Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-01-25
STEAMER VALENCIA STRIKES
ROCK IN THE PACIFIC AND
MANY PERISH
REsCUERs RACE DEATH
Several Vessels Are Now on Their
Way to the Scene Of the Wreck,
Which Occurred Tuesday, and May
Reach II Before the Valencia Goes
Down.

Reach IT Before the Valencia Goes
Down.
Bellingham, Wash. Jan. "a
Last night the salvage steamer,
Salver. from Victoria, reached the
scene Of the wreck Of the Valen-
cia, according to special to the
Herald, but had to stand by until
daylight and was unable to render
assistance during the night. The
81, work is now proceeding. the spe-
Il cial states.
Victoria. B. G., Jan. "a. The steam
er Valencia. Captain johnson of the
Pacific Coast Steamship company, with
hinety-four passengers on board and
q crew of sixty, was wrecked to the
eastward of Cape Beale on the Van
couver coast early Tuesday morning,
with heavy loss Of life, greater than
that of any disaster near here since
the collision of the ship Orpheus with
the steamer Pacific.
& Survivors Reach Victoria.
So SuTVlvOIS WHO S7udVS ISdCACu SoPS
Beale, a boatswain and five seamen,
sent to secure assistance in one of the
steamers boats. report that at least
fifty persons were drowned alongside
the steamer when boats loaded with
women and children were smashed
ssSeainst the steamers side soon after
dSg were lowered from the vessel.
When they left over 100 persons We're
huddled on the saloon deck Of the
steamer, which was then partly sub
merged with a rolling sea washing ov-
er the main deck. A southeast gale
was blowing with the wind whistling
through the cordage Of the wrecked
vessel at velocity of more than for
ty miles an hour and high sea beat
ing 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 assist
ance Of the wrecked vessel can ar
rive In time to save those who re-
main on board it is doubtful if any of
them will reach the shore for land
ing in that place is extremely difficult
If at all possible.
d
The Valencia sailed from San Fran
cisco on her second trip to Victoria re
placing the recently disabled steamer
City Of Pueblo at IL a. M, Saturday.
This was her only clear day and from
Saturday evening Captain Johnson and
the officers had to navigate by means
Of dead reckoning.
Foo Causes Wreck.
Nearing the entrance to the straits,
the weather was very thick and the
officers thought they were in the vi
cinity Of Umatilla Reef lightship near
Cape Flattery, which has good fog
signal on board The steamer did not
run upon the reef and was immediate
ly backed away, but as she went into
deep water she began to fill, the i'm
pact with the rock having greatly
damaged the steamer.
Water Pours Into Vessel.
Water poured up over the engine
room plates, and the firemen were
driven onto the deck, but before they
were driven out they gave the vessel
what speed was possible and Captain
Johnson turned the vessel toward the
beach before she struck again on the
rocks. All below had been driver
above by the thrush of the waters an6
the seas then began to roll over the
! main deck.
Boats Occupants Drowned.
The water was over. the deck wher
the boats were being lowered and the
lights were extinguished by the flood
ing Of the engine room before the
work commenced. Two boats filled
with women and children swep
against the side of the steamer ant
all in both boats were drowned.
Location of Wreck.
Capt James Gaudin, agent OF ma
rine, who received the first message o.
the disaster from the lighthouse keep
er at Carmanah bay, when asked his
opinion as to the probable scene O
the wreck, said it was probably, a!
far as he could Judge from dispatches
way between Clo-Oose and Cape Beale
Separating the two points is a stretch
of coast-and probably ten miles long
Slightly nearer Cape Beale thar
Glo-Oose is a bay known al
Pachenia, at the entrance to which
are the notorious Seabird rocks, OF
which the steamer Michigan wal
wrecked about ten years ago. Captain
Ca.ldin believes it is on these sam.
rnsks chat the Valencia has struck
The rocks stand where both curren
and wind seem TO concentrate thei
greatest force from the open Pacific
and landing unless under most fay
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