The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-14
THE SCHILLER.

OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION OF THE CAUSES
WHICH PRODUCED THE LATE TERRIBLE
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES INVESTIGATION
IN LoNDoN-THE TESTIMONY TAKEN
The ofncial inquiry ordered by the British Board
OF Trade, with the acquescence OF the German
government, into the loss OF the steamer SCHILLER
was commenced on the lst or June, at Greenwich
Police Court before Mr.. Pasteson, who was as
sisted by Captain Harris and Captain Pryce,
nautical assessors. Mr.. Charles Bowen Instructed
by the solicitor for the Board OF Trade, appeared
for the Board Mr. Mansel Jones, instructed by
Messrs. Freshflelds, for the German Transatlantic
steam Navigation Company OF Hamburg, owners
OF the Schiller; MT. Batten, instructed by Mr.
Leonard, for the relatives or the Captain. DR..
MuhlDerg the German Vice Consul, and Mr.. A.
Dorrien smith, or Tresco, occupied seats upon the
bench.
THE TESTIMONY.
The nrst onicer OF the Schiller Mr.. Heinrich
Hiners, was examined, ana according TO his evil
dence there were hfeboats and life belts enough
TO save every soul on board; he admitted that the
vessels OF THIS company signal at Scily In order
that their arrival may be teisgraphed 20 Plymouth,
but ne said that In mis- experience the signals used
were one rocket, one blue light, one fire ball; the
Schiller was out OF ner reckoning; they thought
they were twenty-five miles from lana; tney had
had fog Tor three days, had been unable TO take
observations and had not once cast tue lead;
there was moderate breeze; he could not see
anything OF the rock on which she struck; directly
after she struck she turned half round II ON west
TO east, and so she lay about east and west; wit
ness went Immediately after the vessel struck, by
oruer OF the captain, 10 clear tue boats; the sec
ond officer came on the bridge as ne was going
and asked the captain what was to oe done; wit
ness Odd not hear the answer; the captain had not
then said any lhng about where the ship was he
heard The storekeeper tell the second mate that
the ore part OF the vessel was fun OF water; she
had seven water-tght compat tments; the second
officer went TO the engine-room-
THE BOATS.
ntnhf hnala all ahaff fho hriA
four on eacn side, all on davis; six OF she boats
were constructed TO hold eighty eignty-nve
men eacn in line weather, the other TWO 10 hoid
about forty; they were all lileboats, even the
smaller pes, the gigs; ne went 1rst 10 boat No. 5,
which was the secono rom , we stern on me ssaI,
many Jumped In; heavy sea came wnich raised
the BOAT the afterpart unlocked aud the boat went
straight up; many OF the people Tell INTO the water,
and one OF the sailors cut the boat adrlt; the
boat fell into the water; ne then went 10 No. 4,
which they swung out-board, but did not launch
II because the sea was too high; he only sue
ceeded In laun ching one ooat-No. 7, which was
one OF the gigs; the other beats were succsssiyey
the boat No. was lowered At eleven
successfully lowered; she remained near tho
ship during the nlgnt and in me morning picked
ofilcers assigned; he was stationed at No. l, but
that boat was Knocked away, and he was saved
No. boat in the morning; NO. BOAT was washed
on land without anybody IN IL; It's ofncer was the
second carpenter, ana nc Jumped out DAck into
the snip as IL was struck DJ leAVy sea which
THs BISHOPS ROCK LIGHT AND THE SIGNALS OF
DISTRESS
The tide was by tuis time between ten and
eleyenl about one-third food he dld see tue lght
from the Bishops Rock alter they struck; he
could not say at what time they saw it ABOUT hair
an hour after they struck, but only for a short
time; he ola not near any bell 1t an cannon were
fired rom the snip and rockets were tnrown up,
ana nreballs half an hour alter she struck; they
had 20 bring the cannons out 70 get them into
rHE IIFE-BUoYs AND DECK DISCIPLINE.
There were twelve circular lne-ouoys on board;
the leboats were MADE lieDoats oy cork; the
number OF their crew was painted on them, not
the total number they could carry; the number
they were capable OF carrying was guess Of MS;
he himself had been master; ne assented 10 Mr..
Jonesis suggestions that the crew was a good
crew, 200 IN number, tnat the captain was steady,
sober and meteorological, aud that discipline was
maintained up 10 the last
TESTIMONY OF MR. PoLLMANN THE SECOND NATE.
Erdwin Pollmaun was the next witness lie
was second mate OF the Scalller, and had been In
the compaay's service since January, 1874, all
that time IN the Schiller under Captain Thomas;
twelve 70 four and from SIX TO eight; shortly
after SIX O'Clock he made a compass observation
ana the result was that the after compass
west: IL was tue standard compass; al eight
o'clock he went oe,oS 70 tell the captain
captain came up from supper; shortly after
O'Clock In the afternoon Of tnat day witness had
conversation with the captain as 10 the position
OF the ship; ne went down VITA the captain into
the cnart room TO consult the cnart aRd the cap
tam showed witness upon the chart the positIon
OF tue snip at noon that was 40 deg. so an. north
latitude and Longitude 10 deg. y min. vest they
then took the compass and measured up to the
BtsaOp, ana witness asked the captain how many
miles lt was to the Bishop; he said a0Out $50; they
calculated how many hours II would take them 70
see the Bisnop ght; the speed OF the ship then
was about fourteen knots; they calculated upon
seeing the ngnt about niue O'Clock; the weather
was then covered but not ioggy; he explained
covered os overcast" "cloudy;p toe captain
expressed no anxiety or Couot; he
thought he distributed forty Lie-belts; all ne saw
Vent 20 boat No. S; tue captain sang
out and OToered witness TO 90 IA the boat;
the captain was standing close 20 the boat;
40 crowded in; the Captain told witness 10 ning
them sut by force, as they would not come out:
ne ordered them 30 come out, and thea nred bis
revolver over their heads two or three times; the
boat was then swung outooard tue captain told
he would get them all ashore; the waves came
right over the boat and some we're lrghte ca and
Wv oss yI awsy and ~ Iesern@ wave qos mold Of
the boat and the after tackle unlocked, and the
fore tackle Rot foul round mans leg. and the
man was carried mp 10 the davlt; tHe boat was
then hanging do wn aud witness was thrown into
tue water; afterward the boat gog clear nom the
ope OF the sailors drawing him in tnere were be.
lore ne was thrown out about forty the boat,
and wnen ne was picked Up there were twelve IN
boat; they mad slowed themselves under tne
tnwarts; 81 tue twelve seven were Of the
male passengers ana one lady; the boat was then
iuli OF water; they had to stand IN her, ana the
water reached TO his breast; the oars had Deen
carried away; afterward he saw the line OF the
ship saw the rockets and heard the guRs; 40
they passed the ship he heard the captains voice
ana be believed that OF tue chief oalcer, and no
heard his own name called; he could not answer,
he had swallowed 80 mucA water; before they
lett the saip they had nred guns, enc or two
perhaps; after she struck IL was perhaps an hour
when he LETT; he heard the captain order the
guns TO be nred as he was coming mp to sue boat
by MT. Mansel JoRes-The charge oil the guns
was bag about TWO hand breadtBs; IL would
make very considerable report; tney nsa the In
ternational Code Of signals on board ana used
that; they had other codes besdes-Aarryatts;
they had deviation CARDS, which were kept Ia the
chart room, hanging up, and he had access ~
them at ali times.
BY Mr.. Batten-The captain sometimes lay down
in tne cnars room, tnongh he mad a cabin OF his
own he was during the last few days 10 the chart
room Tor the most part In the chart room IN tnab
conyeTsauon witness saw the captains reckoning
and Ii was right; he did rot see any OF Htllyers;
he usually die reckon with the captain, whose
reckoning was very accurate; tney always saw the
land At the time cacuIated In saying that At nine
O'Clock they would have to look out for the Bishop
4 Tina