OCR Text |
Show AWFUL EXPERIENCE AFFECTS HIS MIND Survivor of Valencia Disaster Recites Queer Tales on Witness Wit-ness Stand. SEATTLE, Wash., Feb. 10. Testimony offered by Frank B. Connors, a survivor of the wrecked steamship Valencia, before be-fore tho marine Inspectors became so strange, and Interspersed with mixed and contradictory statements on points tu.tl-lled tu.tl-lled to by other witnesses, that It is feared the awful experience Incident to the disaster dis-aster and the subsequent suffering has so affected his mind that he cannot remember re-member distinctly, or that he Is attempting attempt-ing to conceal some circumstance ln connection con-nection with the affair Tells Strange Story. hile testifying regarding his actions during the time when the vessel was lying ly-ing on tho rocks and after tho boats had been sent away early Tuesday morning, in reply to a query from District Attorney Attor-ney tryc ns to how he came to be aboard the life raft, Connors stated that ho was thrown to thc deck of tho Valencia ns a rcoult of the malntopmast being carried away, and on striking the deck a big sea carried him over the side and onto tho rafL Tho witness said that Capt. Johnson told those on the vessel to get aboard the rafts. He stated that he saw tho mate wave his arm and shout to those on tho vessel's deck to get aboard his raft. -Refused to Leave. The passengers refused to go and hung back. This corroborates other testimony previously Introduced showing that the passengers apparently preferred to remain re-main on tho vessel rather than trust themselves to the mercy of tho wind and sea. ConnorB remembered a ship comlnc ln very near the Valencia on the morning after she struck, which Ib thought to bo tho steamer Edith, so nearly wrecked an hour after the Valencia went on thc rocK3. Never Sighted the Wreck. During the Investigation this afternoon Capt. T. H. Cann. master of tho steamship steam-ship City of Topckn. which was sont to the assistance of the Valencia, testified that he never saw the wreck owing to thick mist. He says the Information given him by the survivors as to thc location of tho wreck (Was Incorrect. Capt. Cann asserted tho sea was too rough for him to lower his boats and make a search, when he did not Know where the wreck was. He further stated that ho had planned to drift two life rafts alongside the wrecked vessel thc moment he sighted her. |