The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-01-26
MINNESOTA Man
TELLS OF WRECK
Allison Among the 40 Survivors
Of the Disaster; Erick-
son Lost.
Bruer Of Minneapolis Does Not
Appear to Have Been
Rescued.
Special to The Journal.

Special to The Journal.
Seattle, Wash, Jan. 26.-The steamer
City of Topeka arrived here this morn
ing with % of the survivors Of the ill
fated Valencia, and the narrowing tales
told of the wreck are heart-rending.
Among the. saved are G. J.. Allison of
Of st. Paul, was touring the coast. They
were en- route to Seattle to spend
week. Both men were among the last
to leave the vessel and took passage
on life raft.
Erickson was washed off and drowned,
until picked up BY the Topeka when
almost ready to loosen his hold and
roll into the boiling sea. His story is
as follows:
ri don't know which was the worst
experience, that on ship, Of that on the
saddest things to me was the losing
Of my comrade, Erickson. We had
been together many years and both
lived in St. Paul. Erickson and I were
taking the trip up the coast on pleas
a WE were both Nth to 60 % 9Ss on eo e
on board. Where he went to do not
know. After we got thru the breakers
[ looked around and ne was not with
me. Whether he remained on the ship
or was washed off the raft l cannot say.
! terrible.''
On the passenger list the name OF
sBruer' does not appear. No person
of that name was saved.
Forty on List Of Saved.
!. Seattle, Jan. 26.-The steamship TO.
peka, which arrived at Port Townsend
this morning brought no survivors OF
| the Valencia save those that already
have been reported. The total saved,
according to figures of officials Of the
Pacific Coast company, is forty, !nelud-
1 and one man believed to be alive on
the island, but who, it is supposed, has
been located by. Indians. This also. in
cludes three reported on the beach near
Klanewak- Thestug Pioneer, returning
/ from the wreck last night, reported
! nothing left Of the hull of the Valencia.
Barefoot on the Trail.
4 Victoria, B. c. Jan. 26.--Word was
received last. night at Bamfield from
morning to bring in the nine survivors
of the Valencia who were at Darling
river, about fifteen miles from Bam-
field. The party was twelve hours on
the trail, and from accounts received
by Captain Ferris, the survivors are
without boots and will have to- walk IN
! bare feet. Others are insuffcientiy
clothed.
Captain Ferris was to start at day
break today for Bamfeld with the en-
tire party, but does not expect to get
vor will wait The trails are reported
in very bad condition, being in places
almost impossible.
The tug. Lorne, which returned at
midnight from the, wreck OF the va
Francisco, fireman of the Valencia,
rescued by. the City Of Topeka from
4 the raft and placed on board the Lorne.
In an interview, he told of a futile
attempt made by him to swim ashore,
carrying a line thru the breakers sns, to al. at
shore, and of how he and seventeen
other survivors had spent from III
am. to pm. of Wednesday on "a
fragile raft, buffeted by the gale and
swamped by the running seas son until
picked up by the Topeka. segaios
said:
ttIt 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
foot a minute and we all knew the
steamer was doomed.
Panic Seized Many.
I "The officers and crew passed out
life belts to everybody and orders were
given to man the boats. 1t was terri
BILE, the darkness, the rain, the crashing
of the wreck and the roar of the boiling
. surf. Panic seized many and there
was a blind rush in the blackness to get
to the boats.
: cat about 1890 I saw boat loaded
with twenty-five persons crash from the
davits and every one fell into the sea.
Among them was the first assistant en-
gineer, now rescued and on board the
steamer City of Topeka. going to Seat
| tie. I helped to load three more boats,
$ but they were swamped. About this
g time the Valencia drifted broadside to
: the rocks.
r Thursday morning about 9 O'Clock
4 three unsuccessful attempts were made
r to shoot lines to shore, but nothing
!. could be done.
Tried to Swim Ashore.
ttThat afternoon / volunteered to
Z swim to land. A rope was fastened to
!, me and I plunged into the surf.
ssBefore left the wreck passenger,
. a woman I did not know. came to me
> and offered to give me ST. 900 if I would
get a line ashore / told her I could
: not accept her money as it was my duty
2 to try to save live.
J. ct was no use. I was simply dashed
I back by waves, so [ cut the line and a
!. life buoy was thrown to me and I was
: pulled on board stunned.
a /" As the/vessel settled passengers and
t crew sought the masts and rigging.
Many were swept off the decks. Others
7 jumped into the sea, seeking to swim
n ashore.
Women Refused to Go.
HOn Wednesday morning Captain
Johnson told us the only chance for
~ safety lay in the RATS. He urged the