Jasper County Democrat, Volume 8, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 January 1906 — SEAS BREAK UP THE VALENCIA [ARTICLE]

SEAS BREAK UP THE VALENCIA

Last Remnants of the 11lFated Steamer Have Disappeared. ALL ON BOARD AT TIME PERISH Thirty-Three of the Passengers and Crew Are Saved from Death. Eighteen Men on a Lite Raft Are Rescued with Difficulty by the Steamer City or Topeka. Victoria, B. C., Jan. 25.—0 f the 154 people on board the steamer Valencia when she struck near Klanaway Rock, five miles from Cape Beale, and met disaster, but thirty-three were saved. Seven passengers and eight members of the crew were able to reach Cape Beale Shortly after the Valencia went on the rocks, and a life raft with eighteen survivors, all men, has been picked up by the rescue steamer City of Topeka. The dead number 121, the greatest loss of life In the north Pacific since the "Pacific” was lost In 1875. The Valencia, in whose rigging about thirty people were clinging, frantically waving for assistance, which could not be given, when the steamer Queen left the scene, broke up about 5 o’clock a. in., sweeping to death those few who had survived these terrible hours of privation, chilled and numb to the limit of human endurance by clouds of spray which swept over them. Survivors Almost Dead. The condition of the eighteen survivors rescued by the City of Topeka was pitiable. They were naif frozen and practically unconscious from the exposure. The raft was sighted about 12 o’clock, but owing to the thick weather it was supposed to be nothing but a log. At last by the aid of a powerful glass Its true nature was determined. A terrible sea was running. One minute the rait was poised on top of a wave and the next it would be lost from view in the gully formed by the mountainous breakers. . The eighteen men together on their frail support battled bravely with a pair of oars to reach the City of Topeka, which, owing to the dangerous coast could uot fun in any closer to them. Within half a mile from the raft a boat was lowered from the Topeka Jn charge of Second Mate Burke, who with much difficulty ‘succeeded In making fast a line to the raft.

Search for Another Raft. The work of rescuing them was dangerous. The men were too exhausted to even tie a rope about themselves. The survivors told terrible tales of the wreck of the vessel. When they left the ship there were about ninety people on board, most of thorn clinging to the rigging. Men. women, and children were being swept overboard by every sea. As soon as the men got aboard the Topeka Dr. B. F. Whiting, assisted by two nurses and members of the crew, hastily administered stimulants and put them to bed. After picking up the raft the stenrner went In search of another raft, which the rescued men said hnd left the ship earlier in the day. The vessel ran fully twenty miles on either side, looking for the raft, but no sign of it was to be seen, it is the general Impression that the raft foundered.