The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-07-12
THE PORTIA GOES
TO THE BOTTOM
The Steamer Which Went Ashore
Near Halifax Filled and Sank.
Only One Life Lost.

HALIFAX. ~ July 1.-THE steam
er Portia 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 a ~
year-old Assyrlan lad known by the
name Of Bassha. who was travelling sec
ond class from New York to ST. Johns.
y. f., where his mother lives.
The others on board the steamer in-
Guiding 20 passengers and crew Of % of
! fccrs and men. who were landed safely
at Sambro Island We're cared for there
during the night and viii. Doe brought
| here to-day. The accident. which hap
pened about 2 o'clock n the evening and
which is believed 90 have been due t0
dense fog which prevailed at the time
probably ends the career of the Portia.
| which was am iron vessel OF ,32 tons,
and fifteen years old.
DANGEROUS SPOT.
The locality IN which she struck is
very dangerous and even before she went
down 30 was apparent that she was bad
ly damaged.
1t is considered probable. however. that
attempts will be made 10 reach parts OF
her cargo and the baggage of her pas
sengers.
The accounts of the wreck which reach
ed here last evening indicated that the
passengers and crew escaped from the
ship with comparative ease. but later re-
ports show that the work was not ac-
compNshed without considerable difficulty.
The steamer had mountcd the rocks
with a shock that was felt in every
part of her huh and AN on board knew
what had happened. The next moment
the heavy southwest swell lifted the
steamer and forced her forward. 4 hurried
inspection showed Captain Farrell that
his ships had been broken and was fill
ing and also that she was in danger OF
being forced across the shoal and thrown
into deep water beyond Hc ordered
the boats 70 be made ready az once. This
was done and the passengers including
about 60 women. filled them without con-
fusion. although the dangerous swell add
ed peril to the proceedings
SYRIAN LAD MISSING.
As the passengers took their places 81
was discovered that the Assyrian lad
was missing. 4 hasty search was made
but the lad could not be found When
he was last seen. he was seasick. and 1t
was thought he had crawled into some OBJ
scure corner 90 lie down, and thus es-
cape observation when the scarchers
tried t0 find him. The shipwreckcd men
and women an were landed On Sambro
Island which was hardly two miles from
the place where the steamer lay. They
We're cared for there during The night al
though the accommodations were mcagre.
The inhabitants .of the island gave up
.heir homes and the provisions. which
were scanty The steamers a. G. Wiley
and Boyer were dispatched from here rs
soon as POSSIBLE after the news of The
accident reached here bearing food for
those at Sambro. The arrival Of the
steamers early to-day brought great re-
lief to The shipwrecked men and women
as well as those who live on the island
At daybreak those who had come on
the POrtia were taken ON board the two
steamers for Halifax and they reported
here this morning. None Of the pas
scngors saved their baggage and a num-
Der reported their money and Jewels had
been lost
Captain Farrell who left the Poriia last
night To look after the safe landing OF
the passengers returned to the scene a
few hours later on a Sambro lobster
steamer. II was found that ihe Portla
had been carried entirely over the shoal
and sank IN Q or 10 fathoms short dis
lance on the other side only the top
masts being visible above the surface.