Cornelius Allison was a first-class passenger and one of the 38 survivors of the SS Valencia shipwreck. In his sixties at the time, Allison was a former sailor with significant maritime experience, which shaped his perspective and actions during the ordeal. A contractor from St. Paul, he was on vacation with his friend Fred Erickson, who did not survive.
The Valencia Disaster
1. The Valencia 2. The Voyage 3. The Boats 4. The McCarthy Boat 5. The Bunker Party 6. On the Valencia 7. The Rafts 8. The Turret Raft 9. The Rescue Ships 10. The Aftermath 11. The Survivors 12. The Lost
The West Coast Trail
Prologue 1: The West Coast Trail 2: When to Hike & Fees 3: Trailheads 4: Getting There 5: Considerations 6: Campsites 7: Shipwrecks 8: Routes 9: Sights & Highlights
In an interview after the disaster, Allison recalled, "I have been a contractor on the great Western railroad for several years. Having been tied down to hard work for many years, a few weeks ago I resolved to take a vacation, and took with me my foreman, Fred Erickson. I am getting old and thought a little trip along the Pacific coast would help some. Erickson had been with me for years, and I insisted upon his going with me. When we reached San Francisco he wanted to go north by rail, but I, having been a sailor in my youth, wanted another taste of the sea, so we came north on the Valencia. The poor fellow lost his life, and I feel that, in a way, I am responsible.”
Cornelius Allison was among the 19 survivors rescued from the second life raft, known as the Topeka Raft, by the SS City of Topeka approximately three hours after it was launched and 37 hours into the disaster. Allison provided detailed testimony during the Seattle investigation into the disaster, offering insights from his background as a seasoned sailor. He described the surf that destroyed the Valencia as not particularly high, suggesting his familiarity with stormy seas allowed him to remain composed. He criticized the rescue ships, particularly noting that a vessel he believed to be the SS Queen steamed away without attempting a rescue, despite being within three-quarters of a mile when his raft launched. Allison recalled the dire conditions on the raft, stating, “It was terrible on the raft, the water was awfully cold. Our limbs became so benumbed that we could not even move them sufficiently to keep ourselves warm. I thought all would die of exposure.” Peter Peterson, first officer of the Valencia credited Allison for saving his life on the Topeka Raft by holding his head above water as he lay unconscious, on the partly submerged raft.
The Five Passenger Survivors After Rescue
This amazing photo was taken after the rescue of the Topeka Raft. These were the five Valencia passengers that were on the Topeka Raft. A.H. Hawkins, Joseph McCaffrey, Grant L. Willitts, Cornelius Allison and George Harraden.
11:50pm Monday 22 Jan: Struck a Rock or Ledge
When the Valencia first struck Cornelius Allison was asleep on the lower bunk of stateroom No.22. “When I saw she was backing up, I stopped and put on my shoes and clothes, jumped down as soon as she struck, as soon as her stern went on the rocks." backing onto the rocks Allison described it, "It sort of became steady and firm on the rocks, it seemed so. I first was afraid she would slide off and get into deep water, but after she had been there sometime and got settled among the rocks and I seen it could not get out, then I felt better satisfied." He estimated the time the boats were launched was “Maybe half an hour” after being backed onto the rocks.
12:10-12:30am Tuesday 23 Jan: Boats Launched
“I saw the starboard boat lowered to the rail; it was loaded with people, the people jumped into it. I stood right back of it, I stepped as close as I could to not be in the way. It was quite dark, I just seen the outline of the boat, seen the outline of the people getting in there.”
“I stood there looking over the side; when the surf came, I could see it much plainer; I seen the bow end of it going down this way (showing) and finally it dropped down into the water; the sea caught it and rolled it against the ship; everybody was tipped out. They told afterwards there were some women and children in there, I saw them flop against the ship’s side. Then the stern end of the boat was hung up and the bow was much lower; it flopped her over there. There was somebody hollering to pull them out; some of them scrambled and got some rope there, I reached out and got hold of a rope and helped somebody pull; I don’t know whether I helped anybody or not, but I pulled to do what I could, I there was two or three that were pulled out; the balance we lost sight of.”
10am-1030am Wed 24 Jan: Both Rafts Launched
At the Seattle Inquiry, Allison described his effort to leave the Valencia and get on the second life raft:
“I grabbed for the line above as the raft was thrown overboard, I seen there was room for my hand on the rope; the men were climbing down; I grabbed the line and I went over the side there. There was a sea struck the raft, struck me and throwed me off my feet. The rope was fastened at the stern end of the raft; as I slid down there the sea struck me, I didn't strike the raft and the life preserver seemed to buoy me up. I still hung to the rope and after the sea went over, the raft seemed to go down; I came up and seen the life rings on this raft and grabbed them; I got my knees on the raft, my knees were on the edge of the raft; I hung on the raft by my knees. I hear somebody hollow, "Let her go, pull her clear of the ship". Them that was on and had a chance got hold of some oars and pushed her clear of the ship.
We seemed to be afloat now; the tide was going out I believe. I was watching for the tide to go out; I thought low water would give us a better chance. We cleared the ship. I got up and stood on the raft. We were crowded so; I had room for my feet there, the water was up to my knees pretty near. I caught hold of the shoulders of some men in front of me; they were on their knees, I had hold of the shoulders of some of the fellows and stood up to balance the raft. Water was up to my knees, I didn’t step back off the raft."
Valencia Second Life Raft January 24th, 1906
1pm Wed 24th Second Raft Picked up by Topeka
From 10am to 1pm on the fragile raft, buffeted by the gale and swamped by the running seas until picked up by the Topeka about five miles from the wreck in the direction of Cape Beale.
At the Seattle Inquiry Allison recalled falling into the ocean when attempting to board the Topeka:
"When we pulled alongside the Topeka, the lifeboat that was lowered swung out to catch and help us up there with a line; the lifeboat swung out so that we could swing in alongside the ship and when we got there, I was standing up still. Some ropes were hanging over the side; I thought I was able to pull myself up and grabbed one of these ropes about an inch, and I grabbed hold of it pretty good; the rope was not fastened above; it slacked away and throwed me back overboard and the lifeboat came up alongside the raft; a man in the bow of the lifeboat grabbed me by the shoulder. I still held to the rope till the man got hold of me, as soon as he got hold, I swung around and got my arm over the side of the boat; the man was not able to pull me in; one got hold of each shoulder and pulled me in."
Cornelius Allison is recognizable in this photo of the survivors from the second raft boarding the City of Topeka at approximately 1pm on January 24th, 1906, 37 hours after the Valencia wrecked. He is the white haired man sitting in the boat with the white life jacket on. He had just been pulled out of the water after falling off the raft when attempting to board the ship.