The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1875-05-20
APPALLING DISASTER.
The Loss of the Steamship Schiller-Over
800 Lives Observation-Disclosures of the
AwfuI Calamity.

The Loss of the Steamship schiller-Over
800 Lives Sacrifced-ParticuIars 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 8th of May, and over 300
persons persisted. The Scilly Islands, a
group of about lao islets and rocks, lie
off the southwest coast of England, about
thirty miles from Lands End. The To-
cation has always been q dangerous one
for shipping, and many horrible wrecks
have taken place in the vicinity. The
voyage of the Schiller was moderately
good until May T. The last three days
it was impossible to take observations.
The ship was out of her course half a
mile at the time of the catastrophe.
The New York HerGlds 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 q 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 q cowardly
manner, refusing aid. Two boats were
saved. The Captain endeavored to COM
pei obedience by firing 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 2 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 a ghastly
silence aft. The smokestack fell, crush
ing some of the boats and two others
were carried away. The remainder fol-
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
q moment to render assistance and was
swept away. Thus pefished 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 I
o'clock the mainmast, and at a quarter
to the foremast, both of iron, fell; then
two of the st. Agnes boats came and
rescued the few who had managed tc
keep afoat. 1t was reported yesterday
that there were lob women Oh
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 thai
life-saving belts were issued to women
1t is certain that most of the passenger
found none. An order was given thai
the first boat should take the women and
children. This boat capsized. Polemar
says that seven boats were launched, and
only two lived. The others were stave6
and swamped Immediately. The cries
for help lasted until o'clock. The las
voice heard was that of little child il
the cabin. It is not probable the boat
could have lived even if they hat
been successfully filed. The whole
number saved is forty-four. Thirt.
bodies have been recovered"
The number of lives lost by this terri
BILE calamity is not exactly known, but i
believed it will reach $50. There wer,
over one hundred women on board
all of whom. with one solitary ex
ception, persisted. The passenger
were nearly all Germans. The crew con
sisted of about 120 men. The passen
gers in all numbered: Cabin, 149
steerage, LOG adults, 16 children, and J..
infants. Many of the lost passenger
belonged in Chicago, Milwaukee, De
troit, Davenport, and other Western
cities.
The Schiller was one of the newes
and best boats in the transcontinenta
service. Her dimensions were: Length
375 feet; beam, 40 feet; depth of hold
80 feet; $500 tons burden, and 300
indicated horsepower. She was valued
at 800, 900, and'was insured for her full
value. Her cargo was valued at $3.50,
600, and was fully insured. She ais
carried six kegs, containing 100000 i
gold, and $50 mail-bags, containing tn