Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1906-01-31
,,s PEOPLE PERISH IN WRECK.
Steamship Valencia Struck Survivors
rei' Of Pi.eoas Sights.


Victoria, b. c., January Is.
Though there was faint hope that
incoming vessels to-day may bring a
'ew survivors of the steamer Waller
ola, which went ashore late Monday
night and which broke up on the
rocks yesterday, there are only 85
survivors of the 154 persons who
were on board the Valencia when
she struck near Klanawa Rocks, five
miles from Cape Beale. The known
saved are twenty persons who were
picked up from life raft 10y the
steamer Topeka yesterday and the
Is survivors who put off from the
wreck in two boats and succeeded in
reaching Vancouver Island.
In an interview at Bamfield Greek
last night, Boatswain MCCARTHY told
the first detailed story of the Valen-
ola wreck. He said the steamer had
been going by dead reckoning and
overran her distance. Soundings
had been made three or four times
an hour. The steamer struck at
11.45 Monday night, about amid
ships, the first officer, quartermaster
and seaman engaged in sounding,
having ten minutes before gotten
thirty fathoms.
Capt. johnson was on the bridge
when the vessel struck, with the
second officer. He ran down and
gave orders to have two of the seven
boats lowered to the saloon deck rail.
Instantly the passengers crowded to
the rail and overcrowded the boats.
During the excitement they cut
whatever lines they could lay hands
on. The davits broke about the
same time the lines were cut and
both boats were smashed at the sides
of the vessel, capsizing the passen-
gers and crew in them. The lifeboat
threw lines out, and by means of
Jacobs ladders succeeded in getting
about six passengers aboard again.
The boats when lost were mostly
filed with women and children. One
very sad incident was witnessed. A
lady and gentleman with little girl
tried to get in one boat. The father
succeeded and the mother tried to
pass the child, but wave struck her
and tore the child from her arms.
The child was lost before her eyes.
One life r. :, was also lowered, but it
was dashed to pieces. After this,
four boats succeeded in getting away
from the ship full of passengers.
This left one raft and lifeboat. The
captain, after consulting with the
officers, ordered Boatswain McCar-
thy to take charge and called for
volunteers, and the five sailors who
reached shore in safety responded.
The captain instructed them to put
along the beach and find place to
get ashore. They landed at Ito
p. m. Tuesday and made Cape Beale
light house at 3 p. m. The survivors
are of the opinion that the entire
crew, with their exception, is lost.
The condition of the survivors
was pitiable. They were half frozen
and practically unconscious from the
exposure. A terrible sea was run
ming. Within half mile from the
raft boat was lowered from the
Topeka in charge of Second Mate
Burke, who, with much difficulty,
succeeded in making fast a line to
the raft.
AT last they succeeded in bringing
the raft to the side of the steamer.
The sight of the poor creatures on
the raft brought tears to the eyes of
the sailors on the vessel.
After picking up the raft the
steamer went in search of another
raft which the rescued men said had
left the ship earlier in the day. The
vessel ran fully twenty miles the
other side of the wreck, looking for
the raft, but no sign of it was to be
seen.
g. MnLETS' STORY.