The Valencia Shipwreck on the West Coast TrailGeorge Harraden Valencia Survivor

The Valencia Disaster

 Shipwreck on the West Coast Trail1. The Valencia Shipwreck on the West Coast Trail2. The Voyage Shipwreck on the West Coast Trail3. The Boats Shipwreck on the West Coast Trail4. The McCarthy Boat Shipwreck on the West Coast Trail5. The Bunker Party Shipwreck on the West Coast Trail6. On the Valencia Shipwreck on the West Coast Trail7. The Rafts Shipwreck on the West Coast Trail8. The Turret Raft Shipwreck on the West Coast Trail9. The Rescue Ships Shipwreck on the West Coast Trail10. The Aftermath Shipwreck on the West Coast Trail11. The Survivors Shipwreck on the West Coast Trail12. The Lost 

The West Coast Trail

Shipwreck on the West Coast TrailPrologue Shipwreck on the West Coast Trail1: The West Coast Trail Shipwreck on the West Coast Trail2: When to Hike & Fees Shipwreck on the West Coast Trail3: Trailheads Shipwreck on the West Coast Trail4: Getting There Shipwreck on the West Coast Trail5: Considerations Shipwreck on the West Coast Trail6: Campsites Shipwreck on the West Coast Trail7: Shipwrecks Shipwreck on the West Coast Trail8: Routes Shipwreck on the West Coast Trail9: Sights & Highlights

George Harraden Valencia Survivor

 

George Harraden, a first class passenger on the Valencia that escaped on the raft picked up by the Topeka.  His name is spelled different in almost every newspaper reporting on the Valencia.  Variously spelled Haradan, Harradon and Harriden to name a few.  In an interview in the days following the Valencia disaster Harraden recalled sending his mother off on what was likely lifeboat No.1.  He was asleep at the time of the accident, having retired about 9pm.  He had spoken to the first officer earlier, who told him that they expected to get to Victoria about 3am.  When he came out to the deck he heard someone say “Lower the boats to the saloon rail.”  He then went and found his mother in the social hall.  He then heard someone call the ladies out to get in the boats.  He told his mother to go and get in, which she did, and it was the last he saw of her.  He did not know if she went from the port or starboard side.  He saw one of them capsize, and it appeared to him that she gave way at one end and turned completely over.  There were lines thrown over to try to rescue the passengers, but he could not say if any were brought back.”  The sea was very high and sometimes it came up over the deck.  He got away on the second raft and was picked up by the Topeka. Harraden heard someone tell the lady passengers before the raft was launched that it was their last chance, but did not hear any reply.  He did not see anyone jump overboard and miss the raft.  They had a hard time getting away from the ship.

Harraden saw the Queen, the tug and another boat.  The tug came within a quarter mile of the wreck.  She only had one mast, but they could not see any person on board.  It was misty and there was a rather heavy swell.  He saw someone go up in the rigging of the Valencia and make signals to the tug, but she did not answer.  He thought the tug could have gone in closer to the wreck than what she did; and if she had done so a line could have then been floated in.  He figured that the ship was about 200 yards from the shore, and thought the tug could have done more than she did.  Asked what the Queen did, Mr.  Harraden replied that the Queen did not do anything.  Harraden stated the tug could have come within 300 yards and could have taken a raft from the Queen and drifted it in.  He could not say if it would be successful or not, but it was worth trying.  On the raft, after they lost sight of the Queen, they turned back towards the land and then sighted the Topeka; she picked them up, and he was just about “all in.”