The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-05-13
TERRIBLE DISASTER.
WRECK OF THE STR. SCHILLER.
Three Hundred and Fifty Lives Believed to haYf
Been Lost.
An Awful Scene of Destruction,
Terror and Confusion.

C11 VI Ctuu OOu1 uS1OAs
Scores Of People Killed, Manned, and
Drowned.
New YORK, May 6.-A cable dispatch
from London announces the destruction
of the steamer Schiller, of the Eagle
Line, Capt. John G. Thomas, which
sailed from New York April %, and the
loss of at least 200 persons. The Schil-
Ter was bound for Hamburg, via Ply
mouth, and Cherbourg, and at 10 o'clock
last night, in heavy fog, struck upon
one of the dangerous Retorriere lodges
off the Scilly Islands, 80 miles west
southwest of Lands End, Cornwall. a
heavy sea was raging at She time, and
the vessel filed and went down before
the boats could be lowered. According
to the story of some of the survivors,
many perished before they could reach
| the rocks others were washed off and
drowned. The Scilly lifeboat, and
boat from st. Agnea, southwest of the
group, were dispatched to the spot, but
the sea was running SO high that they
| were of little assistance. A few of the
| survivors were rescued from the water
and picked up with difficulty, after float
ing with the tide for long distance.
The Schiller was found lying broadside
| on the rocks and hopeless wreck. The
excitement in London on learning the
news, was intense, and all the pa
pers published extras giving meagre ac-
counts Of the disaster. The officers of
the company were besieged by an eager
crowd anxious to learn the fates of their
relatives and friends, but the news which
arrived was Of SO slender description
that but little could be told them. The
names Of those saved were telegraphed,
but not with sufficient accuracy to allay
any of the apprehension felt by relatives
and friends. Later in the day news was
received from Penzance that twenty-six
more had been saved.
LONDON. May 9.-Forty- three sr1rvi-
vors of the crew and passengers
of the steamer Schiller have arrived
at Penzance. OF these thirty three
have gone to Plymouth. The remain
ing ten are too i'll to be moved. The
following
ADDTTI ONAL PARTICUL. RS
of the disaster are received: A heavy
fog prevented observations on board the
Schiller since Tuesday. In consequece
speed and sail reduced at 9 O'clock Fri
the ship struck a ledge. A great panic
prevailed.
A NOBLE CAPTAIN,
Capt. Thomas is highly praised for
his conduct during the terrible scenes
which followed. Two boats were filled
with men, who refused to come out.
The captain fired his revolver over their
heads to drive them out, and then fired
at them, but without effect. Afterwards
the ship was washed with her broad
side to the sea and
The tackle at the sterns was released
too soon, leaving the boats suspended
by the bows Three boats then got
away. One, Hfeboat, was so badly
injured that she sunk, and eleven Of the
people on board were rescued by the
other boats. The fog lifted an hour
| after the steamer struck and the lights
| were plainly visible Two of the boats
| on the steamer were crushed by the
| falling of the funnel. Rockets and guns
powder became wet.
people, was swept away at 2 a. N. The
Captain gathered some of the survivors
on the bridge.
ALL WE'RE GRADUALLY SWEPT AWAY
| by the flood tide, which took the doctor
and Captain last The rigging which
remained above water was crowded with
passengers and crew all night. The
mainmast fell at 7 80 a. M, and, being
| of iron, sunk with all who had taken
refuge on it. The foremast gave way
soon. AFTERWARDS, Life-boats and wreck
stuff saved the lives of some who drifted
| miles away. One man was secured af-
ter being
IN THE WATER TEN HOURS.
Two boats from st. Agnes arrived a
short time before the masts fell. They
were unable to approach the steamer on
account of the shoals, but picked up
stragglers in the water.
THE CAPTAIN PERIsHEs
The passengers say Capt. Thomas left
the bridge at 3 a. N. to assist those on
deck, and, when he reached the bridge,
was swept awav by heavy sea. All
concur In saying he exercised the great
est care, and was not abed for five nights
previous to the disaster. The sea begs n
to break over the vessel half an hour
after she struck, and
THE TIDE ROSE % FEET
before daybreak. Only one woman was
saved The survivors who were landed
at Tresco escaped In the Schiller's OWL
boats.
THE DEAD AND THE QUICK.
New YORK, May 9.-The Herald's
cable special supplies the following from
London. The survivors and the dead
arrived to-day In Penzance as fo lows:
At 8 o'clock there came a boat with
seven persons, at 10 o'clock two boots
with seven persons, two of them were
dead; and, at II o'clock, there came