New-York tribune., 1899-07-12
THE PORTIA GOES DOWN
CARRIED OVER SHOAL AND SINKS IN
DEEP WATER.

|
PASSENGERS RESCUED WITH Diff
CULTY-NAMEs OF NEw-YoRK-
ERs ON BOARD
Halifax n. S. July 1.-THE steamer Portia.
which struck on Big Fish shoal, fifteen miles
east of Halifax, last night, filled and sank IN
! the night Reports received this morning from
Sambro Island, where the passengers and crew
were landed, indicate the loss of one life the
| victim being a twelve year old syrian iad
| known by the name on Basha. who was traV-
elling second class from NewYork to st. John s.
! ~ F. where his mother lives. The others on
| board the steamer including seventy passeh-
gers and a crew Of thirty-four officers and men,
who were landed safely at Sambro Island were
cared for there and were brought here to-day.
The accident which happened at about
O'Clock D. m, and which is believed to nave
been due to a dense fog which prevailed at the
time probably ends the career OF the Portia'
which was an iron vessel of 49, tons htteen
wears old The locality in which she struck is
dangerous and even before she went down IL
was apparent that she was badly damaged II
is considered probable, however, that attempts
will be made TO reach parts Of her cargo ana
the baggage Of her passengers.
HARD WORK TO SAVE PASSENGERS.
The accounts Of the wreck which reached here
last evening indicated that the passengers ana
crew escaped from the doomed ship with com
narrative ease. but later reports show that the
work was not accomplished without consdera-
BILE difficulty. and that the safe removal OF all
save one OF those on board was due mainly 10
the conduct OF those involved which is spoken
OF in the highest terms.
The steamer had mounted the rocks with
shock that was felt in every part OF her hull,
and all on board knew what had happened. the
next moment the heavy southwest swell lifted
the steamer and forced her forward. quick
hut keen Inspection showed to Captain Farreh
that his ship had been broken and was ming
and also that she was In danger OF being torceu
| across the shoal and thrown into deep water
beyond
He ordered the boats TO be made ready at once
This was done, and the passengers, including
about thirty women, filled them without contu-
sion although the dangerous swell added peru
to the proceeding AS the passengers took their
places It was discovered that the Syrian lad
was missing. A hasty search OF the vessel was
made but the boy could not be found. When
last seen he was seasick, and It is thought ne
had crawled into some obscure corner to lie down
and thus escaped observation when the searchers
tried 10 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.
They were cared for there during the night. al
though the accommodations were meagre. The
inhabitants Of the island gave up their homes
and scanty provisions. The steamers A. c.
Whitney and L. Boyer were dispatched from here
as soon as possible after the of the accident
reached here bearing food. The arrival Of the
| hr0u2ht great relief
to the shipwrecked men and women, as well as
to those who live at the island.
ARRIVAL AT HALIFAX.
At daybreak those who had come from the
| Portia were taken on board the two steamers
from Halifax and they reached here this fore
| noon
| Nearly all OF them showed traces OF their ex-
periences as they stepped ashore at the Red
| Cross Line wharf The women especially
looked tired and distracted. On all sides ex-
pressions OF gratitude at deverance from the
dangers OF the night were heard Many were
without head covering. Only two or three car
ried satchels while larger pieces OF baggage
were nowhere in evidence. 1t was clear that
everything of their ordinary belongings had
| been swept away.
A number of passengers reported that their
money had been lost. and some of them said
! they had lost jewels. but none told OF any
| heavy loss of vauables.
| CAPTAIN Farrell, who left the Portia last
night to look after the safe landing of the pas
sengers, returned TO the scene few hours later
! on a Sambro lobster steamer 1t was found
that the Portia had been carried entirely over
the shoal and sunk in nine or ten fathoms OF
water a short distance on the other side, only
the topmasts being visible above the surface.
SURVIVORS EXPERIENCES.
Among the Portals passengers were many
! New-Yorkers on their way to the Provinces.
| Among them were Mr.. and Mrs. Royal. Mr..
! ROYAL is an artist and newspaper and maga-
| zine writer In speaking of the wreck to-day,
he said all hands seemed to be cool, the women
particularly so. under the trying circumstances.
! II was a touching sight to see mothers being
lowered over the steamers side with babies
/ clingng to them for safety The little ones
added TO the ptiful scene by screaming fran
tcally as the waves dashed the boats against
the vessels side
E. T Wilson. OF New-York. a theatrical man.
WAS injured in one OF the boats. Some one
threw a cash box into the lifeboat. and it struck
Wilson on the head The blood flowed freely,
and a woman tore a piece of linen from her
skirt and bandagcd the wound Wilson lost his
vest containing 500 in bills. Three New-York
! clergymen did excellent service in assisting
/ other passengers into the boats. They were
| Fathers Broderick. McElery and OReily.
John J. Cornwall, newspaper man OF West
! Virginia expressed great admiration for the
| he roism of Captain Farrell and the crew.
! At the Offices OF Bowring Archibald agents for
the Red Cross Line In this city. II said yes
terday that II the Portals passengers wished TO re-
turn here at once they would be brought the
Silvia on her return trip Word had been received
that the Portia a total loss, and her passengers
saved nothing but the clothes they had The
Portia cost the company sll5000, and insured
for one-thrd OF her value. Her cargo consisted OF