The true northerner., 1875-05-14
APPALLING DISASTER.

The Loss of the Steamship schiner-Over
800 Lives Observation-Disclosures of the
Awful Calamity.
The steamship Schiller, which sailed
from New York on April % for Hamburg,
was wrecked off the Scilly Islands on the
morning of the Sth of May, and over 300
persons perished. The Scilly Islands, a
group of about 140 islets and rocks, lie
off the southwest coast of England, about
thirty miles from Lands End. The To-
cation has always been dangerous one
for shipping, and many horrible wrecks
have taken place III the vicinity. The
voyage of the Schiller was moderately
good until May 4. The last three days
I it was impossible to take observations.
The ship was out of her course half a
mile Mt the time of the catastrophe.
The New York HerdId's correspondent
interviewed Mr.. POLICEMAN, second officer
OF the lost steamer, and Mr.. Stern, one
of the passengers, and from them gained
the following narrative of the disaster /:
Capt. Thomas was on deck night and
day for four entire days. At o'clock
in the evening of the 7th there was a
dense fog. The sails were taken in, the
engines put on half-speed, and the fog
bells were used. Bishops Light was
unseen, though only half mile distant.
At 10 o'clock we struck on reef, and,
after four bumps, the steamer settled
down. There was violent sea and the
tide was rising. The darkness was in
tense. Most of the male passengers
were awake, and there was the usual
rush for the boats, but nearly all the
boats were STAYED. One boat with few
sailors left the ship in cowardly
manner, refusing aid. Two boats were
saved. The Captain endeavored to COM
pei obedience by firing n revolver over
their heads. During two hours six can
non shots were fired, when the powder
dampened. Distress signals, rockets
and blue lights were unanswered. At
midnight the fog lifted, in minute re-
vealing the lighthouse. The waves were
still sweeping the decks and carrying
away victims. At o'clock the deck
house, in which were the women and
children, was swept away. The cries
and shrieks of the victims were heart
rending. There followed ghastly
silence aft. The smokestack fell, crush
ing some of the Eoats and two others
Ntlt IlC lOl-
lowed the Captain to the forward bridge.
Each succeeding wave took fresh victims
Some sought refuge in the mainmast and
some on the foremast. At o'clock the
Captain and two other officers were on
the bridge. The Captain descended for
moment to render assistance and WAS
swept away. Thus perished a brave
man, says Mr.. Stern. At this time |
about ten persons were ciinging to the |
rigging of the mainmast, and thirty to |
that of the foremast. The ship had ca
reened, her yards touching the water,
and the tide was rising. At o'clock |
the fog lifted and the survivors shouted,
but their cries were unavailing. At Z |
o o'clock the mainmast, and Mt quarter
to s the foremast, both of iron, fell; then
two of the ST. Agnes boats came and
rescued the few who had managed to
keep afoat. 1t was reported yesterday
that there were 103 women on
board. The survivors were taken
to-day from Penzance to Plym-
outh, whence they will be sent
forward to Hamburg, where there is the
greatest excitement. 1t is asserted that
fe-sayinp belts were issued to women.
It is certain that most of the passengers
found none. An order was given that
The first boat should take the women and
children. This boat capsized. Poleman
,ays that seven boats were launched, and
)nly two lived. The others were staved {
md swamped Immediately. The cries !
or help lasted until o'clock. The last :
,oice heard was that of little child in
he cabin. 1t is not probable the boats {
,ould have lived even if they had '
,een successfully filed. The whole !
lumber saved 10 forty-four. Thirty !
,odies have been recovered. '
The number of lives lost by this terri t
lie calamity is not exactly known, bat it -
elieved it will reach $50. There were
yer enc hundred women ON board,
Il of whom. with one solitary ex- Q