Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 February 1906 — GREAT SHI PON ROCKS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

GREAT SHI PON ROCKS

STEAMER VALENCIA AT MERCY OF PACIFIC BTQRM. Reef OB Vanconver Island, Lon s Dreaded by Mariner*, Is Obstruo- ; (lon t pon Wblch Vessel Is Dashed—Many Reported Lost. The steamer Valencia of the Pacific 'Coast Steamship Company’s fleet -on the San Francisco-Puget Sound .route, with fitnety-nlne passengers and a erevr of fifty on board, went ashore on

the rocks at the base of a precipitous cliff on the most inaccessible section of the Vancouver Island coast. The Valencia drove on to the rocks during a dense fog while trying to make .tho entrance of Juad de Fuca strait early Tuesday. ~ H ■ * Although only the most meager information of the wreck was obtainable up to a late hour, it is known that several lives were lost In attempts to reach tho shore. Exactly how many perished in this way and in the first confusion attending the wreck is not definitely known. The Valencia sailed from San Francisco Saturday evening and carried upward of 100 passengers and sailors. At noon Tuesday she was to have tied to her pier In Seattle hwrbor. Instead, bits-of her wreckage were being dashed wildly against the cliffs and the sands of the beach of Vancouver Island. Of those on board when the vessel went.down, only nine are known to have got to land and safety. These were picked up by Indians on the west coast of Vancouver, near a fishing village known ns Carmanah. It is learned from these that the Valencia struck the rocks near Beale Point. In an instant she Was sinking. Out of the blackness of the waters arose a false light which beckoned 'her to. death. She dashed upon the reef without- warning. And like a shell, she was ground into fragments. Those who escaped did so clinging to particles of the wreckage. The accident happened when half the passengers were in their staterooms. Some were undressed. None was prepared to take to the bellowing waves. In the west the clouds

were lack. Far over the mountain tops to the east fell the gray streaks of approaching dawn. The survivors report Incidents of the most harrowing character. Crash Comes Without Warning. When the boat crashed upon the hidden reefs a gale was blowiitg. Huge waves were being dashed over deck aud bridge. But now that making port was but a matter of a little while the officers were not alarmed. In an instant came the grinding noise—the noise of a monster boat going rapidly by wind and steam, striking at full speed one of the great, heavy rocks. And then out of cabin and saloon there arose the frantic screams of despair. No one had warning. The first the passengers felt was the crash. Then followed the sweep of the sea. Now came tho quick plunge to escape tho sinking craft Some went down with It Some plunged headlong against the concealed rocks, to be dashed to instant death. Others were picked up by the waves and carried to open waters. There a few held fast to floating timbers, and these, blown by the gale driving madly from the west were brought to safety. How many thus were rescued is not known. The Valencia was owned by the Pacific Coast Steamship Company and was being used as an extra boat in the California and Alaska trade. After the recent accident to the steamer City of Pueblo she was placed ip the Seattle-San Francisco trade in connection with her sister shlpo, the Umatilla and the Queen. Last summer the Valencia wns on the Notoe run and was one of the best known vessels on the const. Site has brought to Seattle millions of gold and thousands of fortunate. returning miners. - The scene of the wreck is 120 miles north of Vancouver aud near a barren coast

A run on the Washington National bank of Fittslyrrg started when It became known that Cashier 8. C. Armstrong had disappeared Jan. It is runtTtrecj, Armstrong ha* taken $50,000 to SIOO,OOO of the funds of the bank with him, but this is denied by President Reilly. The run was checked. * The National Board of Trade, In tension in Washington, admitted to mem' bership a Society of Bridgeport, Oono., organized to resist the tide of socialism declared to be sweeping over this coon - ;

STEAMSHIP VALENCIA.