Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-06-09

uO NONdSC Was SdOly GNSAUluI. uSU
past the Rundlestone small pieces of
wreck were met with, and shortly after
wards mail bag of New Zealand papers
was recovered. Proceeding on, the
wreck increased, until suddenly the
order to stop was given. A dead body
had been sighted. A beat was lowered,
and the body of man, who, Judging
by his clothes, was formerly steward Of
the Schiller, was brought on board. A
life-belt was still attached to the body.
One hundred and forty dollars were
found in the pockets. Two more
bodies were sighted, but the boat failed
to reach them. At Scilly we found all
the masts with their flags half-mast
high, and a heavy gloom seemed to be
settled over the isles. st. Mary's pier
was crowded. Close by, in q spacious
court yard, preparations were being
made for the decent interment of bodies
that had come ashore. The funeral
was singularly impressive. All business
was suspended, and the whole of the
inhabitants attended. The islands can
not boast Of hearse or mourning coach,
and to have carried by hand thirty seven
bodies would have been more than
the limited male population of St.
Mary's could have accomplished.
And yet the spectacle was exceedingly
solemn. It moved the stoutest to tears.
The coffins we're borne on the little two
wheeled carts, drawn by the shaggy
ponies of the island. Each pony was
led, and so slowly did the procession
move in single file that it was long ere
the thirty seventh cart passed out of the
spacious courtyard. All the collins
were painted black, and every one was
bestrewn with flowers gathered from
the blooming gardens of the Scillonians.
Though far away from their homes, the
deceased were not buried without some
token of loving care. Herr Reiderer-
one Of the saved, followed behind the
coffin containing the bodies of his wife
and child. Around one coffin were
gathered the Good Templars Of the
island; some token found on the body,
revealed to them that the deceased be-
longed to that order. The place of in
terment was mile away from the pier.
The way to it lay over rugged road,
commanding q view to the seaall round.
In the church yard two large graves had
been dug, and into them the collins
were piled. Two interments had taken
place previously, but in view of the
large number of bodies to be buried, it
was found impossible to have single
graves for all. M
It appears, says the Daily News, that
on the fatal Friday night there had
been party on board in honor of the
off 1,r,%+ tho o11nu,oI
to interfere with the efficient working Of
the steamer. The party had broken up
some time before the Schiller ran on the
Retarrier lodges, and all the officers
were in their places. Though it was
the mates watch the captain was on the
bridge.
The manner inwhich the women chung
to the captain was most heartrending,
and when duty compelled his attend
ance in another part of the ship he had
to use main force to clear himself of
them.
The engineers and stokers did very
plucky thing. After the ship had
struck they went below, shut off steam,
and put out the fire so as to prevent an
Perhaps this goes some way
to explain how it is that no engineer and
only one stoker is amongst those saved.
Several made the mistake of flashing
themselves to the iron masts and rigging,
SO that when the masts went the people
were carried to the bottom without any
chance of rising. Mr.. Stern, one of the
saloon passengers saved, lad dashed
himself by a sip-knot, and when he felt
the mast going he released himself.
Notwithstanding this he was carried to
she bottom, but, being free, he soon
roses and, fortunately, I. . to life
buoy and a spar, with which he sup
ported himself till picked up by the
boat of st. Agnes.