New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-01
A BIG HOLE IN THE PORTIA.
THE SCHOONER FAIR WIND RAN INTO HEP,
MUCH EXCITEMENT on BOARD THE STEAMER.

SHE HAD TO PUT BACK TO THIS CITY.
The steamer Portia, of the Red Cross Line,
commanded by Captain Ash bound from this
port for St. Johns, n. F., Halifax, and Filley's
Island, while off Eaton's Neck Long Island Sound.
at 10 81 o'clock Saturday night, carle into coll
lision with the schooner Fair Wind, of Ellsworthl
Me. The Portia left her pier at the Empir0
Stores, Main-St, Brooklyn, at 80 p. m. Satur.
day. with sixty iirst-caDin and number Oh
second-cabin passengers, and steamed through He'll
Gate to the sound AT ecution Rock, the pilot
left her and the steamer taken in charge by
Captain Ash During the early part Of the trip,
the surface of the water was as smooth as glass,
and the night beautiful starlight one, but
about fifteen miles from He'll Gate, thick fog
was encountered Soon heavy thunderstorm set
in and the Sound was soon mass of foam. Tho
darkness, broken now now and then by vivid fash
of lightning made objects TIE water scarcely
disccrnable.
The Portia was running at full speed when tho
schooner Fair Wind. which was beating her way
eastward following the same course as the steam;
er, Unexpectedly altered her course and tried to
cross the Portals bow Captain Ash tried to sheeD
of, but the schooner had such a headway that 10
was impossible to avoid COLLISION, and the neXu
instant the bowsprit of the schooner crashed into
the Poriia a short distance above the water line.
just forward of the collision bulkhead. hole
about four feet square started in the steamcrA
side.
The schooner bounded back with the shock and
struck the steamer second time. The masts Of
the Fair Wind fell overheard, making great noisei
which added new terror TO the scene. Most Of the
passengers on the Portia were below in the main
saloon or in their staterooms, and when the shock
came men, women and children rushed in panic
for the upper deck. Under the impression that
the steamer was sinking the passengers seized the
life-preservers and put them on, while the crew.
tried 10 lower the lifeboats
Captain Ash did all in his power 20 reassure tho
affrighted women and children and sent an officer
Below 10 learn just how great the damage was,
and whether there was any immediate danger OF
the boat sinking. Meanwhile the life-boats had
been prepared. the maintaining perfect disci"
pline and preparations were made for the women
and children 10 enter the boats. The officer who
had made a thorough examination Of the injury to
the ship reported that there was no danger OF her
sinking unless she encountered heavy sea, and
this assured the passengers and they soon quietcd
down.
Meanwhile the Portia had drifted some dis
tance away from the schooner, and owing TO the
extreme darkness it was fully half an hour be-
fore the sailing vessel discovered again. Cap
tain Ash ran alongside and offered TO take on tho
crew of the Fair Wind and bring them TO New-
York. but Captain Farrell refused 70 abandon his
boat and asked TO be towed back TO City Island.
Slowly the Portia, with the badly damageo
schooner in tow, steamed back TO New-iork, ana
although several times the roughness of the water
threatened u fill the forward compartment, sho
arrived at the wharf at Congressst., Brooklyn, 40
about o'clock yesterday morning in safety.
| The agent OF Bowring & Archibald, the owners
OF the Portia, was Immediately told of the acci|
| dent and he at once FASTENED TO the vessel %
DO everything possible for the passengers. lhOse
who wished to go were sent 10 Boston oy the
| Fall River lire in company with steward az
| guide, and thence TO their destinations, while
those who had been 81 frightened as 70 be AFRAID
70 travel by water were sent to HALIFAX nlrecs ts
by rail. The passengers speak IN the hghes9
terms of the officers and crew of the Portla, ana
the excellent discipline they maintained undee
the trying circumstances in which they were
placed Especial credit is due 10 Captain ASH.
When seen ly a Tribune reporter yesterday
Captain Ash said: 1t is fortunate that the acci-
dent did not prove more serious, for the hoie
in the bow IS close 10 the water-marN tnat
little more and the vessel would have gone down
undoubtedly" ..
Archibald, said last nj ght: o. was informed OK
the accident the Portia at my house III titteth;
st. early this morning ana at conG OECe for nr' the
passengers. | found them remarkably caln anu
apparently not IN the least disturbed by their
!
them 10 their destinations by any route they
might select. When they left the steamer they
all assured me that no blame could be attached
10 Captain Ash for the accident
Tho poriia is sister ship OF the Miranda ana ana
was built IN Newcastle, England, in lss4 She
Is iron Of about l,i00 tons burden, 22o feet
long 55 feet beam, and has 20 feet of Of hold: nc
She has five watcrtight compartments, and IT IS
dcc'arrd thnt three of these could be filed with
water and the steamer would still float. Tho
DAMAGE 10 the cargo was slight, and IT Is eA-
rcctcd that the PJrtia will be in commission
Thc Fairwiad Is an cighty-ton schooner and was
loaded with lumber 10th captains assert thae
the orhef was 10 blame
Among the passengers on the Portia were J.
q Cary the Rev H. p Collier. i. p. Budd,
Mis-, f. r. Budd. f. d. Stoke; Mrs. f. d. Stokes,
Miss Decker Miss y. Noble. Miss D. Fredericks.
Miss Sampson. Miss II. Rcvmond. Miss Herbert,
Miss Slatlcn. DR.. Sordley F. Teten. g. T1etjen,
R J. Armour. Miss Armonr o. g. ns nWarinG L l;
p sampson. ir. J. Wcnner q. ID Simpson, ).
W. Jones. u : Porter. II. p. Porter. L. Is
Thorpe and W. Craige Brown.