The record-union., 1899-07-12
Carried Over the SaoaI and Sinks Ia Ten
Fathoms Of Water.
All the Passengers and Crew Ex-
cept a Twe1ve-Year-Old As
syrian Lad, Who Was En- Route
From New York to st. johns,
New Brunswick, His Mothers
Home, Safely Landed at Zam-
bro Island.

HALIFAX On. S., July 1.-THE
steamer Portia, which struck on Big
Fish Shoal, fifteen miles east of Hall
fax, last night, filled and sank during
the night.
The only victim of the wreck was a
twelve-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.
Seventy passengers and the crew of
| thirty four officers and men were land
ed safely at Zambro Island.
The accident, which happened about
Z o'clock p. M, and which is believed
to have been due to a dense fog which
prevailed at the time, probably ends
the career of the Portia, which was an
iron vessel of 732 tons, fifteen years
old. The locality in which she struck
is dangerous, and even before she went
down it was apparent that she was
badly damaged. 1t is considered prob
able, however, that attempts will be
made to reach parts of her cargo and
the baggage of her passengers.
The accounts of her wreck which
reached here last evening indicated that
the passengers and crew escaped with
comparative ease, but later reports
| show that the work was not accom-
| plished without considerable difficulty.
! The steamer had mounted the rocks
with shock that was felt in every
part of her hull, and all on board knew
| instantly what had happened. The
next moment the heavy southwest
swell lifted the steamer and forced her
! forward.
| A hurried inspection showed Captain
Farrell that his ship had been broken
and was filling, and also that she was
in danger of being forced across the
shoal and thrown into deep water be-
yOnd. 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 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
| seasick, and it was 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 Zambro Island, which
was hardly two miles from the place
where the steamer lay. They We're
cared for during the night, although
the accommodations were meager. The
inhabitants of the island gave up their
homes and provisions, which were
scanty. The steamers A. c. Whitney
and L. c. Boyer were dispatched from
here as soon as possible after the news
of the accident reached here, bearing
food for those at Zambro.
AT daybreak those who had come
from the Portia were taken on board
two steamers from Halifax, and they
reached here this afternoon. None of
the passengers saved their baggage,
and number reported their money and
jewels had been lost.
Captain Farrell. who left the Portia
last night to look after the safe land
ing of passengers, returned to the
scene a few hours later on Zambro
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 topmasts being visible
above the surface.