The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-09
SCENE OF THE Catastrophe.

The Scilly Islands form q group about thirty
miles west southwest OF Lands End Cornwall, Eng
land They consist OF about forty isets and rocks.
st. Mary's, 10 which the survivors have been con-
veyed, rs the largest Of these islands. and Hugh
Town, It's capital is the seat OF government
Communication with the main land is maintained
by regular packets The Sicily Islands, TO which
most painful interest is now attached, lie compar-
9tivey so low-tne highest land in them not ex-
ceeding 300 feet-that although when the distance
is clear they may De always seen rom the high
ground about Lands End, they not visible
when approached from the east until you are
hall way over. Their first appearance is very
irregular The OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, ST. Mary's
ana st. Martins which happen also to
be the two largest, are, OF course. the most con-
spicuous, bur, as they are separated from each
other by a considerable sound, several Others, and
many ocks are seen through them ana I'LL uD the
background. IL should oe observed that those
only are considered ISLANDS on which there IS any
greensward-the rest are rocks-and that OF the
isles, though they are forty IN number, only SIX
able, and often OF the most fantastic shapes, and
the whole group, scattered as they are over many
miles OF water In detached and irregular shapes,
form O complete archipelago, resembling the
lagoons OF Venice or the coast OF Norway, or re-
min ding one OF the line OF the inner Hebrides
which one threads between the Caledonian Canal,
and Oban. As one nears st. Mary'B Bryher
ana sampson disclose themselves on the right.
and as you round the point and stand for the har-
bor st. Agnes, with Its church, village and beacon
opens out on the left; behind which again but
seven miles further west, the Bishops Rock Light
house "a lofty and conspicuous object, OF late years
constructed and reconstructed on the dangerous
rock, ano yet giving the name to the whole, form,
as IL we're the rearguard OF the ION" Islands, on
these eoSs Of scy as ey have BEEN
wen called have been at all times num-
erous ana neartrendlng. The loss OF the
steamer Thames on her passage from Dub
lin TO London, when only four out OF sixty-nve
were saved and OF the Duro, with all hands, have
wen known that IN 1907 SIR Cloudesley Shovel's
squadron returning from Toulon, with several
here on the 'sGistonen rock. with loss OF 1000
lives, including the Admiral. There were miracu-
lous escapes in that catastrophe. sir George
nemer" rock that he had IL under bis main chains,
and as the snip passed u Knocked on the larboard
quarter gallery. The St. George, commanded by
Lord Dursey. escaped as narrowly She struck
on the same rock with the nagship; but the very
wave which beat out the nights OF the latter lifted
the St. George from the rocks and set her anoat
again,
these shores have ever been, Providence has made
them sIngularly livabe Tor their own small popu-
lation. Not only are several OF the Islands aces
sble TO eacn eLner at low water, and, from the
mutual protection they arord, capable of supply
ing many safe anchorages, but from the frequent
Entertainments OF the sea, many isthmuses nave
been formed, OF when one slde or the other is
always In smooth water. This 10 especially the
case with st. Mary's, where the New Town
extends literally from "the one sea 10
the other,n and has, consequently,
double beach ana Husb ToTn scene ooo o.
boys know IL Is the capital Of ScIly-s very TIDY
little place, having population OF l. 600 with one
principal street lying north and south, good
roadsted, a modern Gothic church, two very Loier-
able INNS, an ugly dwarf windmill, perched on the
both II and the general view OF the town q fine
EliZaoethan fortress, which, enough ungarrisoned
might cover. some Excellent pnotoaraph,c snons
ana q few smart private residences.