Virgil Crane
Virgil Crane was a steward on the Valencia, whose body was found along Long Beach, near Tofino in the days after the wreck. The Victoria Daily Colonist on February 2nd reported, “one other body was found yesterday, the 22nd recovered to date. This body, which washed ashore at Long Beach, was that of V.M. Crane, a steward of the Valencia. It was badly decomposed and when found by the crew of the cutter Grant, which was sent to recover when Capt. Townsend of the Queen City reported the discovery at Bamfield was made ready for burial on the spot. The interment will take place; a head board being prepared.” Later Virgil Crane’s brother, W.M. Crane had his body exhumed and brought to San Francisco for interment.
On September 20th, 1906 The Daily Colonist ran an article titled, “A Valencia Suite. Wife of Victim Brings an Action Claiming $25,300. An action has been commenced at San Francisco in the Superior court to determine whether the Pacific Coast Steamship company, owner of the steamer Valencia, which was wrecked off the coast of Vancouver Island last January, is to be held responsible for the disaster. When the vessel went down with so many victims, Virgil M. Crane, a pantry man, lost his life, his body being recovered at Clayoquot and buried by the officers of the revenue cutter Grant. He left surviving him Margurite I. Crane, his wife, who lives in this city, and a mother in North Yakima, Wash. His wife has commenced an action against the steamship company for $25,300 damages, alleging that the ship was wrecked through the negligence of the defendant corporation. If negligence can be proved the statures of California and the laws of British Columbia provide for the recovery of damages.”