Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-01-24
At LEAST FIFTY
LIVES ARE LOST
Steamer Valencia Wrecked OFF
Cape BeaIe, Vancouver
Island.
HUNDRED HOPING FOR RESCUE
Strong Wind N Blowing, Heavy Secs
Running and Total Wreck Of
Vessel Threatened.

Victoria. b. c.. Jan. 2i--The steamer
Valencia. Capt. Johnson. Of the Pacific
Coast Steamship company, with "a
passengers on board and a crew of go,
vas wrecked to the eastward Of Cape
Beale on the Vancouver island coast
III the early morning Of Tuesday with
heavy loss of life, greater than that
OF any other disaster that has occur
red near here since the terrible loss
Of life following the collision Of the
ship Orpheus with the steamer Pacific
when en- route from Victoria to Port
land. The survivors who have reach
ed Cape Beale, the boatswain and five
seamen. sent to secure assistance in
one OF the steamers boats, report that
al least 50 persons were drowned along
ide the steamer when boats loaded
with women and children smashed
against the steamers side soon after
they were lowered from the vessel.
When they left over 100 persons were
huddled on the saloon deck Of the
steamer, which was then partly sub
merged, with the in-rolling sea wash
ing over the main deck. A southeast
gale was blowing with the wind whist
ling through the cordage Of the wreck
ed vessel at velocity of over 40 miles
an hour and high sea was beating
against the hull sending spume high
over It and huge seas pounded on the
deck threatening to break up the
wreck unless the several steamers
which have been hurried to the as
sistance of the wrecked vessel can ar
rive In time to save those who remain
on the wreck, il is doubtful IL any of
them will reach shore for a landing In
such place Is extremely difficult, II at
all possible.
The Valencia sailed from San Fran
cisco on her second trip to Victoria. re-
placing the recently disabled steamer
City OF Puebla. at IL a. m. on Satur-
day. This was the only clear day and
from Saturday evening Capt Johnson
and his officers had to navigate by
means of dead reckoning. Nearing the
entrance e sh.l straits the weather was
very thick and they thought they were
In the vicinity of the Umatllla reef
lightship near Cape Flattery, which has
a good fog signal on board. Having
had no observations and unable to
make out their position In the thick
weather prevailing, sounding were
taken. showing 80 fathoms. 1mrne-
diately after the men with the lead
lines reported 30 fathoms OF water the
steamer struck heavily against some
roofs off shore With shock which
awoke all on board.
The steamer did not run up on 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 engineers whistled to
the bridge that water was pouring up
over the engine room plates and they
were unable to stand by their engines,
so fast did the water rise In the en-
CINE room. They and the firemen were
driven on deck, but before they were
driven out in answer to excited lin.
giles from the bridge they gave what
speed was possible, and Capt. Johnson
turned the vessel again toward the
beach.
As the Valencia was laundering as
result 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 It was. of landing those on
board on the rocky coast. Before she
struck again on the rocks, the engl-
neers. firemen and all below had been
driven above by the thrush OF water.
and the seas soon began to roll over
the main deck Water was over the
deck when the boats were being low
cred, the lights being extinguished by
the flooding OF the engine room before
the work was commenced
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 ard completely wrecked. all
those in the boats being swept Into the
sea and drowned. The scenes In the
darkness were horrible, for not a LIGHT
showed on any part of the vessel. after
the electric lights suddenly went out
when the dynamos were covered by the
in-rush OF water Several boats and
three life RATS were put over from I,
wreck and OF those put over two boats
have been heard OF. One is that which
reached Cape Beale nine hours after