The Valencia Shipwreck on the West Coast TrailThomas Shields was a sailor on the Valencia who survived on the last lifeboat (No. 5) to leave the ship. It was launched from the Valencia on the morning of January 23, 1906, around 9am. This lifeboat, under the command of Boatswain Timothy McCarthy and later dubbed the McCarthy Boat, was crewed by Shields and four other sailors, Charles Brown, Tom Lampson, William Gosling, and John Marks.

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

Their mission was to reach shore near the ship, hike to the cliffs opposite, and receive a line shot from the Valencia’s Lyle gun to facilitate a rescue. However, due to foggy weather and fear of navigating the breakers, the McCarthy Boat traveled several miles north, landing near the Cape Beale Lighthouse, about seven miles from the wreck. From there, the group hiked for two hours to the lighthouse, where they reported the disaster to the outside world, though another group, the Bunker Party, had already done so an hour earlier.