The Valencia Shipwreck on the West Coast TrailFrank Richley 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

Frank Richley Valencia Survivor

 

Frank Ritchley was a fireman on the Valencia who survived with the Bunker Party.  In an interview after the wreck he recalled, “I got on board No.6 by climbing over the rail before it was lowered.  There were nine men and a woman and children.  Could not say how many passengers of this number.  There was a mast, sail and oars in my boat.  Mr. Bunker and his wife were on board.  We were in the boat about 30 minutes.  Could not say how many oars were in use.  We were trying to keep her head to sea.  The current carried us right into shore.  We were capsized and righted up.  I only saw Mr. and Mrs. Bunker at that time.  She was in the boat and Mr. Bunker assisted me in.  A few minutes after she capsized again in the surf and hit the rocks, throwing us all out.  The side of the boat was smashed in.  I climbed up on the shore where Bunker, Campbell, a coal passer, Willis, Tony Brown and two other members of the crew were assembled.  Some had reached the shore from other boats or were washed up.”  These nine men huddled together, soaking wet and freezing at the base of the cliff until daylight.  Later dubbed the Bunker Party after Frank Bunker took charge of the group. They managed to climb the cliffs and followed a telegraph line to a telegraph hut where they were able to contact the outside world of the Valencia shipwreck.