The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-24
THE SCHILLER
Mcurnful Details Of the Great
Ocean Disaster.
Statement Of the Keeper Of me Bishops
Rock Lighthouse
the H. Patsi Vessel Seen When Beating 10
Destruction on The Lodges
ErERsEyT or THE DEAD -EYBlLNAENT OF BODIES.

Perhaps one or the most interesting letters puo-
Glsned about steamship Schiller disaster is one
written by Mr.. Dane, the high tkeeper IN charge Of
the BISHOP Rock lighthouse, TO bis wife. II IS an
interesting and at the same time startling con-
mnnicauou; for here we have the narrative
Of a nan VINO saw the Inflated steamer
beating 10 destruction on the rocks, aud
yet had no power TO anord relief no means OF
communicating TO the people on shore what was
taking place before his eyes.
40 RELIEF
The unfortunate victims the Schiller were
within easy distance OF the shore. Their gun, and
we must presume guns, we're heard by the
inhabitants OF 81. Agnes and yet strange
fatality prevented the people OF that island
from dreaming that vessel had been
wrecked on their coast, and thar 300 human beings
were perIshing while the means 81 their rescue
lay almost within haihng distance.
GUNS or DIsTRESs- UNaEEDED AND WHY.
The steamers as they pass the lighthouse are In
the habit OF hring cannon 70 announce their pres
snce 10 the ISLANDERS and then the news IS
transmitted 10 the shipping agents in
London and 80 the word. Many time
have the dwellers or St. Agnes sprung
into their nieooats, when they have heard the
boom OF the cannon, only TO mud that Il was the
greeting OF a vessel that mad PROBABLY announced
her safe passage OF the Atlantic And this time,
TOO when the ScnllIer's gnns we're heard, they
fancied that 1t was tRe old story and, as a cerre-
spondent remarked in the London Tines the
cry OF "wolfr' had been oten heard
that when the wolf really came they did not be-
neVe It. But we have testimony that SIX cannon
shots were fired, and no explanation mas been
Eiven why the Inhabitants did not take notice of
shem. Surely there is great dine renee between
o single boom and half dozen. The signal lights
could not, OF course be in the dense log th-t
prevailed on that fearful night
THE WANT CP 4 TELEGRAPH.
From Mr.. Danes communication We see clearly
that the great 1858 or life has resulted from the
lack OF communication between tue lighthouse
and the Scly Isles. resident or Sicily writes 70
the London Times that .'tne various accounts 81
the recent catastrophe clearly snow that Il the
Island OF St Agnes had possessed the means q
telegrapning TO 81. MarJ's a great vase 81 human
life might have been obviated.r
Nh. DANES LETTER.
/. Tue letter or Nr. Dane reads as iollows:-
BISHOP ROCK May 10 1875.
DEAR WrFE-Wtth heartsick grtef write THIS 10
Inform you Of tue dreadful wreck that has hap
peued mere, less titan a half mile inside ol US. on
Friday night, the 7tn lnst had tue watch up 10
eignt p NJ when tae man who Is doing duty here
during the absence OF principal keeper took on;
but seeing a thick FOG coming on sui Kept on
the lantern, and ordered the bell 70 be SCI going.
Al forty minutes past eight Z. NJ. iog very Thick
timed toe bell properly az SIX strokes Ter minute,
and All was rgnt, and left the lantern AZ ten
At thirty-nye minutes past eleven r. NJ. Wi.
liam Mortimer came running down and
vessel on the ' Tocks al Jumped S0u 10 and
went out on the parapet without stopping 70
dress, and saw the masthead and starboard light
Of large vessel By Telescope. Should take Der
for O large steamer. She was burning blue lights
ar rrl3g "a gyns and rockets sne seemed 70
one A. N s.h inst.-I relieved q. gould az Tour
a. N. Fog again raised az six 4 NJ /!
o. water We eaae so1S sso oOS' =. sse5 oSe
LADY II IN Zee side rigging, I've men " neg Sl2
was a dreadful sight Al about seven "A. NJ the
mast fell. and ! suppose every one perished, but
Three bodies 1oatcd past rs this afternoon,
ey vi hands 10 see 10 many oil our dear fellow
creatures suffering ana dying 80 near y Us.
THE rSTERNzST OF TIE DEAD.
some very interesting accounts from the scene
OF the disaster published In the London
papers. / send you herewith those OF the Stand
ara describing the scene which was witnessed
Rt the tntermenL or the bodies Of the dead
scItLY. Monday Night May 10 1875.
Our voyage to the ISLANDS ~ the Lady Of the
Isles was sadly evenriul. We had not long passed
tne RUrdiesione Lighthouse be.0re small pieces
or wreck n0atng by told 81 the dreadful calamity,
the scene 81 which we were gong 70
inspect After passing these We came upon
piece Of aotsom o. very dinerent cnarscter-
the mail Gag. Very cieveriy indeed vas y hoOAeu
nOF board. out II was OF niue NalNe. Inc
sea- vas intact ara i was marked Sew Zealand,
but only contained ne wspapers. Proceeding on
our wsy the quantity of noatng wrecsage gradu-
rms prRsr op THE DEAD.
Suddenly the order vas given - sroD, A. body
had been sighted, and he port boat beng lowered
rowed Ia search 10 lew minutes eturued VITA
its sad retgnt Ieudery and reverentlaliy the
BODY TO winch . nfe-preseryer va fastened, was
taken On deck. IL was supposed De that II one
Of tie stewards There we're sli0ln ne pocket "
two other bodies were supposed 10 be sighted.
nut the boat JAILED nnd them, and again Ne
steamed ahead, with ensign dying AZ the hail.
mast IN token or the sad freight bore. our
goppage occupied ~ more iHan nall az a0ur. ret
We maze the trip rom Penzanc9 'o ocn9 n ltt.e
over three hours and hail. Perhaps i vas the
knowledge OF the errand on wnich We we're bent
that gave rise TO the thought out certain IL :
ina a. we approached Scily, SHOWING beneath
tie seams or the bright May sun, there seemed
something peculiarly weird IN lis ASPECT.
there was hardly a sign or he; the neet o. asr.
ing Doats which Had hecked The waves a. We .rit
Mounts Bay had all disappeared. AMI nnt i0r ne
suose or Mr.. Bannela's little steamer passing
along III 'front.' Of st. Agnes 81 Mafy.s anu Crow
sounds appeared absolutely tenantless. stead
IN We sfeamed up ~ tue picturesque granite
rocks, ana a. We rounded 70 IN the pool
our impressions deebenea ~ seeing tas tue olast
vessels winch we're then revealed nae, IKE ~,
their nags lying nali-mast Ihe pier Wa crowned
with people waiting our arrival, ahd On landlnH
we we're immediately conducted INTO spacious
coUrtyard surrounded Win stores, Ia which NJ.
Dofncn Smith, the lord proprietor, was Dusty
engaged VIA host of WILING nau4s ~ naklnK
preparations for the funerals. Those stores, %
long deserted, were nov 'enauted ~ tae
corpses n the unfortunate victims woo had
bean brought ar washed ashore. careful
inventory was taken 81 an ne property l0und
d On the bodies. such property Delng preserved
Tor me representative or the dead BY Toe receiver
81 TIE wrecks, Mr. Haudley. fnree OF toe n0oies
rouid not Is isentIfed Under tne direction of
hr smith cCf1ns nsd been prepared and the mai
task or screwing them ooWn nad been iett uutl
our arrival, m the nope in4t more laehlAeatleks
~ rSoussr
had been formally opened oy W Hal. ne senior