats were being lowered. the lights be-
ing extlnguished by the flooding of the
engine-room before the-work vas eop,-
menced
AWFUL LOSS OF LIFE.
The loss OF life was awful when the
boats were lowered Two boats filled with
women and children were swept against
the side OF the steamer. smashed and
completely wrecked all those I'm the boats
being swept into the sea and drowned
A special from Cape Beale s.ates that
-.
II a. m. Saturday the weather v's clear,
but since had been thick and Captain
Johnson, consequentlybnd to navigate by
reckoning. The Officers OF the steamer
thought they were near Umatilla Reef
lightship when the vessel drove In on tho
Vancouver Island coast. Soundings had
been taken thirty fathoms having been Sc.
cured a few minutes before the vessel
struck When she hit the rocks. her en-
gines were reversed. and the steamer sue
ceeded i'm backing off into deep water.
She Immediately began to hll and so
quickly that the engineers and hrene1
were driven from the engine room and :he
only chance to save the lives Of my one
on board was to drive the vessel ashore
MAIN DECK UNDER.
When the six survivors. wno have ar
rived a Cape Beale left .he Valencia. she
was lying head-on TO the sea and was
about 30 yards from the hign bluT on
shore with the water over her main
deck What were left OF the passengers,
a large number having been previously
drowned. were huddled In the "a loon deck.
When the boats were lowered soon after
the vessel was driven onto the shore. she
beran to fill there was 4 great loss OF
llfe The boats filled win women and
children. were smashed against the side
OF the steamer and all In therl were lost.
t.Ae ha h. NJ
the crew could not see 90 work.
Several boats and three life rats were
lowered. only two OF them have been
heard from, There were thought to he
about 100 persons still on the wcrck. anil
the survivors. who had reached Cape
Beale say at least 80 were drowned along
side the steamer before they left. rhe
boatswain and five seamen were sent TO
secure assistance. and are the only ohes
that reached Cape Besle. leaving there
about 3 o'clock
WIND WAS HIGHER