New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-24
A HUNDRED FACE DEATH
WRECKED ON VANCOUVER
Frisco Steamer Goes Ashore-A
Number Of Persons Dro1oned.

Victoria, B. c.. Jan. 23-The steamer valen-
cia, from San Francisco. with ninety-four pas
sengers and crew of sixty men. went ashore
on the southern coast OF Vancouver Island at
midnight last night in a thick fog. and a num-
Der Of persons were drowned in attempting to
leave the ship. The steamer is on the rocks
against a high cliff. and is likely to go to pieces
at any time.
One boats crew reached Cape Beale at 3
o'clock this afternoon and nine men got ashore
near the telegraph hut, about fifteen miles from
the lighthouse. Two men are prisoners on the
face Of the cliff near which the steamer went
ashore, and can neither get up the cliff nor re-
turn to the wreck. The sea will probably reach
them when the tide is high
The men tell Of painful scenes. One woman
dropped her child into the when trying to
hand it to her husband who was in one of the
boats. When the boats crew left the ship there
was little boy running about the deck crying
for his mother, who among the drowned.
There are still about one hundred and twenty
five persons on the wreck, with almost certain
death before them.
The steamer Queen, which arrived here rom
San Francisco. landed her passengers and
started at once for the scene Of the wreck. The
steamer Queen City left here at midnight on
her regular coast cruise, and should reach the
scene Of the wreck in a few hours. Urgent mes
sages for assistance are being received The
wrecking steamer SaIvor is also on the way to
Cape Beale.
It IS reported that the whaling steamer Orion
has arrived at the Valencia wreck from the
whaling station at Sechart.
dispatch from Carmanah says a ships boat
with several people passed there at l p. m to-
day.
The weather station reports that a gale has
been blowing on the island coast in the vicinity
Of the wreck for two days. Reports from the
mouth of the Columbia River this afternoon
said that the wind blowing fifty miles
hour. OF Vancouver Island a velocity of forty
miles hour was reported. A tremendous sea
sweeps IN on the rock bound shore near Cape
Beale in heavy weather.
Captain Gaudin, who received the first mes
sage Of the disaster from the lightkeeper at
Carmanah, said he thought the wreck was at
Pachena Bay. which is about half way between
Cloose and Cape ReaIe. Separating these two
points is a stretch Of coast line about ten miles
long. Nearer Cape Beale than CIoose is Pachena
Bay. at the entrance to which are the dreaded
Sea Bird Rocks. on which the steamer Michigan
was wrecked about ten years ago Captain
Gaudin believes the Valencia struck these rocks
The rocks stand out where the wind and cur
rent seem to concentrate their forces from the
Pacific. A landing, unless under most favorable
circumstances would appear impossible. Captain
Gaudin added:
In the absence of information, it is difficult to
conjecture what took the steamer from her
course, but in my opinion the strong southeast
eTly gale, blowing at the rate Of fifty miles an
hour and the great current which sweeps tow
ard the coast were responsible for driving the
steamer from her course
The first news Of the disaster reached this city
IN message received by Captain Gaudin, agent
Of the Marine Service, from the lighthouse keep
er, Patterson, at Cape Beale. saying:
Steamer wrecked between here and CIoose;
about one hundred drowned; nine reached tele-
graph hut VIII telegraph more particulars as
soon as possible.
Cloose is about five or six miles from Car
rnanah Point, and sixty-fve miles from Victoria
Cape Beale Is about one hundred and twenty
miles from Victoria, at the eastern entrance to
Barkley Sound
The Valencia Is iron screw steamer Of 1883
tons capacity, 2527 feet long, with beam OF
"a and a depth OF 70 feet. She built in 1883 by
the Cramps. in the war with Spain the Valencia
engaged for a time IN the transport service OF
the United States. carrying troops TO and from
the Philippines,