Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-05-14
DEATH AT SEA.


THREE HUNDRED AND FoRTY-TWo
LIVES LosT-oNLY ELEVEN OUT OF
ONE HUNDRED CABIN PASSENGERS
SAVED,
&C., &C., &c.
On Friday night last the German Steam
or, Schiller, on her way from New York
to Hamburg was wrecked off the Sicily
Islands just as she was entering the Eng
llsh channel. Of the 1856 persons on board
only 43 were saved. There was a heavy
fog prevailing but the officers were run
ming her through at high rate OF speed
when she struck at 10 O'Clock at night,
going to pieces in twelve hours. Among
those who were lost were Miss Crosby,
daughter of Hon. Watson Crosby, of Low
ell, Mass; Miss S. Dimmock, a female
physician of Boston: Miss M. Crane, Of
Washington, u. g.; Mrs. Ridgeway, of
st. Louis, who was on her way to visit the
graves Of two daughters in Europe; G. G.
Leonhart, Of Augusta, Ca, with his
family; Herman Spritz, a prominent mer-
chant of Macon, Ca; A. Waterman, of
Hawkinsville, Ga; Zach, German con-
sui at Havana, and his wife and daughter,
and Max. Cohen, of Montezuma, Ga.
STATEMENT OF SOME WHO WERE SAVED.
Mr.. POLICEMAN, the second officer Of the
Schiller, Henry Stern and MI. Fraham,
first-class passengers, state that the voyage
was moderately good until May 4th. Tie
last three days it. was Impossible to take
observations. The ship was out OF her
course half a mile at the time of the catas-
throphe. Captain Thomas was on deck
night and day for four entire days. At
seven O'Clock in the evening of the 7th
there was dense fog. The sails were
taken in, the engine put on half-speed and
the fog-bell used. Bishops light was un-
seen, though only half mile distant. At
10 O'Clock the steamer struck on the reef,
and after four bumps settled down.
There was violent sea and the tide was
rising. The darkness was intense. Most
of the male passengers were awake, and
there was the usual rush for boats, but
! nearly all the boats were STAYED. One
boat, with few sailors left the ship cow
ardly refusing others. Two boats were
saved. The captain endeavored to compel
obedience by
FIRING A REVOLVER
over their heads. During two hours six
cannon shots were fired, when the powder
dampened. Distress signals, rockets and
blue lights were unanswered. At mid.
night the fog lifted a minute, revealing
the lighthouse, the waves sweeping the
decks and carrying away the 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
heartrending. Then followed a CHASTITY
silence. The smoke stack fell, crushing
some of the boats, and two others were
carried away. The remainder followed
the captain to the forward bridge. Each
| succeeding wave took fresh victims. Some
persons sought
REFUGE ON THE MAINMAsr
and some on the foremost At three
O'Clock the captain and two other officers
were on the bridge. The captain descend
| ed for moment to render assistance and
was swept away. At this time about ter
persons were clinging to the rigging Of the
mainmast and about thirty to that of the
foremost. The ship had careened, hel
yards touching the water, and the tide
was rising. At five O'Clock the fog lifted
| The survivors shouted, but their cries
were unavailing. At O'Clock she main
mast, and at quarter to s the foremost
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
lob women on board. The survivors were
taken from Penzace to Plymouth, whence
| they will be sent forward to Hamburg
where the greatest excitement prevails
| 1t is asserted that
| LIFE SAVING BELTS
were issued to the women. 1t is certain
that most of the passengers found more
| An order was given that the first boai
shoald take the wSmen and children. r. is
| boat was capsizel. POLICEMAN says sever
boats were launched and only two lived
| The Others were slowed and sWamped i'm
mediately. The cries for help lasted un
| til three O'Clock. The last voice hearC
was that of a little child in the cabin
lived even if they had been successfully
filed. The whole number saved is forty
four.
| THE NEWS IN NEW YORK.
| The offices of the Eagle line in New Yorl
were opened early Sunday morning, ano
| continued open throughout the entire day
| in order that the heartstricken relatives
and mourning friends of those who had
taken passage on board Of the Inflated
steamer Schiller might be afforded an op
portunity of ascertaining the latest intel
| ligence from the scene of the disaster A
constant stream of visitors kept pouring
| into the Office of the company from about
| ten a. M. until the closing of the office at
| five in the evening. A list of the saved
| was posted upon the cashiers desk and
| these who came in search of news were
permitted to peruse the dispatches. 1t was
plainly visible, however, that but little,
| if any, consolation was to be derived from
such meagre and unsatisfactory intel
| ligence. What had become of their
mothers, wives, sisters, and sweethearts?
Was this to be repetition of the Atlantic
disaster? Were there no women saved?
AFFECTING SCENE.
One of the most affecting scenes occurred
when two young men whose wives had not
been reported among the saved sought in
formation concerning them They were
Herma an Furst and Louis v. Holtzmeister.
The former appeared almost heartbroken
when the news Of the loss of his young
wife and his only child, three years Of age,
was confirmed. After standing few min
utes, as if lncredulous of the sad tidings.
he sad down with bowed head and de-
jected appearance. Then he arose and
walked slowly out, leaning upon his cane
and looking vacantly around. Mr.. Holtz-
meister was deeply affected by the death
of his wife, to whom he had been married
only recently. He went from the Office
and returned several times, anxiously hop
ing for more cheering reports.
Miss Ann PAMELA Cunningham, the late
lady regent of Mt. Vernon, died at her
home, Rosemont, Laurence county, S. c.,
on the I'd instant. She was honorably dis
tinguished for her successful exertiops to
recover the Mount Vernon property from
embarrassment.