Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1906-01-25
FIFTY LOSE LIVES
IN STEAMER WRECK
Sun vivors Report A Terrible
Disaster.
81 PASSENGERS ON BOARD SHIP
Steamer Valencia Wrecked on Vancou.
yer Island Coast to Eastward of
Cape 5eaIe with Heavy Loss of Life
to Passengers and Crew.

|
Cape 5eale with Heavy Loss of Life
to Passengers and Crew.
| Victoria, B. c., Jan. 24-The steam
Pacific Coast Steamship company, with
"a passengers on board and a crew
or 80 was wrecked to the eastward OF
| Cape Beale on the Vancouver island
coast in the early morning of Tues
| day with heavy loss of life, greater
than that of any other disaster that
| has occurred near here since the terri
bic loss of life following the collision
OF the ship Orpheus with the steamer
| Pacific when enroute from Victoria to
| Portland.
The survivors who have reached
| Cape Beale, the boatswain and FIVE
seamen, sent to secure assistance in
one of the steamers boats, report that
at least so persons were drowned
alongside the steamer when boats
loaded with women and children
cred. Persons were huddled on the
| saloon deck of the steamer which was
| then partly submerged, with the in
rolling sea washing over the main
| deck.
A southeast gale was blowing with
the wind whistling through the cord
age of the wrecked vessel at a veloc
ity of over 40 miles an hour, and a
| high sea was beating against the hull,
sending spume high over it and huge
| seas pounded on the deck threatening
to break up the wreck
Unless the several steamers which
have been hurried to the assistance
OF the wrecked vessel can arrive in
time to save those who remain on the
wreck it is doubtful if any of them will
reach shore, for a landing in such a
place is extremely difficult, If at all
possible.
The Valencia sailed from San Fran.
cisco on her second trip to Victoria,
replacing the recently disabled steam.
, er City of Puebla, at II a. M on Sat.
urday This was the only clear day
and from Saturday evening Captain
johnson and his officers had to navi-
gate by means of dead reckoning.
Nearing the entrance to the straits
the weather was very thick and the
officers thought they were in the vicin-
tty of the Umatilla Reef lightship near
Cape Flattery, which has a good fog
signal on board. Having had no OBJ
servatlons and unable to make our
their position in the thick weather
prevailing, soundings were taken,
showing thirty fathoms
Immediately after the men with th
lead lines reported thirty fathoms Of
water, the steamer struck against the
reefs off shore with a shock which
awOke all on board. The steamer did
not run up on the reef, and was at
once backed away. AS she went into
deep water she began to fill, the i'm
pact with the rock having greatly
damaged the steamer.
The engineers whistled 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 deck, but before they were
driven out in answer to excited jing.
speed was possible and Captain John,
son turned the vessel again toward
the beach. AS the Valencia was found
ering as a 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, what hope
scant though it was, of landing those
on board on the rocky coast Be
fore she struck again on the rocks.
the engineers, firemen and all below
had been driven above by the thrush.
ing waters, and the seas soon had be-
gun to roll over the main deck. Water
was over the deck when the boats
were being lowered the lights being
eAIlnSulS1eu ny IHe HOOulng OF the en-
gine roof before the work was com,
menced. The loss of life was awful
when the boats were lowered.
Two boats filled with women and
children were sent against the side OF
the steamer, smashed and completely
wrecked all those in the boat being
swept into the sea and drowned.