The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-08-05
THE WRECK OF THE SCHILLER.

STORY OF THE ONLY LADY SURVIVOR OF TIKI
ILL-FATED STEAMER.
The details OF the loss OF the steamship Schiller
OF the Eagle line, are still too vivdly impressed
upon the memory OF the reading public to require
recapitulation. The total number OF souls on
board the Inflated schiller wnen she struck on
the rocks, near the Scly Islands, was 1855. Ufthis
mum Ger forty-four were saved, fifteen only being
passengers There were 103 women registered on
the passenger list, ard. Notwithstanding the fact
that every effort possible was made by the ofncers
OF the snip to secure the prior decentralization OF
the women and children, only one woman lives
out OF all the above number to tell the story OF
that horrible night. This female survivor OF he
Schiller arrived in New York yesterday by the
steamship Suevla of the Hamburg-AmerIcan
packet line. Her name Is Mrs. Joens. Although
she was only able to express herself very I'm.
perfectly in English with the help Of her husband,
Mr. John Joens, who acted as Interpreter the fol-
lowing interesting facts were procured from her
by the writer:-
STATEMENT OF MRS. JoENs.
NY name Is Christina Joens Myself and hus-
band reside in Davenport, Iowa. In the latter
part OF April OF this year we decided upon trip
TO Scnleswg, our native province, Tor the purpose
oil visiting friends and relatives. AS you already
know, we embarked on board the Schiller, and
all went wei until the nignt OF the 7th of May.
As nearly as can remember now, 1t was about ten
r. N. when my husband suggested that we saoud
take look at Things on deck. We were in the
cabin at the time. AS We started TO 80 up tne
stairway felt sudden shock, and in an instant
/ appreciated the terrible TACT that the vessel had
struck. was almost wild with terror, but my
husband hurried NE up tue stairway only to find
that our worst Tears were realized. ALI was con.
fusion, put our personal safety was the first tnng
to be thought OF; SO Jumped INTO lifeboat which
was hanging a. tae side OF the ship, swung from
the davits. There was sometn!ng the matter with
the gear, however, and we were compelled TO get
out again, and were put into another OF the
boats. 1hey were iuIl OF water, ana the people
VINO mad jumped or got into them the best
way they could were crushing and even tramplng
on each otner had been severely bruised from
my leap Into the first boat AMI was stlll more Sc
verely injured while IN the second. AS told you
the boats were full Of water, ana the second one
which We got into nad good oeal oil trouble 10
getting away from the side OF the ship. IL seemed
even then as though we we're
DOOMED NOT TO ESCAPE
the fury OF the Storm, 1or were tossed abouttn
the darkness for nearly two hours the boat all the
time being In sinking condItlon. Finally We leH
In with another boat which took our party. For
ten hours more our fate hung IN the balance SO
Tor Twelve hours, bruised, FAINT and terror,
stricken | sat nuddIed up in an open GOAT. If /
was asked which was the sweetest moment Of my
lie should say 10 was when my feet touched tae
shore OF the island wnen we landed. wat TO say
tnaJ the treatment we received on landing was oil
the Klndest and most hOspiaole CHARACTER, even
more so than our reception at Plymouth. one
vIvor OF the schiller. but in the second BOAT which
we got into there was another lady lying In the
DEAD WHEN WE LANDED.
In the crush and horror OF the scene she was
trampled upon; out whether she died from fright,
or terror, or exhaustion, am unaole to say. II
rhe reporter subsequently learned from the
husband OF Mrs. Joens that afer they had par
italy recovered from the effects OF tue terrible
ordeal through when they nad passed they went
20 their native town In ScnleswIg wnerc they
spent upward Of seven weeks in recuperating
tneir strength. Naturally enough his wne had
stroug reluctance 10 again crossing the ocean,
aud 1t was only after the most earnest persuasion
mat she coulo be induced TO undertake
the voyage. All OF their material interests
were IN Davenport, Iowa. They were possessed OF
considerable properly near there in real estate,
ana so hnaliy, his wife was prevailed upon TO
cross the ocean AGAIN. All tue way over, now
ever, she was IN constant dread and did not sleep
! an h0ur during any night Mrs. JOens Is rudy,
! pleasant looking LADY, apparently about thirty
i've years of age. While sue told her story, IL
! evidently more with desire TO oDlige tnan rom
| any wish TO dwell upon subject which must be
] replete with painful recollectons.