The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-07-11
POR TIA WRECKED
Halifax Liner Struck Big
Fish Shoal and
Sank.
o N E L i F E 10 S T
Assyrian Boy on His Way
to His Mother Drowned
Great Courage Shown.
o N E L IF E 10 S T

HALIFAX, N. S., July II. 1899. The
steamer PortGa, which struck on Big Fish
Shoal, fifteen miles east of Halifax, last
night, filled and sank during the night.
The Foniy victim Of the wreck was q 12-
year old Assyrian lad, known BY the name
of Baslla, who was travelling second ciass
from New York to St. Johns, n. F.,where
his mother lives. The others on board the
steamer, including 70 passengers and a
crew of "a officers and men who were
landed safely at sanbro Island were
cared for there during the night and
We're brought here today.
The accident. which happened about 7
O'Clock p NJ, and which IS believed to be
due to a dense fog which prevailed at the
time, probably ends the career of the
Portia, which was an iron vessel of f32
TONS fifteen years old. The locality in
which she struck is very dangerous, and
even before she went down is was appar-
ent that she was badly damaged. It is
considered probable. however. that at
tempts will be made to reach parts of her
cargo and the baggage OF her passen-
gers.
The accounts Of the wreck which reach
ed here last evening indicated that the
passengers and crew escaped from the
doomed ship with comparative ease. but
later reports show that the work was not
accomplished without considerable diff
Guilty and that the safe removal Of all
save one of those on board was due main
Iy itc the conduct of those involved, which
is poken of in the highest terms.
The steamer had mounted the rocks
with q shock that was felt In very part
Of her hun and All on board knew what
had hanpened The next moment, the
heavy southwest swell lifted the steamer
and forced her forward. A quick but
keen inspection showed Captain Farrell
that his hin had been broken and was
filling. and also that she was In danger Of
being forced across the shoaI and thrown
into deeu water Beyond
He ordered the boats to be made ready
at once. This was done and the passen-
gers. including about thirty women, filed
them without confusion. although the
dangerous swell added peril TO the pro-
ceedina As the passengers took their
places It was discovered that the Assyrian
lad was missing. A hasty search of the
vessel was made, but the boy could not
be found When last seen he was sea-
sick 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 were
all landed on Sambro Island, which was
hardly two miles from where the steamer
lay. They We're cared for there during
the night. although the accommodations
t,,l,o l&f+ ,aff
and gave up their homes and provisions,
which were scanty. The steamers A. G..
whitney and L. Boyer were dispatched
from here as soon as possible after the
news of the accident reached here, bear
mig food for these at Sambro. The ar
rival of the steamers early this morning
brought great relief to the ship wrecked
men and women, as well as to those who
live at the island.
At daybreak those who had come from
the Portia were taken on board the two
steamers from Halifax. They reached
here this forenoon.
Nearly all of them showed evidence Of
their experiences as they stepped ashore
at the Red Cross Lin wharf. The women
especially looked tired and distracted. On
all sides expressions of gratitude at
deliverance from the dangers Of the night,
were heard Many were without head
covering. Only two or three carried
satchels, while larger pieces Of baggage
were nowhere in evidence, 1t was clear
that everything of their ordinary belong
ings had been swept away. A number
o fpassengers reported that their money
had ben lost ard some Of them said they
had lost jewels, but none told of any very
heavy loss of valuables.
Captain Farrell, who left the Portia last
night to look after the safe landing Of his
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, short
distance on The other side, only the top
masts being visible above the surface.