The state herald., 1906-02-02
VALENCIA WRECK
TERRIBLE STEAMSHIP DISASTER
IN NORTHERN PACIFIC.
OVER ONE HUNDRED DROWN
Vessel Strikes the Rocks in Dense Fog
Only One Boatload Escape-Aw-
full Scenes Of SUFFERING and Death.


Victoria, B. C.--With ninety-four
passengers and about sixty in her crew
the steamer Valencia went ashore
about ten miles east of Cape Beale
in a thick fog about u o'clock Monday
night She is on the rocks against
high cliff and is likely to so to pieces
at any time. The boats crew of six
reached Cape Beale Tuesday about
p. m. The survivors say that great
number were drowned in trying TO
leave the ship. Nine men got ashore
about fifteen miles from here.
Denver-Theodore ID. Shreve of this
city was one of the passengers on the
steamer Valencia. He is the son of
James A. Shreve, one of the Oldest real
estate brokers in Denver. He is a lith.
osrapher and has wide acquaintance
in this city. The family resides at
1858 California street.
Later.-The wrecked steamer Valen-
cia now lies submerged and broken.
but portion of mast standing above
the water, and the fleet of steamers
and tugs have today Thursday been
turning their attention to patrolling
the vicinity in the hope of finding
boats, RATS or wreckage still afloat
with survivors, though the chances
are small.
Ashore several parties have been
toiling over most arduous trails. some
carrying succor to those who were
washed ashore, others securing the
rugged rocks of the shore line, seek
ing for any survivors that may have
reached shore and be lying foodless
and helpless, while others are engaged
in the melancholy duty of recovering
bodies.
or the total company OF l5i. but
thirty-three have been definitely ac-
counted for. and three men believed
to be other survivors were seen on
shore by the whaling vessel Orion
near the wreck, budding about fire.
Six survivors have been taken from the
Salvor, nine men badly bruised and so
overcome that they cannot stand are
still camped at Darling. and eighteen
others were picked up by the City of
Topeka.
With the three seen from the Orion
added, the survivors total thirty-six.
leaving death list of 1l9 persons. Not
woman or child Is among the saved.
Scant hope Is entertained by those
on board the patrolling steamers that
any others will be recovered. for the
doctors on rcscuing tugs say the limit
of human endurance will have been
passed before this time.
The nine survivors of the Valencia
who are at Darling river telegraph hut.
are reported from Bamfield to be in
deplorablc condition. so o:ercome by
exposure and exhaustion tnat they are
unable TO stand, much less to make
their way along the trail to the nearest
place OF shelter. One has a spraincd
ankle, the others are without boots
and exhausted. several with their feet
raw and bleeding from walking 10 the
Darling river over the rocks. II is i'm.
possible for them to reach Bamileld or
Cape Bealc. even could they cross the
flooded Darling river in their preseD.
condition. They have no provisions
other than those provided by party
of three which went to them from
Bamfcld with a small supply ycster.
day.
Survivors of the wreck Of the steam
ship Valencia. who were picked up
from a life raft. say that Captain o.
NJ. Johnson made no effort TO save his
own life, and that the last words he
was heard TO utter as the raft left the
ship. were: My God. send relief to
my passengers" The survivors say
that most OF the women refused to
leave the ship. prefcrring TO take their
chances ON It's rccllng decks than on
the frail RATS The last view the sur.
viyors had Of the persons remaining
ON the ship was when the raft was
tossed high on n mountainous wave,
They saw the men, women and chil.
drcn clinglng together on the hurri.
cane deck, while family through the
roar Of the surf came the strains OF
Nearer. My God. to Thee" sung by
those who were about 10 die.