The Valencia Tragedy

by Michael C. Neitzel

The most shameful incident in Canadian Maritime history" occurred in January 1906 when the steamer Valencia hit rocks off the treacherous west coast of Vancouver Island, only 100 feet from shore. Over the next 40 hours the vessel was pounded to pieces. More than 80 people, many of them women and children, drowned. Men watching from the shore offered no assistance, and three potential rescue vessels sailed away. The tragedy is considered the most appalling display of bad luck, incompetence, negligence and lack of compassion in recorded Canadian maritime history.

112 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1995

Reviews

[Ashley Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating story, but some parts are hard to follow. The story is tragic and heart wrenching, but the author's choice to directly quote survivors that didn't speak clear English makes it difficult to follow. If those were instead summerized in clear English it would be a better read.