Evening star., 1919-09-20
Spanish Steamer VaIbanera
Victim of Hurricane Forty
Miles From Key West.
DIVERS EXAMINE SUNKEN
HULL FOR TRACES OF LOST
Madrid Confirms Sinking of Vessel
Last Heard From on Night
of September 8.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
KEY WEST. Fla. September 90
The Spanish steamer Valbanera foun-
dered during the hurricane last week
forty miles from Key West.
The Valbanera, bound from Span
ish ports to Havana, was last heard
from on the night of September 8,
when she appeared off the entrance
to Havana harbor. Yesterday a steam
er bearing that name, but reported
by divers to be much smaller than
the missing vessel, was found sunk
off Rebecca shoals light.
With wrecking crew and divers
examining the sunken hull and with
scores of boats searching surround
ing waters and islands for trace of
bodies or survivors, the fate OF the
$50 passengers and members of the
crew of the Valbanera was expected
to be cleaned up to day.
The naval station here has offered
all facilities and with two Cuban
eunboats. will aid other craft in the
search.
Located by Cutter and Chaser.
The wreck was located by the
coast guard cutter Tuscarora and the
203, and was resting on
bed of QuickSand in about forty feet
of water. Divers sent to examine the
ported the wreck bore the name VAL
banera, but said the vessel appeared
only half as large as the missing pas
senger liner.
Ensign B. r. Roberts, commanaes1 =
of the subchaser. also said he had
seen the nameplate of the Valbanera
on the wreck and his statement con-,
firmed belief that the sunken yes
sci was the one sought. There were
no bodies in the vicinity of the wreck
and nothing to indicate what had be-
come of the 300 passengers and 100
members of the crew. .,
Further examination today OF the
wreck is expected to show whether
None been picked up, but searcn
of the surrounding waters and ADA
cent islands Is being continued IN the
hope that some survivors might nave
reached land or that bodies Will be
found. Most of those on the Inflated
Wireless Calls Weak.
Reports yesterday that during the
past several days faint wireless calls
to be from the Valbanera had
been picked up. continued today to be
a mystery. The calls were said to
have been picked up here and at
Havana, but were SO weak as to pre-
vent any effort toward locating their
source.
Madrid Confirms Ships Loss.
MADRID, September 20.-Dispatches
received here from Havana confirm the
loss of the Spanish steamship VAL
banera in the tropical storm which
ragged over the Gulf of Mexico and
adjacent waters last week. She car
ried four frst-class passengers. Anas-
tasio Saenz, a Havana merchant, and
his children, Marie, Terese and Jesus.
There were five second-class passen-
gers and sixty-four third-class.
The captain of the Valbanera was
Ramon Martin. and the ships compile
ment included three officers, chaplain,
six under officers. four doctors, five
engineers. seven sailors. seven stew
ards. nine electricians, one chief
steward, eight cooks, twenty seamen
and two maids.
The majority of the passengers were
from Malaga. Spain, on their way to
abroad. The ship belonged
to Pinillos, Izquierdo and Company of
Cadiz, and took her name from VAL
banera. where the principal owners
were born.