Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-26
TOTAL SAVED FORTY
Survivors of the Inflated
Steamer Valencia.
NOTHING LEFT OF HULL
Story of the Disaster From Survivor
of the Wreck.
A THRILLING FIGHT FOR LIFE
Exciting Experiences of Those Res
cued From a Life Raft-Men Made
Crazy-Pitiful Scenes.
THRILLING FIGHT FOR LIFE


Port Townsend, Washington state, this
morning brought no survivors of the Va
lencia save those already reported The TO-
tai saved, according to the figures of the
officials of the Pacific Coast Company, is
forty, including three men found on Tur-
ret Island and one man believed to be
alive on the island, but who, it is expected,
has been located by Indians. This also in
cludes three reported on the beach near
Klanewak The tug Pioneer returning
from the wreck last night, reported moth
ing left of the hull of the Valencia.
VICTORIA, B. c., January 26.-Word was
received last night at Bamfield from Capt
Ferris who left with party from the
steamer Salyor yesterday morning to bring
the nine survivors of the Valencia who
were at Darling river about fifteen miles
from Bamfield. The party was twelve hours
on the trail and from accounts received
by Capt. Ferris the survivors are suffering
great privations. Some without boots
and will have to walk in bare feet. Others
are insufficiently clothed. Capt. Ferris will
leave at daybreak today for Bamield with
the entire party, but does not expect to
get in until Saturday morning. The. Salvor
will wait The trails are reported in a very
bad condition, being in places almost i'm
passable.
The tug Lorne, which returned at mid
night from the wreck of the Valencia,
brought John Segalos of San Francisco.
fireman of the Valencia, rescued by the City
ofTopeka from the raft and placed on board
the Lorne He is a Greek In an interview
he told of futile attempt made by him to
i'm nSfn .,.,r;., IT,, 4.
breakers, TO attach the line between the
wreck and shore, and of how he and seven
teen other survivors had spent from 10 am.
to pm. of Wednesday on a fragile raft,
buffeted by gale and swamped by the run
ming seas, until picked up by the Topeka
John Segalos. speaking to an Associated
Press correspondent on board the tug Lorne
after being transferred, said:
Story Of the Disaster.
"1t was my turn on watch in the fire room
when at 11:50 Monday night the Valencia
going very slowly, suddenly struck the rocks
and shook from end to end. Orders came to
the engine room to reverse The boat backed
from the rocks, and shortly afterward the
water came rushing in at the rate of about
foot minute, and we all knew the steam
er was doomed.
The officers and crew passed out life
belts to everybody and orders We're given to
man the boats. 1t was terrible, the dark
and the roar of the boiling surf Panic
seized many and there was a blind rush in
the biackness to get to the boats. At about
1880 saw boat loaded with twenty-five
people crash from the davits and every one
fell into the sea. Among them was the first
assistant engineer, now rescued and on
board the steamer City of Topeka going to
Seattle helped to load three more boats
but they were swamped About this time
the Valencia drifted broadside to the rocks
Tuesday morning about o'clock three
unsuccessful attempts were made to shoot
lines to shore, but nothing could be done
That afternoon l volunteered TO swim to
land. rope was fastened to me and
plunged into the surf.
$1,000 Offered for Life.
Before I left the wreck. a passenger. a
woman 1 did not know, came to me and
offered to give me 81 LOCO If / would get a
line ashore. l told her 1 could not accept
her money, it was my duty to try to
save lives.
1T was no use. / was simply dashed
back by waves, SO ! cut the line and life
buoy was thrown to me, and l was pulled
on board stunned.
LAS the vessel settled passengers and
crew sought the masts and rigging. Many
were swept OFT the decks. Others jumped
into the sea, seeking to swim ashore.
''On Wednesday Capt Johnson told us the
only chance for safety lay In the RATS. He
urged the women to get into them. There
were about a dozen women alive then, some
in the rigging and some on the deck house
They refused to take to the RATS.
jumped from the mast where l had climbed
and was helped upon one of the RATS. The
sea was running heavy and there was a
fog in which we lost sight of the other
raft that left at the same time. 1t was
about six hours afterward that we were
picked up by the Topeka and received
every care and attention on that vessel
Segalos was transferred to the Lorne, so
that he might be of service in guiding that
vessel to the location of the wreck.
Crazed and Jumped Into the Sea.
VICTORIA, B. c., January 26.-Advices
to the Express from Uclulet today say that
the ten men who left the Valencia Wednes-
day afternoon on the second life raft which
was picked up by the steamer City of To-
peka, drifted into Barley sound. On ar
irving at small island off Village Island
Wilson, third engineer jumped overheard.
and in attempting to swim ashore was
drowned The remaining nine landed on
Turret Island Wednesday.
Before morning five went crazy and
jumped into the water. One man. the
strongest, started out for help, and had
not returned when the remaining three men
were taken on board the launch Sharock
of Victoria after being found by Indians
While the men were drifting on the life
raft they. saw the City of Topeka for a
considerable time, but were unable to at
tract it, although they tried frantically to
do so. They saw Cape Beale light that
night, and tried to make for 1t, using the
oars. The cook, F. Hancock OF San Fran
cisco, was IN command OF the raft He
has a wife in San Francisco.
The names of those on the raft who were
drowned are: Wilson, third engineer, VIII
son, a passenger; Wallace, steerage waiter,
and man-of-warsman on leave In the U.
s. s. Concord, name unknown. The man In
the bush on the island is Frank, a waiter.
Hancock thinks Frank will be found by the
Indians, who are looking for him. The
three men brought to Toquart are exhaust
ed They are being cared for at the Toquart
fishing station.