There were just 38 survivors of the Valencia shipwreck. An estimated 140 people lost their lives on the ship over the course of 36 hours. The 38 survivors escaped the ship at different times and different ways. Nine of the survivors managed to make it through the first hour when all but one of the lifeboats were flipped in the surf or smashed against the ship. These wet and freezing survivors gathered along the base of cliffs about 250 metres north of the Valencia.
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
In the morning they managed to climb to the top of the cliff where they entered the forest where they discovered a telegraph wire strung between trees. They followed the wire through the near impenetrable forest until they reached a lineman's hut. This group of men became known as the Bunker Party after Frank Bunker, who took charge when they set off from the cliffs. Another group of survivors left the ship the following morning on the last lifeboat, boat No.5. Boatswain McCarthy was first to volunteer to get on the boat and five others volunteered after him. The McCarthy Boat was ordered to get to land near the ship and hike up to the cliffs opposite and receive a line shot from the Valencia. They failed to get to shore anywhere close to the ship and ended up landing several miles north of the Valencia near the Cape Beale Lighthouse. These six survived and reported the Valencia shipwreck to the world, though the Bunker Party had already done so an hour earlier. The following day at about 930am, Wednesday January 24th, 1906, rescue ships would finally arrive. Due to the stormy weather, they remained barely within sight of the Valencia which was being battered by huge waves and breaking apart. About 90 wet and freezing survivors clung to the Valencia and with the ships seemingly unwilling to help, they chose to launch the two remaining life rafts. The design of the rafts meant that the occupants would be constantly drenched with water and be hard to maneuver in the rough seas. Getting away from the ship seemed unlikely. Sometime between 10am-1030am ten brave men went off on the first raft and got away from the ship remarkably easily. Seeing the success of the first raft, the second raft was overloaded with 19 men and also cleared the breakers. Both rafts soon lost sight of each other and drifted apart. The ships they were hoping to reach had actually departed and another ship, the Topeka did not know the location of the Valencia and was searching up and down the coast. Two freezing and terrifying hours would pass before the second raft was finally spotted by the Topeka and brought on board. The nineteen barely alive survivors of the Topeka Raft asked about the first raft which was not so lucky. The ten on board the first raft was reduced to just four survivors when one by one they would succumb to the freezing cold of being partly submerged on the raft. Twenty six hours after they first left the Valencia, three of the survivors were found on Turret Island where they managed to land about fourteen hours into their ordeal. The fourth man was located the following day.
The Bunker Party Nine
1. Frank Bunker
Frank Bunker was a first-class passenger on the Valencia who survived in the shore party that he led and became known as the Bunker Party. Frank Bunker was on lifeboat No.6 with his wife, 4 year old daughter Dorothy, 2 year old son Frank, fireman Frank Richley and four others. He recalled after the boat he was in was launched and they got away from the side of the steamer they had no difficulty in navigating into the open sea despite the cold, dark and stormy weather. They managed to get a couple hundred yards from the Valencia before being caught by a breaker and casting most on board into the freezing ocean. Frank Bunker, his wife and son managed to survive, though Dorothy was never seen again. Moments later the boat, caught in another breaker was thrown again.
2. Frank J. Campbell
The first four boats launched were complete disasters resulting in nearly all the passengers drowning. The No.3 boat, the fifth boat launched, managed to get away from the Valencia for a short distance with fifteen people on board. After one of the oars was lost, the boat veered towards the surf and flipped over, drowning eight. Somehow seven men survived and ended up along the shore at the base of near vertical cliffs about 250 metres north of the Valencia. The seven survivors were Frank Campbell, Tony Brown, George Billikos, Yosuki Hosoda, Michael Stone, Charles Samuels, and Albert Willis. Among the drowned were his wife and 16 year old daughter. These seven men, plus two from another flipped boat, Frank Bunker and Frank Richley managed to survive the night and contact the outside world the following day.
3. Albert Willis
Albert Willis was a second class passenger on the Valencia who survived in the Bunker Party. Willis left the Valencia in the first hour after the wreck in the No.3 lifeboat, the fifth boat launched and managed to get away from the Valencia for a short distance with fifteen people on board. After one of the oars was lost, the boat veered towards the surf and flipped over, drowning eight. Somehow Willis and six other men survived and ended up along the shore at the base of a near vertical cliff about 250 metres north of the Valencia. With Albert Willis were Frank Campbell, Tony Brown, Yosuki Hosoda, Michael Stone, Charles Samuels, and George Billikos. Among the drowned were the wife and 16 year old stepdaughter of Frank Campbell. These seven were joined by Frank Bunker and Frank Richley from the No.6 lifeboat that also flipped and killed all but two on board.
4. Charles Samuels
Charles Samuels was a first class passenger on the Valencia who survived with the Bunker Party. He escaped on the No.3 lifeboat in the chaos that erupted during the first few minutes after the wreck. The first four boats launched were complete disasters resulting in nearly all the passengers drowning. The No.3 boat, the fifth boat launched, managed to get away from the Valencia for a short distance with fifteen people on board. After one of the oars was lost, the boat veered towards the surf and flipped over, drowning eight. Somehow seven men survived and ended up along the shore at the base of near vertical cliffs about 250 metres north of the Valencia. The seven survivors were Charles Samuels, Frank Campbell, Tony Brown, George Billikos, Yosuki Hosoda, Michael Stone and Albert Willis.
5. Tony Brown
Tony Brown was an Austrian second-class passenger on the Valencia on his way to Seattle. Travelling with his friend and fellow Austrian Mike Stone, they were among the nine men who survived the initial launching of lifeboats in the first hour of the disaster. Just after midnight in stormy weather with freezing rain falling, lifeboat No.3 was launched into the darkness between violent, crashing waves and sheer cliffs. Tony Brown, Mike Stone and five others would somehow survive by clinging to the base of a cliff and crawling above the crashing waves. Eight others from boat No.3 drowned and disappeared into the darkness. They were soon joined by two survivors from another lifeboat, Frank Bunker and Frank Richley. This group of nine, later dubbed the “Bunker Party” huddled together at the base of a cliff under freezing rain until dawn.
6. Mike Stone
Mike Stone was a second class passenger on the Valencia who survived in the Bunker Party. He left the Valencia in the first hour after the wreck on the No.3 lifeboat, the fifth boat launched and managed to get away from the Valencia for a short distance with fifteen people on board. After one of the oars was lost, the boat veered towards the surf and flipped over, drowning eight. Somehow Mike Stone and six other men survived and ended up along the shore at the base of a near vertical cliff about 250 metres north of the Valencia. With Mike Stone were Frank Campbell, Tony Brown, Yosuki Hosoda, George Billikos, Charles Samuels, Albert Willis and Frank Bunker and Frank Richley from the No.6 lifeboat. These nine men huddled together, soaking wet and freezing at the base of the cliff until daylight.
7. Frank Richley
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.”
8. George Billikos
George Billikos was a fireman on the Valencia that survived as part of the Bunker Party. His name was hilariously misspelled in newspaper reports as B.E. Ledhos and several other imaginative spellings. He left the Valencia in the first hour after the wreck on the No.3 lifeboat, the fifth boat launched and managed to get away from the Valencia for a short distance with fifteen people on board. After one of the oars was lost, the boat veered towards the surf and flipped over, drowning eight. Somehow George Billikos and six other men survived and ended up along the shore at the base of a near vertical cliff about 250 metres north of the Valencia. With George Billikos were Frank Campbell, Tony Brown, Yosuki Hosoda, Michael Stone, Charles Samuels, and Albert Willis.
9. Yosuki Hosoda
Yosuki Hosoda was a Japanese second-class passenger on the Valencia who survived in the Bunker Party. He was one of the survivors that reached shore from lifeboat No.3 during the first horrific hour after the Valencia struck. He was travelling with two other Japanese men, T. Manwakio and S. Rancuna, who did not survive. Owing to Hosoda's poor command of English, he appears to have not been interviewed or called to testify after the Valencia disaster.
The McCarthy Boat Six
1.
The Topeka Raft Nineteen
1. Cornelius Allison
Cornelius Allison was a first class passenger on the Valencia and one of the 19 survivors picked up from the second raft by the Topeka. In his sixties, he had been a sailor years ago and because he had some experience on ships he gave more forceful opinions than other surviving passengers. The contradicting accounts from the various survivors makes finding the accurate details of weather and specific events hard to pin down. Cornelius Allison comes from a perspective of a tough old sailor who has seen a lot of the world and doesn't scare easily. He evidently has a lifetime of experience on ships and has seen a lot of stormy seas. He testified during the Seattle investigation that, "the surf that finally battered the Valencia to pieces could not be called high." He criticized the rescue ships for not attempting any assistance.
The Turret Raft Four
1.
BROWN, Charles, Valencia Seaman - McCarthy Boat Survivor
Charles Brown, a seaman on the Valencia was one of the six crewmen that left the Valencia in the last lifeboat, the McCarthy Boat, the morning after the shipwreck. The McCarthy Boat left the Valencia at about 9am on Tuesday, January 23rd. They were specifically ordered by the captain to get to land as soon as possible and hike up to the cliffs opposite the ship to receive the line from the Valencia. They did not attempt to reach land until they found an easy landing seven miles north of the Valencia, near the Cape Beale Lighthouse. When asked about this while testifying during a Valencia inquiry, he responded, “I didn’t want to come back’. The Seattle Star printed a picture of the McCarthy Boat survivors on 27 January 1906 and they identify the man in the back row in the middle as Charles Brown.
CARRICK, Thomas, First Assistant Engineer - Topeka Raft Survivor
Thomas Carrick, the first assistant engineer on the Valencia survived on the second raft picked up by the Topeka. In the chaotic first hour of the wreck, Carrick was in charge of the No.7 lifeboat. Timothy McCarthy, boatswain on the Valencia recalled, “No.7 was a wrecking boat and was small. She was in charge of Assistant Engineer Carrick. As she was lowered, one end became unfastened, and the people in her were spilled into the sea, all losing their lives except Carrick, who was pulled on board by his shipmates.” The Valencia wrecked just before midnight on Monday, January 22nd. About 34 hours later, at 10am Wednesday morning the situation on the Valencia was horrific. Battered by waves, the ship was breaking apart and sinking lower into the crashing ocean. Rescue ships had appeared in the distance, however no attempt at rescue had been made. Knowing the ship could collapse under the waves at any moment, the crew decided to launch the last two life rafts. The rafts are designed to float and remain stable, however those on board would be constantly soaked from waves crashing over the sides. The survivors on the Valencia were already freezing cold, hungry and thirsty and most refused to get on the rafts. The first of two rafts left the Valencia half full, with just 10 men on board. Not expected to get far, it broke over the breakers and out to sea with surprisingly little difficulty. The second raft was then packed with Thomas Carrick and 18 other men and set off twenty minutes after the first. Breaking into the open sea they paddled furiously toward the distant ships.
Carrick was part of the Valencia inquiry in the days that followed the disaster. On January 29th The Call p2 reported on part of Carrick's interview, “The other raft was launched about twenty minutes before we left. There were ten persons aboard it. The question was asked why more passengers and less of the crew did not board the craft. “Did the sailors attempt to crowd the passengers off?” was asked. “No,” was the answer of the witness. “The passengers would not leave the ship.” Carrick said the first raft cleared the ship’s side in safety and had little trouble getting out into the open sea. “The raft we left on” said Carrick, “was the last thing aboard the ship for anyone to get on. The Valencia was broken up and the two parts of her were ten to fifteen feet apart, the stern working toward the shore. The foremast was standing, but there was no one in the rigging. The only persons washed overboard that I saw were a woman and her child.”
“The seas were very heavy and knocked us down unless we had something to hold to. There was only about fifteen feet of the hurricane deck left for us to stand on, and I should judge that there were fifty to seventy-five persons on this.” “When we put off from the ship on the raft I called to my oilers in the rigging to come with us, but they refused. All the forward part of the vessel was under water at this time. There was no disobedience to commands at any time. Every member of the crew obeyed the orders of his superiors, as far as I knew. When we pulled away from the vessel the last words I heard the captain say were: ‘Goodbye Tom. For God’s sake try to save your passengers and crew.”
The battered raft headed out to sea toward the rescue ship, the Queen in the distance. To their horror the Queen sailed away. When they lost sight of it they turned toward the land. Freezing and constantly wet they were tossed by the waves and five hours later, close to dead from exposure, they sighted another ship, the Topeka and were finally rescued. The barely alive men on the Topeka raft had no way of knowing that the Valencia crumbled into the sea about three hours ago, killing all the remaining survivors. They wouldn’t hear that news for a couple more hours. When they asked about the first raft, they were dumbfounded to hear it must still be out there. They barely survived five hours of hell on the second raft, the first raft, later called the Turret Raft was still going through hell. A horrific journey considerably more brutal and lasting 26 hours. When the Topeka Raft was getting rescued, the nightmare on the Turret Raft was just beginning.
CONNORS, Frank, Valencia Waiter - Turret Raft Survivor
Frank Connors was a waiter on the Valencia and only one of four men that miraculously survived on the Turret Raft. The first of two life rafts, which could hold 18 people, departed Wednesday morning, the 24th of January, with only 10 on board as everyone else was afraid to get on and many expected rescue to come quickly now that a ship had arrived. Not only was there hope for rescue, but the difficulty of actually getting on one of the rafts deterred all but these ten men. The rafts had to be kept away from the side of the Valencia in order to keep it from slamming into it. To get on the raft you had to jump from the ship into the freezing ocean surging in and out and crashing all around. If you do get on a raft you will be freezing cold, soaking wet and constantly hit by waves coming over the sides. Frank Connors dove into the water from the maintopmast to try to catch the first raft as it was leaving and smashed his face on something underwater. When he surfaced he was pulled onto the raft bleeding from his nose and mouth. This raft would wander up the coast, pulled by the current for hours. One by one, the men on the raft died of exposure or driven insane by the agony, jumped into the ocean and drowned. They landed on Turret Island around midnight, fourteen hours after leaving the Valencia. When morning came there were only four men still alive and three dead bodies on the raft pulled high on the beach. The four set off to search the island for help and at about 9am Thursday, January 25th Connors split from the group to search for a lighthouse he imagined he saw. The other three men would find help at about noon and taken off the island. Connors would be found the following day, miraculously still alive, though barely.
DOHERTY, William, Valencia Fireman - Topeka Raft Survivor
William Doherty was a fireman on the Valencia who survived on the second and last life raft that left the Valencia.
FLUHME, Charles, Valencia Baker - Topeka Raft Survivor
Charles Fluhme was a baker on the Valencia who survived on the last raft that left the Valencia.
GOSLING, William, Valencia Seaman - McCarthy Boat Survivor
William Gosling was a seaman on the Valencia who survived on the McCarthy Boat. The morning after the Valencia wrecked, the one remaining lifeboat was successfully launched with six volunteer crewmen under the command of boatswain Timothy McCarthy. The goal of the McCarthy Boat was to get to shore and make their way up to the cliff above the ship. The Valencia had a Lyle gun capable of firing a rope to the top of the cliff where a boatswain’s chair could be rigged to transport everyone off the ship. Owing to the stormy weather, bad visibility, strong current and it seems, an overpowering fear of crossing the breakers to reach shore, the boat would travel several kilometers down the coast before reaching land near the Cape Beale Lighthouse. They would get to the lighthouse and contact the outside world for help one hour after the Bunker Party did. Gosling is pictured here, in a photo that appeared in the Seattle Star on 27 January 1906.
HANCOCK, Samuel, Valencia Chief Cook - Turret Raft Survivor
Samuel Hancock was the chief cook on the Valencia and survived on the first raft on Turret Island.
HARRADEN, George, Valencia Passenger - Topeka Raft 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.”
HAWKINS, A.H., Valencia Passenger - Topeka Raft Survivor
A.H. Hawkins was a passenger on the Valencia who survived on the Topeka Raft.
HODDINOTT, Charles, Valencia Waiter - Topeka Raft Survivor
Charles P. Hoddinott, a waiter on board the Valencia, and a brother of Chief Steward Hoddinott, J.E. who was drowned. Hoddinott’s brother refused to leave the ship for a place on the last life raft, but urged the witness to go. “I asked my brother to go with me,” said the witness, “but he refused, saying he was going to stand by the women and children. So I bade him good bye and jumped overboard.” – 2 Feb Vic Daily Times. Daily Colonist 13 Feb p6: Hoddinott testified that the weather was exceedingly clear when the boatswain’s crew in No.5 boat left on Tuesday. The Lyall gun was fired before the boat left and the line was ashore. When the Queen came in sight the gun had been fired three times and he thought they were loud enough for the report to carry to the Queen. In his opinion the Czar came within a quarter of a mile but he could not say if those on the tug saw the people on the wreck.
Daily Colonist 13 Feb p6: Hoddinott testified that when the Queen came in sight the gun had been fired three times and he thought they were loud enough for the report to carry to the Queen. In his opinion the Czar came within a quarter of a mile but he could not say if those on the tug saw the people on the wreck. Hoddinott testified that there were 13 members of the crew on the raft and 5 passengers. Launching of the raft took 45 minutes. When picked up by the Topeka they informed the Topeka’s captain that there was another raft out at sea and also passengers on the Valencia. Hoddinott recalled that when he left the ship on the last raft and saw the captain and chief steward go among the woman and ask if they would go on the raft. None expressed any desire to take the chance, evidently thinking that they would be rescued by the ships in the offing. He remembered seeing Miss Van Wyck in the rigging and also Walter Jesse who was continually busy and cheering the passengers. He mentioned an incident of a lady expressing fear of her husband leaving her side and the man in order to set her mind at rest had taken a scarf and tied himself to her by the wrist. When the Queen, Salvor and Czar came in sight he thought that it would be a matter of only a short time before all were rescued. He thought the Czar might have come within 200 yards of the ship at the outside and drifted a raft down the vessel. He thought if the launching of the boats had been deferred until Tuesday some of them would have got safely away. He did not think the shore was more than 100 yards from the stern of the ship.
JOHNSON, John, Valencia Third Cook - Topeka Raft Survivor
John Johnson third cook on the Valencia who survived on the Topeka Raft
JOHNSON, W.D. Valencia Coal Passer - Topeka Raft Survivor
W.D. Johnson was a coal Passer on the Valencia who survived on the Topeka Raft.
LAMPSON, Tom, Valencia Sailor - McCarthy Boat Survivor
Tom Lampson was a sailor on the Valencia who survived in the McCarthy Boat.
LEHN, Frank, First Assistant Freight Clerk - Topeka Raft Survivor
Frank Lehn was the first assistant freight clerk on the Valencia who survived on the Topeka Raft. Daily Colonist Feb 13 p6: Frank Lehn. Frank Lehn The second raft was prepared and he had jumped for it when he felt the steamer’s deckhouse being washed away. Frank Lehn recalled in an interview, that on the raft passengers held on to the life lines on the raft, which had practically submerged. He did not believe that assistance could have been rendered by boats from the Queen or other rescue steamers. Assistance could only come from the shore. The Queen looked to be about three miles away. He remembered seeing Miss Van Wyck, a heavily built lady and her daughter, a little boy of about 7 years and several members of the crew of the Valencia when he left on the raft. The Valencia was about a ship’s length from the shore he said. He remembered the gun being fired three times when the rescue steamers hove in sight, but no discussion as to the method of being rescued.
LONG, George, Valencia Fireman - Turret Raft Survivor
George Long was a fireman on the Valencia who survived on the Turret Raft.
MARKS, John, Valencia Sailor - McCarthy Boat Survivor
John Marks was a sailor on the Valencia survived on the McCarthy Boat. His name is misspelled in a variety of ways in newspaper reports, as Jack Marks and in the same paper: John Monk and John Mark. Sadly, a year after the Valencia wreck he died on another ship. The Daily Colonist on June 11th, 1907 reported, "Jack Marks, survivor of the ill fated Valencia died on the steamship Minnesota when that vessel was en route from Yokohama to Seattle. He was buried at sea."
MCCAFFREY, Joseph, Valencia Passenger -Topeka Raft Survivor
Joseph McCaffrey was a passenger on the Valencia who survived on the Topeka Raft Daily Colonist 13 Feb p6: J. McCaffrey, was questioned at the Valencia inquiry. He said that when he came on deck there seemed to be a panic and no person had control of anyone. He stated that none of the officers gave him any instructions but on the first night he had seen them trying to make the passengers comfortable. He went on deck with a life preserver and was told by an officer that there was no need of them, but later he told him to put it on again. He saw two boats launched and smashed up. It was dark when he came on deck and there were quite a few people on deck. He did not try to get in a boat, and did not see any officers. Could not say who gave orders to let go. No.1 boat was practically gone when he came on deck and he saw the second boat go down but could not say if there were any officers in charge or not. He had heard some passengers say that no orders had been given. He said there were no orders given and suggested that the officers should have been at their posts. He said that when he came on deck there seemed to be a panic and no person had control of anyone. He stated that none of the officers gave him any instructions but on the first night he had seen them trying to make the passengers comfortable. When the steamers Queen, Salvor and Czar came in sight he thought that it would be a matter of only a short time before all were rescued. He thought the Czar might have come within 200 yards of the ship at the outside and drifted a raft down the vessel. McCaffrey went on the second raft with 18 people, he found out later it was licensed to hold 18 persons. They had considerable difficulty in getting away from the ship but after they reached the bow of the Valencia it was much easier. He was pretty well done up when taken on board the Topeka.
MCCARTHY, Timothy, Valencia Boatswain - McCarthy Boat Survivor
Timothy McCarthy was the boatswain on the Valencia and survived on the last lifeboat, the No.5 boat launched the morning after the wreck, that became known as the McCarthy Boat. McCarthy was the first to volunteer to crew this boat and was in charge of the five others that hesitantly volunteered after him.
O’BRIEN, P.V., Valencia Waiter - Topeka Raft Survivor
P.V. Obrien was a waiter on the Valencia who survived on the Topeka Raft.
PETERSON, Peter, Valencia Second Officer - Topeka Raft Survivor
Peter Peterson was the second officer on the Valencia and survived on the Topeka Raft.
Primer, Paul, Valencia Fireman - Topeka Raft Survivor
Paul Primer was a fireman on the Valencia who survived on the Topeka Raft.
RAYMOND, Walter, Valencia Messman - Topeka Raft Survivor
Walter Raymond was a messman on the Valencia who survived on the Topeka Raft.
RITCHLEY, Frank, Valencia Fireman - Bunker Party Survivor
SEGALOS, John, Valencia Fireman - Topeka Raft Survivor
John Segalos was a fireman on the Valencia who survived on the Topeka Raft.
SHIELDS, Thomas, Valencia Sailor - McCarthy Boat Survivor
Thomas Shields was a sailor on the Valencia who survived on the McCarthy Boat.
STENSLER, Max, Valencia Fireman - Turret Raft Survivor
Max Stensler was a fireman on the Valencia who survived on the Turret Raft.
TARPEY, Martin, Valencia Quartermaster - Topeka Raft Survivor
Martin Tarpey was the Quartermaster on the Valencia who survived on the Topeka Raft.
WALSH, James, Valencia Waiter - Topeka Raft Survivor
James Walsh was a waiter on the Valencia who survived on the Topeka Raft.
WILLITS, Grant L, Passenger on the Valencia, Survived on the Topeka Raft
Grant L. Willits, a passenger on the Valencia that survived on the second raft, the last raft to depart the Valencia. About two hours after they departed, the Valencia collapsed into the sea killing everyone still on board. Willits and 18 others were finally found by the Topeka, after six hours on the freezing, soaking wet, overcrowded raft. Barely alive, they were brought on board the Topeka and reported the situation on the Valencia when they left her. His recollection of the events on the Valencia are terrifyingly vivid. The Victoria Daily Colonist on January 26th reported an interview with Grant L. Willits shortly after being picked up from the raft by the Topeka. Willits said, “The ship struck at 12:07 on the morning of Tuesday, Jan. 23rd. I was on deck at the time smoking a cigar, and was looking at my watch when the first crash came. In an instant all was excitement. There were the shrieks of the frightened men and women, the wail of little children, and the hoarse orders of the officers of the ship. The vessel reeled like a drunken man, slid over the reef and struck again. The command to back her off was given and she went astern at full speed but it was too late. The water was pouring in like a mill race. The wind swung the vessel’s stern to the beach and her head to the waves. This saved many lives, as she was then swept back to the shore, and struck once again in such a position that she remained partially above the water and on an even keel. Every wave washed clear over her and many people who hastily rushed on deck went to their death without time to murmur a prayer. The order was given to get out the boats. Two of them on the weather side were launched and were smashed like eggshells as soon as they struck the water. Then came the attempt to get out the lee boats. Purser O’Farrell took charge; four women and a number of men went into the boat. I do not know how many, but she was practically full. Just as they were lowering the davits broke, and the stern of the boat fell to the water while the bow hung in the air. Everyone was precipitated into the sea and swept away in an instant. For a second or two I caught a glimpse of an agonized face, then another, and yet another, as they were washed by me. The waves dashing over the ship swept the deck loose, and every swell lifted it. We clung to the rigging of the deckhouse.”
Willits goes on to describe tragic and horrific moments on the Valencia, “One of the most pitiable incidents was that of a little boy of about five years old. His father, mother and two little sisters put off in one of the boats. The boat was capsized and all were drowned. The little fellow walked around the deck crying for his mother. The last I saw of him he was clinging to the rigging.” Who this little boy was is a bit of a mystery, though Sam Hancock, who survived on the Turret Raft reported who he remembered on the ship. He mentions Mr. and Mrs. Ogle, with four children. When he left the parents and their children were gone, but one little boy was still aboard.
Mr. and Mrs. Ogle was travelling with four children. Her body was never found. Hancock(Turret Island survivor chief cook) 26 Jan Daily Colonist p8: He says he knew the following passengers and thinks they are gone: Mr. and Mrs. Ogle, with four children. When he left the parents and their children were gone but one little boy was still aboard. The San Francisco Call on February 2nd, “The bodies were brought down from Victoria on the steamship Princess Beatrice, and included the remains of two children, supposed to be those of W.M. Ogle, who was lost with his wife and four children.” Maybe this little boy was one of the Ogle children?
Willits continued, “Every swell carried away a portion of the ship, and the decks rose and fell with every breaker, and it was impossible to stay on deck without clinging to a support. The ship was sunk to about the level of the hurricane deck. In the morning another sad calamity occurred. About fifteen or twenty persons, amongst them one or two women, and taken refuge in the foretopmast. They appeared to be in the safest place, as it was removed from the wash of the waves, although the flying spray dashed over their heads. Suddenly and without warning the mas tottered and fell with a crash, carrying its load of shrieking human freight to a terrible death. I do not think a single one was saved. Their bodies were washed from the ship and we could see them dashed against the rocks. To add to our misery, the last of our food was washed away and we had not water to drink. The wind and rain combined with the sea soon numbed us. Every time one of those in the rigging would lose his hold he would be swept away to the sharp rocks.”
The Valencia Disaster Continued: 12. The Lost
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