Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-07-12
WRECK OF THU PORTIA
Tourists Steamer Sinks Not Far From
Hail aN.
LIVES SAVED BY GOODNESS.
All Of the Passengers, with the Ex-
ception of II Small Boy, Safe
" Landed From the
Doomed Vessel.


which struck on Big Fish shoal 10 miles
east of Halifax, filled and sank later
The only victim of the wreck was L.
yearold Assyrian lad known by the
name of Basha, who was travelling sec
ond class from New York to st. Johns,
y. F., where his mother lives.
The others on board the steamer, in
GLIDING 70 passengers and crew OF ~
officers and men, who were landed sarely
at Sambro island, were cared for there
during the night and We're brought here
during the day.
The accident, which happened at about
7 o. 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 all iron vessel OF
1872 tons, Is years old. The locality in
which she struck Is very dangerous, ana
even before she went down it was ap-
parent that she was badly damaged. III
ia considered probable, however, that at
tempts will be made to reach parts or
her cargo and the baggage of her passen'
gers.
The accounts of the wreck which first
reached here indicated that the passen-
gers and crew escaped from the doomed
ship with comparative ease, but later re-
ports show that the work was not ac-
complished without considerable dill
Guilty, and that the safe removal OF all
save one Of those on board was nu"
mainly to the conduct of those involved,
which is spoken of in the highest terms.
Terrific Shock.
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 but
keen inspection showed Captain Farrell
that his ship had been broken and was
filing, and also that she was in danger or
being forced across the shoal and thrown
into deep water beyond.
He ordered the boats to be made ready
at once. This was done and the passen-
gers, including about 80 women filled
them without confusion, although the
dangerous swell added peril to the pro-
ceeding. As the passengers took their
places 1t was discovered that the Assyri-
an lad was missing A hasty search Of
the vessel was made. but the boy could
not be found When last seen he was
sensick. and it is thought he had crawl
ed into some obscure corner to lie down
and thus escaped observation when the
searchers tried to find him.
The shipwrcckea men and women all
were landed on Sambro island, which
was hardly two miles from the place
where the steamer luy. They were
oltb,,1oh tho n
dations were meager. The inhabitants
of the island gave up their homes and
their provisions, which were scanty. The
were dispatched from here as soon as
possible after the news of the accident
reached here, bearing food for those at
Sambro. The arrival of the steamers
early In the morning brought great relief
to the shipwrecked men and women, as
well as to those who live at the island.
Brought to Halifax.
Those who had come from the Portia
were taken on board the two steamers
from Halifax, and they reached here
soon after.
Nearly all of them showed evidences
of their experiences as, they stepped
ashore at the Red Cross line wharf. The
women especially looked tired and dis
tracted. On all sides expressions Of graf
itude at deliverance from the dangers
of the night We're heard. Many We're
without head covering. Only two or three
carried satchels, while larger pieces of
baggage We're nowhere in evidence. 1t
was clear that everything of their ordi-
nary 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 very heavy loss of valuables.
Captain Farrell, WHO left the portia to
look after the safe landing of his pas
sengers, returned to the scene Il few
hours later on a Sambro lobster steam
er 1t was found that the Portia had
been carried entirely over the shonl and
sunk In nine or ten fathoms of water,
short distance on the other side, only the
topmasts being visible above the surface,