Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-07-12
WRECK OF THE PoRTIA.
CREW AND PASSENGERS. WITH
ONE EXCEPTION, SAVED.
(By TELEGRAPH to Virginian-Pllot)

(By Telegraph to Virginian-Pllot.)
Halifax. N. s.. July 1.-THE steamer
Portla, which struck on Big Fish Shoal.
fifteen miles east of Halifax, last night,
filed and sank during the night
The only victim of the wreck was n
12-year-old Assyrian lad. known by the
name of Basha. who was travelling sec
ond class from New York to st. Johns.
n. T., where his mother lives.
The others on board the steamer, in
Guiding 20 passengers and crew OF 81
officers and men, who were landed safe
ly at Sambro Island. were cared for
there during the night and were
brought here to-day.
The accident, which happened about
o'clock p. M, and which is believed
to have been due to n dense fog which
prevailed at the time. probably ends
the career of the Portia. which was an
iron vessel of T32 tons. 10 years old
"A DANGEROUS LOCALITY.
The locality lin which she struck is
very dangerous and even before she
went down it was apparent that she
was badly damaged. 1t is considered
probable. however. that attempts will
be made to reach parts OF her cargo and
the baggage of her passengers.
The accounts of the wreck which have
reached here last evening indicated that
the passengers and crew escaped from
later reports show that the work was
not accomplished without considerable
difficulty.
BROKEN AND FILLING.
The steamer had mounted the rocks
with a shock that was felt in every part
of her hull. and all on board knew inn
mediately what had happened. The
next moment. the heavy southwest
swell lifted the stea mer and forced her
n hlIr nc ch
Captain Farrell that his ship had been
broken and was filling. and also that
she was in danger OF being forced
across the shoal and thrown into deep
water beyond.
THE RESCUE.
He ordered the boats to be made
ready at once. This was done and the
passengers. including about thirty wo-
men, filled them without confusion, al
though the dangerous swell added peril
to the proceeding. AS the passengers
took their places 1t was discovered that
the Assyran lad was missing 4
hasty search of the vessel was made
but the boy could not be found. When
last seen he was seasick and il is
thought he had crawled into some OBJ
scure corner to lie down and thus es-
capped observation when the searchers
tried to find him.
RELIEF STEAMERS.
The shipwrecked mon and women all
were landed on Sambro island. which
was hardly two miles from the place
where the steamer lay. They were car
ed for there during the night, although
the accommodations were mcagre The
inhabitants of the Island gave up their
homes and the provisions, which were
scanty. The steamers a. C. Whitney
and Boyer. were dispatched from here
as soon as possible after the news of
the accident reached here, bearing food
for those al Sambro. The arrival of
the steamers early to-day brought great
relief to the shpwrecked men and wo-
men, as we'll as those who live on the
island.
AT daybreak those who had come on
the Portia were taken on board the
two steamers from Halifax and they
reached here this morning
None of the passengers saved their
baggage and a number reported that
their money and jewels had been lost
Captain Farrell. who LETT the Portia
last night to look after the safe land
Ing Of the passengers. returned to the
scene few hours later on IA Sam bro
lobster steamer 1t was found that the
Portia had been carried entirely over
the shoal and sunk in or 10 fathomg
OF water. n short distance on the other
side, only the topmasts being visible
above the surface.