Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1906-02-19
VALENCIA HEARING
SPECIAL Commission BEGINS ITS
SESSIONS At SEATTLE.
Evidence at First Days Session prln.
ClpallV OF q Technical Nature,
Bearing on the Handling OF the
Ship, Taking Of ReCkonln0S, cfii-
cheney Of Officers, etc.

Seattle, Feb. 15.-The special COM
mittee appointed by the president to
investigate the wreck of the Valencia
and to make recommendations for aids
in navigation on the North Pacific
coast convened at o'clock yesterday
afternoon, Chairman Lawrence o. Muir
ply. assistant secretary of commerce
and labor; Herbert Knox Smith, dep
uty commissioner of corporations, and
Capt. w. T. Burwell, U. S. NJ, COM
posing the board. Attorney w. H.
Gorham, representing the Chamber of
Commerce, was extended the privilege
of interrogating the witnesses. At
torney j. b. Howe, representing the
Pacific Coast Steamship Company, ask
ed the same privilege. He was in
formed that at any time he considered
his client was not receiving fair treat.
ment or that proper evidence was not
being brought out that he would be
allowed to make suggestions to the
board.
"There is no counsel before this
board" said the chairman.
The evidence for the most part was
technical. bearing on the method of
handling the ship, the manner of TAX
ing soundings and reckonings, the eff
cheney of officers and crew and the
condition and equipment of the vessel.
The evidence was practically the same
as given by the two witnesses before
the marine inspectors.
Peterson stated that nearly all
soundings made on the night the YES
sci was wrecked were with drop lead
and not with tube. He said there
were several boxes of tubes aboard the
ship, but on cross examination admit.
ted that he did not know this of his
personal knowledge.
Never Saw Lines Tested.
The witness said that during the
eleven years he had been in the en-
ploy of the Pacific Coast Company he
had never seen life line shot ashore
in practice and had never seen one
tested.
Boatswain Mccarthy said that with
the exception of two men, the sailors
aboard the Valencia were all new
hands. The investigation will be re.
sumed this morning.
The commissioners are very anxious
to conclude the examination of wit
nesses who desire to leave Seattle, and
with that end in view have concluded
to hold night sessions.
At 10 o'clock yesterday morning the
members of the commission met with
the special committee appointed by
the Chamber of Commerce and agreed
upon mode of procedure. The meet
ing was held at the Washington hotel
The board sessions are being helt
in the rooms of the district attorney
at the federal corut.
The lighthouse tender Columbint
has been placed at the disposal of tn.
commissioners, and it is their inten
ton to leave Seattle Saturday moor
for cruise along the Washington anc
Vancouver island coasts as far as thu
entrance to the strait. Testimony may
be taken at points along the coast.
| Seattle, Feb. 16.-Charles Brown, j.,
seaman aboard the wrecked steamer
Valencia, testified before the specia
commission that he left his station a
No. boat and went to No. 3, and die
this without orders from his superior
officers.
"Why," asked Captain Burwell
did you leave your regular station
when the order was given to lowe
away the boats to the saloon deck
| Ma ,,D,- rooo;rn >~Jor., IL so