New-York tribune., 1890-08-08
THE PERIL OF THE PORTIA.
LIFTED FROM THE OCEAN BY A MONSTER
WALL OF ICE.
BERG DIVIDES INTO THREE PARTS WITH \
ROAR LIKE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
ESCAPE OF THE STEAMER.


Captain Ash, of the steamer Portia Of the RED
Cross Line, which arrived here yesterday morn
ing, gave Tribune reporter graphic account
of the narrow escape which the vessel had on the
morning Of July 30, just after leaving Pley's
Island, bound from Halifax for st. Johns, New
foundland. lie described the adventure as the
most remarkable which he had undergone or heard
of in his experience of thirty years among icebergs
and ice. Captain Ash is the gallant ship COM
mander who, the ice pilot. led the Greedy re-
lief expedition.
The Portia carried about fifteen cabin passen-
gers. On the morning of the first day out .
number of icebergs were sighted. some Of which
were large and called forth expressions Of admira-
ton from the passengers. Some Of these wanted
the captain to steer nearer, but he explained the
great danger there is in running close to an ice
berg, especially when there are several together.
They likely to go to pieces at this season. and
not unfrequently two bergs, apparently far apart,
are connected under the water, and vessel pass
ing between them may run upon the submerged
ice.
About o a. m. an iceberg was sighted standing
alone. Ii was eighty feet in height and about
600 feet in length. 1t was bock-shaped without
the pinnacles Overhanging ledges to make il
beautiful, but dangerous for approaching vessels.
1t lay almost directly in the steamers course and
the helm was shifted slightly to allow the Portia
to pass within from $50 to 200 yards of the
floating mountain.
:" knew. or thought knew all about icehergs"
said Captain Ash, and | had not the slightest
fear in going near. Just as we were alongside,
| fully $50 yards distant, ana were looking up
at its glistenng sides with ave. suddenly an
enormous cake weighing many tons broke away
~
the water with a mighty noise. The passengers
were admirng this grand sight, when we were
astounded at seeing the whole mass divide itself
into three separate bergs, giving forth reports
like thunder-claps. l Immediately realized the
| danger were in, and ordered
the helm to starboard. Glancing over
the side. 1 saw sight that for an
instant chilled my blood. l have presence OF
mind, aud, l say, have passed thirty years
among icebergs, but the sheet of ice saw rising
| slowly in the clear water under our steamer
| meant as it seemed instant destruction for all on
| board
1t not mere spur of the berg. 1t was
the submerged wall of the iceberg rising to lift
| us out of the water and perhaps throw the
steamer deck downward, back into the sea. Nine
tenths of an iceberg, you know. is under water.
| Those few seconds were the most trying ever
| lived through. The steamer was almost entirely
out of water, lying partly listed on the ice and
| her screw racing | ordered the steam shut
| Off The cake of ice, which, when
the berg broke into three pieces had become
| topheavy, lay listed over nearly fat and l be-
lieved it would turn completely over, as generally
| happens in these cases. Just then, however, 70
| my great relief, the ice beneath us subsded, and
| the wave caused by its foundering swept the
steamer so far forward that the propulsion Of the
| screw, which at once started carried her on into
dep water Just in time to save her from the next
| lifting of the submerged portion Of the berg We
| were saved, but it only by hairs breadth.
| Had this iceberg acted as icebergs nearly always
| do there would have been no one left to tell the
| tale.
| There was panic among the passengers!
| When they saw the steamer rise out OF the water
| and felt the grinding of the ice against the nat
bottom they were too much surprised TO speak, ana
| the whole thing over in two minutes. Then
| il was realized what a terrible risk we had run.
! | must say every one behaved courageousy and
| there was no fault found with my conduct, or
| with the officers. AS far could discover
| by an inspection at Halifax damage was done
| to the ship except little scraping of the bot
! tom. She will be doc<ed here, however, and
thoroughly overhauled"
| The Portia is n doub,e-decked screw steamer
| of iron schoOner-rigged, owned by c. I. Bow
ring & Co.. of Liverpool She was built in New
CASTLE England, in Ss4. Her length is 220 feet.
beam 81 feet, draft 235 feet, and her tonnage