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

Melts into mercy on the heart of Christ
-Isdependens.
THE SCHILLER.
Melancholy Details of the Fatal Marine Dis.
aster-Stakements of Persons who were
saved-Captain Thomas MGood-bye, Old
Fellow, Remember Me to My Friends.r
The English papers received by Fri
days mail contain long reports of the
loss OF the Schiller, with many state
ments by survivors. All the reports
coincide in asserting that much confusion
prevailed, and all further agree in de-
scribing the conduct of Captain Thomas
in the crisis that followed the wreck as
devoted and gallant.
Silas Hexter, second cabin passen-
ger from New York, states that two
days out bad weather and rain set in,
and continued without intermission. On
the fatal Friday heavy fog came down,
growing thicker. The ship kept on at
full speed, with the sails up. till $50 P.
NJ, when she was reduced to half speed,
rate maintained till $50. s. The fog
all this time was SO thick that we could
hardly see our hands before our eyes,
Then the bell was rung again, and Just
as the bell rang I heard the ship strike
on the rocks and felt her humping. =
A great many of the male passengers
were then on deck, looking for land
which they had expected to sight at 8
o'clock; the women and children were
below. He describes scene of panic
women and children screaming and run,
ming about, and on deck ga number of
people were screaming and believing. %
He jumped into one boat, whence he
was driven by those already in it, and
on trying to enter another was told TO
let go or his hands would be cut off, FL
nally he got into another with seven
men, the fail was cut, and after some
difficulty they righted her and baled her
out. They kept rowing about tie ship
until six o'clock In the morning. He
says:
All this time the fog was very thick,
and we could see nothing but lights in
the cabin of the ship. All the time the
screaming was heartrending, but we
could see nobody on board The cries
for help lasted till about four o'clock
The last that I heard, and which [ shall
never forget, was the voice of a little
child, who was, as well as I could tell,
In the first cabin. It was about three
o'clock when the lights In the cabin, land
all the others except that at the mast
head, went out. Mixed with the heart
rending screams we heard was the loud
creaking of the ship as wave after wave
broke upon ner, the reports of which
sounded like thunder. We continued
round the ship till about six o'clock,
when the foremost with the light fell,
and then we could see nothing more of
the vessel, though we could hear the
water breaking over her, and could see
the spray dash over the hull, the masts
and the chimneys having all disap-
peared. The fog by this time had
cleared somewhat, and we could see
about thirty or forty yards.
About o'clock they picked up two
men who were floating; at s they heard
steamer and saw five or six vessels,
but these did notice them and disap-
peared. Finally they reached shoIe.
The order was given to place the women
and children first in the boats, and there
were several of them in the first boat
lowered. but it capsized.
Charles Fraham, of Davenport, Ia,
one of the two men picked up, was on
board till 4 o'clock He last saw the
captain between 1 and 2, s'very calm,
and trying to make the people keep SO. y
Half an hour after the vessel struck the
waves began to wash over her and carry
away passengers. At he was swept
off, but secured door and kept aioat.
His twin brother was washed off at the
same time and drowned
Simon Jensen, the chief boatswain,
stated that the Schiller struck about 10
o'clock. At 1870 he got into his boat
with five men and left the ship. At
11:3O he took eleven men and one wo-
man, Mrs. Jones, from the life boat,
which was sinking and unnnanaaeable.
He adds:
Mr.. Pullen, the third officer, was
amongst those rescued from the life
boat. There was great rush for the
boats, but cannot say much about what
passed ON board, because mine was the
first boat to leave the ship. The cap
tain did all he could, though it was lit
tie impression he could make on the
frightened passengers, who crowded up
the hatchways. The sea was not very
high when the Schiller struck, but it in
creased very much afterwards, and scores
OF women and children must have been
washed overheard during the night.
When the foremost went there were
about thirty five in its rigging, and only
five OF them we're saved, the fourth Off
Ger amongst them. Things were made
worse ON board the ship by the tide ris-
ing, and eventually the entire hull was
covered.
Mr.. Henry Stern, frst-cabin passen-
ger, states that the position of the YES
sci was not known till midnight, when
the fog cleared and they could see the