William Doherty, a 40-year-old fireman with 22 years of experience on steamships, was one of the 19 survivors rescued by the steamship Topeka. His account sheds light on the chaos and survival efforts during the catastrophe. Doherty was in the engine room when the Valencia struck a reef, causing water to flood the fore part of the ship. He and his crewmates worked desperately to maintain steam pressure as the order came for “full speed astern,” prompting the ship to reverse rapidly.
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
Doherty survived by escaping on the second and final life raft launched from the Valencia. The Valencia’s life rafts were barely buoyant, sitting low in the water with submerged oars that were unusable. Survivors had to pull the oars from their locks and paddle clumsily. As the first raft departed, the captain fired the Lyle gun to signal the distant steamship Queen. Encouraged by the first raft’s success, six crewmen jumped onto the second raft to keep it clear of the ship. Despite pleas, no women boarded, with one woman, a friend of first assistant engineer Thomas Carrick, refusing hysterically after seeing the raft tossing in the violent waves.
The scene on the Valencia was chaotic. Carrick described the ship breaking apart, with only 15 feet of the hurricane deck left for 50–75 people. Second officer Peter Peterson barely made it onto the raft, weakened by hunger and exposure, while messman Walter Raymond nearly drowned but was hurled onto the raft by a wave. The raft, packed with 19 men, departed 20 minutes after the first.
Conditions on the overcrowded raft were brutal. Survivors stood waist-deep in freezing water, battered by breakers. The oars, lashed underwater, were cut loose and used by pairs of men braced by others. Carrick steered from the stern as they paddled toward the Queen, which disappeared, crushing morale. Passenger Cornelius Allison recalled the Queen steaming away without attempting rescue, despite being only three-quarters of a mile off.
After hours of exposure, some men showed signs of insanity, frothing at the mouth. Hope returned when the City of Topeka was sighted. Survivors paddled frantically, signaling with a shirt on a boat hook. The Topeka launched a boat, towing the raft to safety just as the men were succumbing to cold and exhaustion. Passenger Joseph McCaffrey described a delirious survivor singing as rescue neared, while others collapsed.
Agonizing Hours on the Raft
First assistant engineer Carrick described the scene on the Valencia’s second raft after four agonizing hours, “Some of the men began blubbering and many were frothing at the mouth. It seemed that many were losing their minds." Valencia passenger Joseph McCaffrey recalled, "There were two or three men on the raft who kept up the spirit of their companions by cheering them on and holding out every hope of rescue within a short time." McCaffrey goes on to describe, as Carrick did, how the men were being driven insane by the conditions on the raft. Freezing cold, drenched in seawater and likely no hope of finding another ship. "If we had been an hour longer on that raft I believe every man would have gone insane." He could tell by the looks in the eyes of his companions that, "reason was departing. Just touch some of the men and they would growl like some trapped animal."
Finally a Ship is Sighted
Carrick remembered the moment the City of Topeka was sighted. "An incoherent shout from one of the passengers drew our attention and following his pointed finger we saw what afterwards proved to be the Topeka.” Freight clerk Frank Lehn recalled the excitement at that moment. “How we did work at the oars; every man strained at them for his life. The cold waves washing over us and the sleet beating on our heads was forgotten. Nearer and nearer we came to her and we shouted with all our strength, but as the wind was against us we could not make ourselves heard. The steamer was stopped and let drift with wind and current. Suddenly she started and turned out to sea. We almost gave up. If she had gone away, we would have died right there. But she came nearer us every moment. We had one of the men standing in the centre waving a boat hook with a shirt on it. At last their whistle blew as a token that they had seen us. How we shouted for joy. But by that time we could hardly move. The cold went through us and the rain seemed to pierce our very marrow. Finally, the steamer put out a boat, and when they at last made fast a rope and started to tow us to safety, I think I must have collapsed like everybody else on the raft.”
Topeka Lifeboat and Valencia's Second Raft January 24th 1906
Doherty Testified in the Canadian Valencia Inquiry
Doherty's testimony was printed in the 13 Feb 1906 edition of the Victoria Daily Times
Doherty, a fireman on the Valencia, belonging to No. 6 boat, of which the first mate (William Holmes) had charge. He worked for ten minutes after the ship struck attempting to keep the steam up. He saw the water rushing from the fore part of the vessel. Just then someone came down and ordered them to get out as they couldn’t do anything more. He went on deck. The night was dark, there being a light fog and heavy rain falling.
During the launching of the rafts he was present and distinctly remembered the captain ordering the first raft to stand by until “he got some women aboard.” He recollected that he went among the passengers and that the majority declined, not one woman agreeing to take places on her. There were only two on board that he knew, namely, Hancock and Connors.
When the steamers hove in sight almost all were sure that they were as safe as if ashore. But when it was seen that no effort was made to lower boats or any other attempt made to render assistance, there was general disappointment. In his opinion help could have been accorded by the Queen or Salvor with the boats with which they were equipped.
To Mr. Lugrin, witness said he went first to the starboard side upon coming upon the deck. Afterwards he moved along to his boat, which was on the port side at the after end of the vessel.
It was about 10 o’clock on Monday night that the “slow bell” was sounded. She made about four or five knots an hour under those conditions When striking there was a 80-pound steam pressure. The order “full speed astern” brought it down to some extent. When he came above the ship listed heavily to port and afterwards righted. The hull, he said, stood the pounding well.
He never saw the captain during the launching of the boats, but on the first night of the wreck he saw him assisting in blocking the windows of the saloon in order to prevent the water washing in upon the women.
In the judgment of the witness the Czar did not come within four or five miles of the wreck. He knew she didn’t get within a quarter of a mile.
The raft was submerged with about three feet of water, the wash being well up to the waists of those aboard. It was always under control, although many had lost heart when losing sight of the Queen and other steamers.
Questioned by Mr. McPhillips, witness said he didn’t know the coast well. There were a great many new men among the crew of the Valencia on the fatal trip. This was true in connection with the deck and almost all other departments.
To Mr. Lawson, witness said that women could not have stood the exposure to which he was subjected while upon the raft.
Asked regarding the passengers, witness paid a tribute to the courage of George H. Jesse. He said he took a prominent part in all that was done aboard. Always active in handling lines, and making things as orderly and comfortable as possible, he particularly attracted his attention. Mr. Jesse, witness said, made no effort to get aboard the raft.
Doherty and Others Rescued by the Topeka January 24th 1906
Valencia Survivors Boarding the City of Topeka
The Nineteen Topeka Raft Survivors
William Doherty was one of the 19 survivors rescued by the City of Topeka. The others were: passenger Cornelius Allison, first assistant engineer Thomas Carrick, second officer Peter Peterson, baker Charles Fluhme, passenger George Harraden, passenger A.H. Hawkins, waiter Charles Hoddinott, third cook John Johnson, coal passer W.D. Johnson, first assistant freight clerk Frank Lehn, passenger Joseph McCaffrey, waiter Patrick O'Brien, fireman Paul Primer, messman Walter Raymond, fireman John Segalos, fireman Max Stensler, quartermaster Martin Tarpey, waiter James Walsh and passenger Grant L. Willitts. The survivors were emaciated and tattered upon reaching Seattle. The Pacific Coast Company provided clothing, food, and lodging. Allison criticized the rescue ships, particularly the Queen and a nearby tug, for not approaching closer despite calm conditions. The Topeka Raft’s survival underscores the resilience of those who endured the disaster’s chaos and the sea’s unrelenting cruelty.
Group Photo of Valencia's Crew on the Topeka
