Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-01-24
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Associated Press Dispatches by Special Wires
Victoria, b. g., Jan. 2l.-Ihe
steamer Valencia, Capt. Johnson, OF
the Pacific Coast Line, with 81 pas
sengers and a crew Of 60 on board was
wrecked east Of Cape Heale. on the
Vancouver Island coast, larly yester-
day morning, with a heavy loss OF life,
greater than that OF any other disas-
ter that has occurred near here since
the terrible loss Of life following the
collision of the ship Orpheus with the
steamer Pacific when en- route from
Victoria to Portland. The survivors
who have reached Cape Beale, the
boatswain and five senmen sent 70
secure asslatanoe, report that at least
90 persons we're drowned alongside the
steamer when boats loaded with women
aud children smashed against the
steamers side soon after they we're
lowered from the vessel. When the
party left, over 100 persons we're hud-
died on the saloon deok of the steamer,
which then was partly submerged,
with the inIolliug sea washing over
! the main deck. A southeast gale was
/ blowing, with the wind Whaling
I through the cordage Of the wrecked
vessel at a velocity of over 40 miles an
hour, a high sea was beating against
the hull, sending spume high over it,
and huge seas pounded on the deck,
I threatening to break up the wreck.
] Unless the steamers which have beeu
I 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 landing in such place is
extremely difficult, if at all possible.
The Valencia sailed from San Fran
cisco, on her second trip to Victoria,
replacing the recently dinsnbleu
steamer City Of Pueblo, at II a. m.
I Saturday. This was the only clear
/ day, and from Saturday evening Capt.
Johnson and his officers had TO navI-
gate by means OF dead reckoning.
| Nearing the entrance to the straits the
weather was very thick aud the officers
thought they were ia the vicinity of
tbs Umatilla Reef lighiship, near Cape
Flattery, which has a good fog signal
on board. Having had no observations
and unable to make out their position
IL the thick weather prevailing sound
ings we're taken, showing 80 fathom6.
Immediately after the men with the
lead lines reported 80 iathomE OF water
the steamer struck heavily against
some reefs off shore with a shock
which aWoke all on board. The
steamer did not run on the reef and
was Immediately backed. As she went
into deep water she began TO ill, the
impact with the rock having greatly
damaged the steamer. The engineers
whisted to the bridge that water was
pouring up over the engineroomi
plates and they we're unable to stand
] Inu haf NnaH ~
rise in the engineroom. They and the
firemen were driven onto the deck, bat
before they we're driven out, in answer
to excited jingles 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 a result Of her inn
pact with the rocks, the only possible
chance to save any Of those on board
was to put the vessel ashore again with
the hope, soant though 1t was, Of land
ing those aboard on the rocky coast.
Before she struck again on the rocks,
the engineers, tremen and all below
had been driven above by the thrush
Of water, and the seas soon began to
Toll over the main deck. Water was
over the deck when the boats we're
heing lowered. the lights being extin-
guished by the flooding Of the engine
room before the work was commenced.
The loss of life was awful when the
boats we're lowered. Two boats filled
with women and children we're swept
against the side Of the steamer. smashed
and completely wrecked, all those ia
the boats being swept into the sea and
drowned.
A special from Cape Beale states
that when the Valencia left San Fran
cisco, al IL a. m. Saturday, the weather
was clear, but since had been thick,
and Capt. johnson, consequently, hao
to navigate by reckoning. The officers
of the steamer thought they we're near
Umatilla Reef lightship when the ves-
sci drove In on the Vancouver Island
coast. Soundings had been taken, 30
iathoms having been secured a few
minutes before the vessel struck.
When she hit the rocks, her engines
were reversed and the steamer sue
oeeded in backing off into deep water.
She Immediately began to fill and so
quicSly that the engineers and firemen
we're driven from the engineroom, and
the only chance to save the lives Of
anyone on board was to drive the ves-
sci ashore. When the six survivors
who have arrived at Cape Beale left
the Valencia, she was lying head
on to the sea and was about 30 yards
from the high bluff on shore, with the
water over her main deck. What were
left of the passengers, a large number
having been previously drowned, were
huddled on the salocn deck. When
the beats were lowered, soon after the
vessel was driven into the shore, she
began to ill and there was a great loss
Of life. The bosts, filled with women
and children, we're smashed against the
side Of the steamer and all in them
we're lost. The lights had gone out
by this time, and the crew could OF
see to work. Several boats aud three
life RATS we're lowered, but only two
Of them have been heard from. There
we're thought to be about 100 persons
still on the wreck, and the survivors
~ho have reached Cape Beale say that
at least 30 were drowned alongside the
steamer before they left. The boat
swain and i've seamen were sent 70
secure assistance and are the only ones