Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1875-05-18

go worth probably S150,000 and a
heavy mai, portion of which was
saved.
A CATASTROPHE OFF THE
CORNISH COAST.
THE STEAMSHIP SCHILLER OF THE
EAGLE LINE TOTAL WRECK
SCENE OF THE DISAsTER-THE
VESSEL NOT FAR OUT OF ITS
COURSE-LIGHT HOUSE AND
FOG BELL CLOSE AT HAND
THE REsCUING PAR
TIES
The first Information of this terri
ble catastrophe, meagre though
it was, startled the commu-
nifty on Saturday morning,
and the feeling of horror was intensi-
fled when it was learned that the ear
liest estim ate of the loss Of life fell far
short of the awful reality. The par
tlculars OF the disaster as CLEANED from
the Associated Press dispatches from
Lo1dOn and Plymouth are presented
below in connected narrative, prom
inence being given to tie latest news ::
The Schiller left New York about
noon on April %, setting sail for Ply
moth, England, where she was to call
on her voyage to Hamburg. On the
Z. OF May heavy fog settled upon the
sea. The commander of the vessel
Capt. John G. Thomas, seems to have
had no apprehensiOns of danger, for
one OF the dispatches states that the
Schiller was under headway when she
met her fate. The regular course of
the vessels of this line lies within five
miles of the Scilly Islands, and it is
probable that the officers supposed that
the Schiller had passed southwark of
Poi Bank, an island on the edge of
the group, when in reality she had
gone northward of it through the
channel separating it from Bishop
Rock and retarriere Ledge. On Bish
Op Rock there is a lighthouse, with a
fog bell, which is generally heard
miles away. At 10 O'Clock at night,
without warming, the vessel struck
Retarriere Ledge. She must have
been running at full speed, for she
struck 'brOadside on, and soon went
hpN ~ q IOldi NlClht L 1lC WIN W 40
blowing q gale, a high sea was run
ming, and the fog was very dense. Ev-
cry breaker lifted the vessel higher
and drove her further up upon tie
rocks. and before her passengers-
most OF whom were sleeping iii their
births-cOuld comprehend their peril,
the bottom aid sides of the vessel
were stove in. and the water was rush
L. 1, IL
Of the passengers must have passed al
most without q struggle from sleep TO
death. Many who rushed from their
state rooms into the cabins were una
BILE TO reach the deck, Two of the
boats which had been lowered were
dashed against the rocks, and the pas
sengers and seamcn who were in them
were thrown helpless INTO the sea.
As the vessel sank in four fathOms of
water, those who were on deck ciung
desperately to the rigging. AS the
hours passed the vessel began to break
up and the maiumast fell viii a crash
amid cries of despair. The remaining
mast WAS carried over the side at 8 =.
m, and those who were clingiug TO it
fell into the sea.
The Scilly Islands form a small
circular group about 2G miles south
west of Lands End. There are per
haps l40 Of these Islands, many, of |
them being merely huge rocks. Six
of them are inhabited st. Mary's and !
st. Agnes on the east, and Gresco,
Bryer, st. Martins and Sam, on, furth- |
er 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 a mile |
to the south of St. Agnes Island, and |
with the exception of Poi Bank, are |
on the southern edge Of the group. |
The lighthouse on Bishop Rock, a |
tall conspicuous structure, is half a |
mile from the scene of the wreck; and |
at st. Mary's Island to the north, |
there is anOthe lighthouse 1873 feet |
high Nearly every shoal in this !
group has its legend of wreck. An
admiral, with nine ships of |
tie line, was wrecked here, and 1000 |
men perishedj ; ard in latter years the |
Thames and the Duro went to pieces |
on the same ledges, with terrible loss |
of life.
On the Schiller guns were fired and |
signals displayed, and the tidings of |
the disaster were soon borne to st. !
Agnes Island. In the fog and storm |
a st. Agnes boat picked up some of !
the survivors of the wreck and two |
bodies. Those WHO were rescued had |
been washed off the rocks, and were |
swimming with the tide. They were |
landed at St. Mary's Island. The |
Scilly llfe-boat set out for the scene of |
the wreck, and by Saturday forenoon |
a steamer and several boats were |
for survivors. Forty-three
persons in all were rescued and landed |
at TrescO, Bryer, and st. Mary's |
Islands. The captain was drowned,
but the first, second, and fourth Off
GERS were saved.
Eleven of the l4l cabin passengers,
1 of the l20 steerage passengers, and |
2S of the crew of l2i men were saved.
The total number of persons on boa q
was 3S5. Twenty-Five sacks Of the
steamships's mali were saved. Nine
teen bodies were recovered among
them was woman with child in her
arms Small portions of the cargo
were also recovered.
The agent Of the Eagle Company
left Plymouth on Saturday morning
for the scene of tie wreck. Later in
-he day the survivors and q portion of
he mails reached PenZance. Those
" no are going to Cherbourg and Ham
lurg will be sent to their destination
)y the steamship POmmerania Of the
American Line, now on her
way from New York. The news Of
he disaster caused great excitement
n London, and extras containing the
lrst dispatches were soon in the
treeIs.
4ATER PARTICULARS OF THE
DISASTER.