The Valencia Shipwreck on the West Coast TrailMartin Tarpey was a quartermaster on the Valencia and one of the Topeka Raft survivors. Born around 1882, he began his maritime career in 1903 as a sailor with the Pacific Coast Steamship Company, advancing to quartermaster by 1906.

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

In that role, he served aboard the Valencia during its disastrous final voyage from San Francisco to Seattle It was Tarpey's first trip north on the vessel. Early reports listed him as one of the lost, however The Call newspaper later reported: “M. Tarpey, quartermaster, boards at 709 Davis street, and there he has made many friends. The house was in gloom over his death. The Call representative changed gloom to gladness when he told of Tarpey's safety.” He testified at both the Canadian and United States Valencia Inquiries where he recounted his story which started off horrifically with the lowering of the No.1 boat he was in charge of. “After 25 or 30 people entered, overloading her. Something carried away and all were thrown into the sea and all but two were lost.”