New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-10

second. and fourth officers. AMI 20 members OF
the crew of 124 men. The Schiller carried q
cargo worth probably $15OOOO and heavy
mail, portion of which was saved.
A CATASTROPHE OFF THE CORNISH COAST.
TIE STEAMSHIP SCHILLER OF THE EAGLE LINE A
TOTAL WRECK-sCENE OF THE DIsAsTER-THE
VRssTL NOT FAR OUT OF IT'S CoCRsE-uGHr-
HOUSES AND FOG-BELL CLOSE AT HAND-THE
RIsCUING PARTIES.
The first information of this terrible catastrophe,
meager though il WAS, startled the community on
Saturday morning, and the feeling of horror was In
tensGcd when it was learned that the earliest esti-
NJ ate of the loss of life fell far short of the awful
reality The particulars of the disaster cleaned
from the Associated Press dispatches from London
and Plymouth are presented below in a connected
narrative, prominence being given 10 the latest
news
The Schiller left New-YOrk about on April 2S
setting sail for Plymouth, England, where she
10 call on her voyage to Hamburg. On the after
noon Of May Z, a heavy fog settled upon the sea-
The commander of the vessel Capt. John G. Thomas,
Seems to have had apprehensiOns Of danger, for
one of the dispatches states that the Schiller was
under full Roadway when she met her fate. The
regular course of the vessels of this line lies within
FIVE miles Of the Sicily Islands and 1t is probable
that the officers supposed that the Schiller had
passed southwark Of Poi Bank island on the edge
of the group when in reality she had gone northward
of il through the channel separating it from Bishop
Rock and Retarriere Ledge On Bishop Rock
there is lighthouse, with fogbell, which is gen
orally heard miles away. At 10 o'clock at night,
without warning the vessel struck Retarrcre Ledge
She must have been running at full speed, for she
struck "brOadsde on and went down, total
wreck The wind was blowing a gale, high sea
was running, and the fog vac very dense. Every
breaker lifted the vessel higher and drove her further
upon the rocks; and before her passengers-most OF
%hom were sleeping in their berths-could compre-
hcnd their peril the bottom and sides of the vessel
were stove in, and the water was rushing into
the hold and cabins. Many IF the passengers must
have passed almost without struggle from sleep TO
death Many who rushed from their state-rOoms
into the cabins unable 60 reach the deck. Two
of the boats which had been lowered were dashed
against The rocks, and the passengers and seamen
who were in them thrown helpless into the sea.
As the vessel, sank in four fathoms of water those
who were on deck chung desperately to the rigging.
As the hours passed the vessel began 20 break up
and the nainInAst fell with crash amid cries of
despair. The remaining mast was carried over the
side at 9 a H. and those who chDgng to it fell
into the
The Sicily Isandsfo a small circular group about
50 miles southwest of Lands End. There are perhaps
l4O Of these islands, many Of them being merely
hugo rocks. Six of them inhabited: ~. Marys
and ST. Agnes on the east, and Tresco Dryer st.
Martins and Samson further north. The rest of the
group are low islands, with abrupt sides and are
separated by shallow channels Bishop Rock with
its lighthouse and the edge of Retarriere reef are
mile TO the south Of st. Agnes Island, and vita the
exception Of Poi Bank, are on the southern edge of
the group The lighthouse on Bishop Rock, tall,
CONSPICUOUS structure, is half mile from the scene Of
the wreck; and at st. Mary's Island 10 the north,
there is another lighthouse l3s feet high. Nearly
every shoa in this group has its legend Of wreck.
An English admiral with nine ships Of the line, was
wrecked here and 3 600 men persisted and in later
years the Thames and the Duro went 20 pieces on the
same lodges, with terrible loss Of life.
On the Schiller guns Were fired and signals dis
played and the tidings Of the disaster were soon
borne 20 st. Agnes Island. In the fog and storm "a
s. Agnes boat picked up of the survivors Of the
wreck end two bodies Those who were rescued had
been washed off the rocks, and swimming with
the tide They were landed at 81. Mary's Island.
The S.illy Efe-boat set out for the scene of the
wreck and by Saturday forenoon 4 steamer and sCv-
era, boats were searching for survivors Forty three
persons in ali rescued and landed al Iresco,
Bryer, and It. Mary's Islands. The captain was
drowned but the first second, and fourth officers
were saved.
Eleven of the 141 cabin passengers, 4 Of the 100
stcerage passengers and IS of this crew of l2i men
were saved. The total number of persons on board
was 3s5. Twenty-Five sacks OF the steamships mail
were saved. Nineteen bodies were recovered among
them was a woman with a child in her arms. Small
portions of the cargo were also recovered.
The agent Of the Eagle Company left Plymouth Oh
Saturday morning for the scene of the wreck. Later
in the day the survivors and portion Of the mails
reached Penzance. Those who are going TO Cher
bourg and Hamburg Will be sent to their dcstina-
tons by the steamship POmmerania 0fthe Hamburg
American Line, now her way from New-l DIRK.
The news of the disaster caused great excitement in
London, and extras containing the first dispatches
were soon in the streets.
LATER PARTICULARS.OF THE DISASTER.
ARRIVAL OF SURVIVORS AT PENZANCE - CAPT.
THOMAS PRAISED FOR HIS CONDUCT RIG
"