The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-07-26
STEAMER 4 TOTAL loss
The Portia, From New York For Hail.
lax, Runs Ashore in a Fog
ALL SAVED EXCEPT ONE BOY,


sambro Point-The III PassenEers
and Crew Were Rowed Ashore-TheJ
Were Out All Night ON an Island
Close to tho Mainland.
HALIFAX, N. 8. (speclsD.-The steamer
Portia, from New York for Halifax, was
wrecked during dense fog on Fllnn's
Island, of sambro, point about fifteen
miles to the eastward OF Halifax. The
passengers and crew, 1T In all, were safe
ly landed on the island In the ships boats.
The only victim OF the wreck was q
.welve-year-old Syrian lad. known by the
name Of Basha, who was travelling second
.lass from New York to st. Johns, N. F.,
where his mother lives. BE was left In the
,hip and was not missed until the passen-
yers and crew were landed on the island.
The disaster occurred shortly before
o. m. The passengers, OF whom there were
more than seventy Ave, were nearly all
tourists. The steamer had q cargo for
his port and st. Johns, N. F. The place
Hhers she struck Is known as Big Fish
3hoal, and Is one and a half miles west OF
The light on Sambro Island.
The startling news Of the wreck OF tho
Portia was received here by telephone from
sambro Village. Captain Farrell and q
BOATS crew had landed at Sambro, after
all the passengers, Off :ers, and men had
been comfortably housed on inner Sambro
Island. There are only two houses on In.
asr Sambro, but the occupants OF these
quickly turned out to receive the large
Ihip. wrecked party.
When tue steamer struck, most OF the
passengers were on deck, despite the damp
ness OF the surroundings. The Portia took
the shoal with dull, grinding shock that
sent thrill from stem to stern and brought
all on deck to their feet In alarm.
The steamer cume to sudden stop ana
the engines, which were Immediately re.
Versed, refused to pull her of. In the long,
strong swell her stern moved gently up and
down, but her bow held immovably to the
rocks. .
When her commander found her filling
30 rapidly that the lives OF the people on
board were becoming imperiled, he gave
the orders to make for the shore. Few OF
the passengers ventured below to recover
their valuables after they learned that
they were In danger.
The weather was extremely thick at tho
time OF the wreck, and there was heavy
southwest swell on the SEA. 1t is believed
Captain Farrell mistook bis position when
he heard the bomb signals at Sambrc
Light, witch sound every twenty minutes.
and which Captain Clarke, OF the Red
Cross steamer Silvia, says are so mislead.
ing that 1t is extremely difficult to locate
ships position on hearing them.
1t was O. so o'clock when she struck the
rocks. She began to make water immedia-
teIy, and at 7.30 O'Clock Captain Farrell
concluded that 1t was unsafe to remain on
board any longer. ..
Orders were then given to lower the
boats. The feet Of liieboats, keeping close
toget her, made Inner sambro Island In less
than three-quarters OF an hour, and their
occup pants were soon housed.
From Inner Sambro to the mainland Is
only short distance. and as soon as Cap
tain Farrell found that everybody from the
steamer was safe and sound. he started Tor
Sambro village, whence he dispatched the
advices OF the wreck.