Harry Gregory
Harry Gregory was a second-class passenger on the Valencia headed for Seattle. Working as a fireman in the United States navy, in various news reports covering the Valencia his name is misspelled “Greggy”. Harry Gregory nearly survived the Valencia by escaping on the first of two life rafts launched just two hours before the ship finally collapsed into the sea killing all those remaining on board. The raft drifted helplessly up the coast unseen by any would be rescue ships. Gregory and nine others on board were dying of exposure, partially submerged in the freezing ocean. Three would die during the first hours from exposure or driven insane by the experience, throwing themselves into the ocean. One man, Gregory’s friend died during this time and the others decided to throw his body overboard. Hours later when they finally came ashore on Turret Island and the seven remaining on board, barely alive waited for daylight to arrive would have the silence broken by Gregory. He lunged at Sam Hancock, tried to choke him and shouted something about wanting to eat him. The others overpowered Gregory and he collapsed back into the raft and never moved again. It is thought that he died shortly after this incident along with two others. When the raft was finally found, three dead bodies were with it, Harry Gregory, Robert Nelson and John Wallace. Mrs. HJ Gregory, of Portland, writes asking particulars of her son, Harrison J. Gregory, aged 34 years, and weighing about 175 lbs. He was 5 feet 11 inches in height. This is believed to be the man who died on the raft which reached Turret Island, and whose name appears as Greggy.