Valbanera
Encyclopedia
The Valbanera was a steamship
operated by the Pinillos Line of Spain
from 1905 until 1919, when it sank in a hurricane with the loss of all 488 crew and passengers aboard. The Valbanera was a 400 feet (121.9 m) steamer capable of carrying close to 1,200 passengers. It sailed a regular route between Spain and Puerto Rico
, Cuba
and the Gulf coast
of the United States
. In the summer of 1919 the ship left the Canary Islands
after earlier calling at several ports in Spain, loaded with cargo and 1,142 passengers, mostly immigrants to Cuba, and 88 crew members.
Although most of the passengers were booked for Havana
, 749 left the ship when it called at Santiago de Cuba
on September 5. The 1919 Florida Keys Hurricane
hit Havana on September 8, before the Valbanera reached the port. While the storm was raging an unidentified ship was seen off the harbor entrance signaling for a pilot, but the harbor was closed and the ship was notified it could not enter. The ship acknowledged, and signaled it would move away from shore to ride out the storm.
When the Valbanera did not show up in Havana after the hurricane had passed, a search was started. The U.S.
sub chaser
SC-203 found the wreck of the Valbanera on September 19. It was 5 miles east of Rebecca Shoal
(about 45 miles west of Key West
), with just the mast and a couple of lifeboats above water. There were 488 passengers and crew on the Valbanera when it sank. No bodies were recovered.
Steamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
operated by the Pinillos Line of Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
from 1905 until 1919, when it sank in a hurricane with the loss of all 488 crew and passengers aboard. The Valbanera was a 400 feet (121.9 m) steamer capable of carrying close to 1,200 passengers. It sailed a regular route between Spain and Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
and the Gulf coast
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In the summer of 1919 the ship left the Canary Islands
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
after earlier calling at several ports in Spain, loaded with cargo and 1,142 passengers, mostly immigrants to Cuba, and 88 crew members.
Although most of the passengers were booked for Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
, 749 left the ship when it called at Santiago de Cuba
Santiago de Cuba
Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city of Cuba and capital city of Santiago de Cuba Province in the south-eastern area of the island, some south-east of the Cuban capital of Havana....
on September 5. The 1919 Florida Keys Hurricane
1919 Florida Keys Hurricane
The Florida Keys Hurricane or Atlantic Gulf Hurricane of 1919 was an intense Atlantic hurricane, killing 772 people as it moved through the Florida Keys and Texas. The second tropical cyclone of the 1919 hurricane season, it moved in the proximity of the eastern Greater Antilles and Bahamas...
hit Havana on September 8, before the Valbanera reached the port. While the storm was raging an unidentified ship was seen off the harbor entrance signaling for a pilot, but the harbor was closed and the ship was notified it could not enter. The ship acknowledged, and signaled it would move away from shore to ride out the storm.
When the Valbanera did not show up in Havana after the hurricane had passed, a search was started. The U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sub chaser
Submarine chaser
A submarine chaser is a small and fast naval vessel specially intended for anti-submarine warfare. Although similar vessels were designed and used by many nations, this designation was most famously used by ships built by the United States of America...
SC-203 found the wreck of the Valbanera on September 19. It was 5 miles east of Rebecca Shoal
Rebecca Shoal Light
The Rebecca Shoal Light was located on a treacherous coral bank, Rebecca Shoal, 10 km west of the Marquesas Keys and 50 km east of the Dry Tortugas. The bank has a least depth of 3.4 meters and is subject to strong currents and rough seas....
(about 45 miles west of Key West
Key West, Florida
Key West is a city in Monroe County, Florida, United States. The city encompasses the island of Key West, the part of Stock Island north of U.S. 1 , Sigsbee Park , Fleming Key , and Sunset Key...
), with just the mast and a couple of lifeboats above water. There were 488 passengers and crew on the Valbanera when it sank. No bodies were recovered.