Harvey J. Gnegy
Harvey J. Gnegy was a second-class passenger on the Valencia headed for Seattle. His name incorrectly appeared as Harry Greggy and Harry Gregory in newspaper reports and printed Valencia passenger lists after the disaster. To add to the confusion newspapers reported inquiries about a man named Harrison J. Gregory who was thought to be on Valencia. He nearly survived the Valencia disaster by escaping on the first of two life rafts launched just 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. Gnegy 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, Gnegy’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 Gnegy. He lunged at Sam Hancock, tried to choke him and shouted something about wanting to eat him. The others overpowered Gnegy 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, Harvey Gnegy, Robert Nelson and W. Wallace.