The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1906-02-01
III MET DEATH
ON VALENCIA
Survivor Of Wreck Tells Of Awful
Scenes on Board
NOT A WOMAN OR CHILD SAVED

Victoria, B. c.. Jan. 26.-With only
80 of the 154 persons on board known
TO be safe, the wrecked steamer Valen-
cia now lies submerged and broken on
the Vancouver coast, five miles from
Cape Beale. Only a portion of mast
stands above the water, and the feet
of steamers and tugs have turned their
attention to patrolling the coast in the
hope of finding boats, RATS or wreck
age still afloat with survivors. But
the belief grows stronger each hour
that 121 persons, including most Of the
passengers, are lost.
Ashore several rescue parties are toll
ing over difficult trails, some carrying
succor to those who were washed
ashore in a pitiable plight. and others
securing the rugged rocks Of the sea-
shore, seeking such survivors as may
have reached shore. Still others are
engaged in the melancholy duty of re-
covering bodies.
OF the 33 persons definitely account
ed for and these do not include three
men believed to be survivors, seen on
shore by the whaling vessel Orion, six
have been taken Oh the Salvor. bruised,
half naked and exhausted. Nine 9TH
ers in similar plight are still camped
on Darling creek in telegraph hut.
while the remaining IS were picked up
by the City of Topeka from a raft.
Not woman or child is among the
hot
men refused to leave the wreck, even
when told the ship was going to pieces
Doctors on the rescuing tugs say the
limit Of human endurance has been
passed before this time, and that all
persons on life RATS are likely dead.
The following is the story Of G.
Wilets, one Of the passengers, and one
Of the men rescued from the raft:
"The ship struck at 1907 on the
morning of Tuesday, January %.
was on the deck at the time, smoking
a cigar, and was looking at my watch
when the first crash came In an in
slant all was excitement There were
the shrieks of the frightened men and
women, the wall of little children and
the hoarse orders of the officers of the
ship. The vessel reeled like a drunk
er man, slid over the reef and struck
again
Every wave now washed clear
over her, and many people who hast
fly rushed on deck went to their deaths
without time TO murmur a prayer.
"The order was given to get out the
boats. Two of them on the weather
side were launched, and were smash
ed like eggshells as soon as they
struck the water. Then came the at
tempt to get out the lee boats
''Purser O'Farrell took charge -Four
women and a number of men went into
the boat. l do not know how many,
but she was practically full. Just as
they were lowering the other the dav-
fell to the water while the bow hung
in the air. Every one was precipi-
tated into the sea and swept away in
an instant. For a second of two |
caught a glimpse of an agoniZed face,
then another, and yet another, as they
were washed by me. 1t was awful.
The waves dashing over the ship,
started breaking up. They swept the
deck loose and every swell lifted 1t.
We Clung to the rigging and deck
house.
when the Topeka finally hove in
sight we determined to make an ef-
fort to reach her in the raft lift. Few
Of the men cared to make the attempt,
as it appeared to be certain death to
even try to cross the breakers. But
IS of US were willing, and we started.
With only a pair Of oars. the struggle
against the wind and sea was almost
too much for us.
Part of the time we were under
water, and were almost drowned. But
we were impelled by desperation, and
fought and fought against the ele-
ments like demons.
when We left the ship on the raft
we tried to get some of the remaining
women to 60 but they refused. No
help can now reach them before morn
ing. and the ship will have then gone
to pieces She was breaking up when
we left her"