William E. Downing
William E. Downing, chief engineer, pictured here, one of the last survivors on board when it finally broke up. A photo of him appeared in The San Francisco Call newspaper on 26 January. When the last life raft left the Valencia, Downing was seen alive on the rigging of the ship along with an estimated 50 to 70 others. Two hours later they would all be dead when the Valencia was finally smashed into the sea by a huge wave at about noon on January 24th. The San Francisco Call newspaper on January 24th, 1906 ran an article, “Relatives Still Hope. W.E. Downing, chief engineer of the steamer Valencia, resided at 1556 Ninth Avenue, Oakland, with his brother, George J. Downing, a purser for the Pacific Coast Steamship Company, and two sisters, Miss Alice Downing and Miss Cerina Downing. He is unmarried and has always made his home, when in port, with his brother and sisters. Downing has held his present position for a little more than a year, and has been rated as one of the best men in the service of the company. His brother and sisters were greatly overcome when informed that the Valencia had been wrecked, but clung to the hope that their brother may be among those who escaped from the ill-fated steamer.”