Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-01-25
At MERCY or RAGING OCEAN.
CONTINUED from Page One.)

life, greater than that of any other dis
aster that has occurred near here since
the terrible loss of life following the col
ision, of the ship Orpheus with the
steamer Pacific when en- route from Vic
toria to Portland
Tho survivors who have reached Cape
Beale, the boastwain and five seamen,
sent to secure assistance in one of the
steamers boats, report that At least 20
persons were drowned alongside the
steamer when boats loaded with women
and children smashed against the steam
er's side soon after they were lowered
from the vessel.
When they left over 10 persons were
huddled on the saloon deck OF the steam.
er. which was then partly submerged.
with the in-Toiling sea washing over tho
main deck. A southeast gale was blow
| ing with the wind whisting through the
| cordage of the wrecked vessel at Il We.
locity of over C miles an hour and high
sea was beating against the hull. sending
| spurnc high over it and huge seas pound
ed on the deck. threatening to break mp
| the wreck.
Unless the several steamers which have
| wrecked vessel can arrive in time to save
| those vino remain on the wreck it is
doubtful if ary of them Will reach shore
for landing in such place IS extremely
difficult. if at all possible.
| The Valencia sailed from San Francisco
on her second trip to Victori.i. replacing
| the recently disabled steamer City of
Publa at II "A. NJ. Saturday. This was the
| only clear day, and from Saturday even
| ing Capt. Johnson and his officers had Ia
| navigate by means of dead reckoning.
| Nearing the entrance to the Straits the
| weather was very thick and the officers
thought they We're in the vicinity Of the
Umatilla Reef lightship near Cape Flat
terry, which has n good fog signal on
| board. Having bad no observations and
| unable to make out their position in tn"
| thick weather prevailing, soundings were
taken, showing so fathoms Immediately
| after the man with the lead lines report
| ed 30 fathoms of water the steamer
struck heavily against some reefs off
shore with shock which awokc all on
| board.
The steamer did not run upon the reef.
| and was Immediately backed away. As
she went into deep water she began to fill.
the impact with the rock having greatly
| damaged the steamer The engineers
whstlcd to the bridge that water was
| pouring up over the engine room plates
| and they were unable to stand by their
| engines so fast did the water rise in the
| engine room. They and the firemen were
driven on the deck, but before they were
| driven out in answer to excited jinglcs
from the bridge they gave what speed
was possible and Capt. Johnson turned
| the vessel again toward the beach. As
| the Valencia was laundering as n result
| of her impact with the rocks. the only
| possible chance to save any of those on
| board was to put the vessel ashore again
with the hope. scant though it was of
| landing those on board on the rocky
| coast Before she struck again on the
rocks tho engineers, fircmen and all be-
low had been driven above by the inruSh
| of water and the seas soon began to roll
over the main deck. Water was over the
| deck when the boats were being lower
ed. the lights being eXtinguished by tn,
flooding of the engine room before the
work was commenced.
| Tho loss of life was awful when tho
| boats were lowered. Two boats filed
| with women and children were swept
| against the side of the steamer. smashed
| and completely wrecked. all those in the
boats being swept into the sea and
| drowned.
| special from Cape. BeaIc states that
when the Valencia left San Francisco at
| II A. NJ. Saturday, the weather WAS clear
but since has been thick. and Capt. John
son consequently had to navigate by
| reckoning. The officers of the steamer
| thought they were near Umatilla Reef
| Iightship when the vessel drove in on
| the Vanoo ouver Island coast. Soundings
| had been taken. 20 fathoms having been
| secured few minutes before the vessel
struck When she hit the rocks her en-
Eincs were reversed and tn" steamer sue
| cerdcd in backing off into deep water.
| She Immediately began to fill and 81
| quickly that the engineers and fremen
| were driven from the engine room and
| the only chance to save the lives Of any
one 'on board was to drive the vessel
| ashore.
| When the six survivors who have ar
rived at Cape Beale left the Nalorci" she
was lying hcad-on to the sea and was
about 70 yards from the high bluff on
shore with the water over her main deck.
| What were left of the passengers. large
| number having been previously drowned.
] were huddled on the saloon deck.
When the boats were lowered soon af-
| ter the vessel was driven onto the shore