The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-07-12
ONLY ONE LIFE
LOST ON PORT|A
Though those on Board Es-
capped With Difficulty.
SHIP STRUCK ON ROCKS
THEN SANK IN THE DEEP
WAITER BEYOND.
A LITTLE ASSYRIAN BOY WAS DROWNED
Passengers Saved no Baggage. Halifax Steam
ers Brought Relief to those Shipwreck-
ed and TO the islanders With
Whom they look Refuge.

Halifax. \. s.. July 11.-The steamer
portia which struck ON Big Fish Shoal
fifteen miles east of Halifax last night
filled and sank during the night.~
The only victim of the wreck was 4
twelve-year-old Assyrian lad, known by
the name of Basha, who was travelling
second-class, from New York to st.
Johns, n f., where his mother lives.
The others on board the steamer in
Guiding seventy passengers and crew OF
thirty-four officers. and men, who were
landed safely mt Sambro Island, were
cared for there during the night and will
be brought here today.
The accident. which happened about {
o'clock q. m.. and which is believed to
have been due to dense fog. which
prevailed at the time. probably ends the
career of the Portia which was an iron
vessel of 723 tons fifteen years old.
The locanty in which she struck is
very dangerous. and even before she
went down it was apparent that she was
badly damaged 1t is considered proiya-
bic. however. that attempts will be made
TO reach parts of her cargo and the bag
gage Gl DPE IdSSeUSpFS.
The accounts of the wreck which have
reached here hast evening Indicated that
the passengers and crew escaped from
the ship with comparative ease. but later
reports show that the work was not ac-
coanplished without considerable Difficult
ty.
The steamer had mounted the rocks
with a shock that was felt in every part
of her hull and all on board knew imme-
diately what had happened. The next
moment the heavy southwest swell lift
ed the steamer and forced her forward.
A hurried investigation showed that she
had been broken and was filling. and also
that she was in danger of being forced
across the shoal and thrown into deep
water beyond.
The captain ordered the boats to he
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 people. A hasty search of the
vessel was made for the lost lad. but the
boy could not he found. When last seen.
he was sea-sick, and il is thought he had
crawled INTO some obscure corner to lie
down and thus escaped observation when
the scarchers tried to find him.
The shipwrecked men and women all
We're landed on Sambro Island which
was hardly two miles from the place
where the steamer lay. They were car
ed for there during the night. although
the accommodations were .neagre. The
inhabitants of the island gave mp their
homes and the provisions which were
scanty. The steamers 4. G.. Whitney
and Boyer, were dispatched from here
as soon 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 those who live on the island.
At day break. those who had come on
the Portia were taken on board the two
steamers from Halifax, and they reached
here this morning.
None of the passengers saved their
baggage. and Il 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 the passengers. returned to the scene
n few hours later on Il Sambro lobster
steamer Ii was found that the Portia
had been carried entirely over the shoal
and sunk in nine or ten fathons of Wa
ter Il short distance on the other side,
only the topmasts being visible above the
,rfa