Omaha daily bee., 1899-07-12
ASSYRIAN Lad LOST AT SEA
Missing Passenger Could Not Be Found
When Ship Was Abandoned.
ToPMAsT OF PoRTlA ALL THAT is VISIBLE
Passengers and Crew Take 10 the
Boats with Much Dimculty, owing
to the Heavy Swcll-sur-
vivors Lose Everything.

HALIFAX. N. S., July 1.-THE steamer
Porta, which struck on Big Fish shoal fit-
teen miles out Of Halifax last night, filled
and sank during the night
Reports received this morning from Sam
bro island. where the passengers and crew
were landed, indicate the only victim OF the
wreck was a 12-year-old Assyrian lad known
by the name of Basha, who was travelling
second class from New York to st. Johns,
n. B.. where his mother lives. The others
on board the steamer, including seventy
passengers and a crew of thrty-four officers
and men, who were landed safely at Sambro
island. weie cared for there during the
night and will be brought here today.
The accident which happened at about
o'clock p. M, and which is believed to have
been due to dense fog which prevailed at
the time, PROBABLY .nds the career of the
Portia, which was an iron vessel OF 1872 TONS
fifteen years old Ths i9calty in which
it struck is very dangerous and even before
1t went down it was apparent that it was
badly damaged. 1t is considered probable.
however that attempts will be made to reach
parts OF the cargo and the baggage Of pas
sengers.
The accounts OF the wreck which reached
here last evening indicated that the pas
sengers and crew escaped from the ship
with comparative ease but later reports
show that the work was not accomplished
without considerable difficulty.
The steamer had mounted the rocks with
shock that was felt in every part Of its
hull and all on board knew instantly what
had happened. The next moment the heavy
southwest swell lifted the steamer and
forced it forward A hurried inspection
showed Captain Farrell that his ship had
been broken and was filling and also that it
was in danger Of being forced across the
shoal and thrown into deep water beyond.
Search for Missing Lad.
He ordered the boats to be made ready
at once This was done and the passengers,
including about thirty women filled them
without confusion, although the dangerous
swell added peril to the proceeding. AS the
passengers took their places it was dis
covered that the Assyrian lad was missing.
hasty search of the vessel was made, but
the boy could not be found. When last seen
he was seasick and it is thought he had
crawled into some obscure corner to lie down
and thus escaped observation when the
searchers tried to find him.
The shipwrecked men and women all were
landed on Sambro island, which was hardly
two miles from the place where the steamer
lay. Ihey were cared Tor there during the
night, although the accommodations were
meager. The inhabitants Of the island gave
up their homes and their provisions, which
were scanty. The steamers A. C. Whitney
and L. Boyer were dispatched from here as
soon as possible after the news of the
accident reached here, bearing food for those
at Sambro. The arrival of the steamers
early today brought great relief to the ship
wrecked men and women, as we'll as to those
who live on the island.
At daybreak those who had come from
the Portia were taken on board the two
steamers from Halifax and they reached here
this afternoon. None of the passengers
saved their baggage and a number reported
that their money and jewels had been lost
Captain Farrell, who left the Portia last
night to look after the safe landing of his
passengers, returned to the scene a few
hours later on a Sambro steamer. 1t was
found that the Portia had been carried en-
tirely over the shoal and sunk in nine OF
ten fathoms of water a short distance on
the other side. only the topmasts being
| visible above the surface.