The Paducah sun., 1906-01-26
Survivors Arrive at Seattle.

Seattle, Jan. 26.aThe steamer To-
peka. bringing twenty-three surviv-
ors of the wrecked steamer Valencia
arrived this morning.
The survivors of the steamship
Valencia picked up from a life raft
by the steamer City of Topeka are of
the opinion Captain Johnson, master
of the Valencia. made no efforts to
save his own life, even when a
chance presented. According to their
story, Johnson was heartbroken over
the great loss of life attending the
loss of the Valencia. With tense
drawn face, johnson clinging to the
rigging with passengers thought only
of those with him and time and again
prayed for assistance.
my God, send relief to my pas
sengers." Johnson was heard TO say
just before the life RATS left the
steamer.
Passengers and crew during the
night prior to the departure of the
life RATS. according to those saved,
begged Johnson to place life belt
about his waist. This he persistent
Iy refused to do. In spite OF the
fact that those near him begged him
TO think of his family and friends,
johnson would not do single thing
to help his condition. According to
the survivors thirty survivors left the
wreck Wednesday morning on two
life RATS and one boat. captain
Gibbs, who went from Seattle to the
scene of the wreck on the steamer
City of Topeka. returned here on the
steamship Texan, which passed in
through the cape last night. Gibbs
said: "The Topeka steamed to
about a quarter of a mile of the Va
lencia. Owing to the heavy sea 1t
was not deemed wise to proceed fur
ther.
We spoke to the steamer Queen,
he said, and were informed that
about 3 O'Clock there were estimated
to be about sixty persons clinging to
the rigging of the Valencia. The
Topeka cruised about the entrance OF
the straits in hope of finding sur
vIvors. At 1920 we picked up the
RATS. The condition of the surviy-
ors was deplorable. All were so
numbed that they could not stand
and had to be hauled aboard the To
peka in arms of the crew. The sur
viyors informed me the Valencia OFF,
GERS did all they could to impress
upon their minds the fact that there
would be little chance for help after
the last boats had gone. still the
women refused to take the life ratt
and as a consequence the men TOOK
their places. This was one of the
first questions | asked those on. the
raft when they came aboard the To-
peka. All stated the best OF order
prevailed anu tue hhch Sh'"N~
tesy to the women. When the time
came for the lifeboats to leave the
Valencia yesterday the offcers or
dered the women to take to the ratts.
The survivors state that in spite OF
the fact that the Valencia was begin
ming to break up, the women refused
TO 90 on <he life RATS and on hfe-
boats stating they would take ther
chances with the ship rather thah
leave. The officers did all they couid
TO impress upon their minds the fae'
that there was but little chance Tor
helm after the last boats had gone.
A survivor says men, women and
children singing Nearer, My God to
Thee" shivered and clung together
on the hurricane deck of the Valen-
cia when the steamer Queen hove in
sight. Women ON the Inflated yes
sci took of their undershirts and
saturating them with kerosene burn
ed them as signals to attract passing
vessels but all In vain.