New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-07-12
THE Loss or THE SCHILLER.

REPORT OF TIE COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY.
TIE DISASTER OWING ENTiRELY TO TIE NEGLECT
TO TAX" sOUXDISGs.
The Committee appointed by the British
Board of Trade to inquire into the o. the disaster
to tho steamer Schiller has made the following report
GREENWICH POLICE Cour 7. June Is.
the port Of Hamburg; she YVES built AT glasgow in ihe
year 1873. by Messrs X Napier 4 Sons Her tonnage
properly t tie German n1g sa@ sea ie
Company; she classed In Loyd's Register OF British
~" THIS vessel 2D s on the 9th of April last
boand for Plymouth Cherbourg' ani rmbars She va.
by Capt Thomas, an able and experienced officer (vh0
bad served Tor Upward o. six years s chief officer in to
v.ously to his taking this commando.
eired g as9 inc "a h New
tom, intended to communicate with Sicily IN order
/" n ES the S"' the al Of My TO sRe ere
observation taken tho weather as 10 appears by Tie
tIons could be obtained on TIE 7th afog bad set IN
which became denscr towards night they approached
the s1 nv a. HcS OI rc U e Mas f m c a. W
and longitude 10o 2Y W. Had this reckoning ben
the altitude OF the Bishop Lighthouse, and 81 miles &c
the westward or it, There does appear TO ave beer
y was eered for % at speed Il
knots hour under both steam and sol and during
should have taken the vessel eight miles to the south
the Bishop, provided their position had been
mate the course altered to s. T. w. cell tskeI.
in, the speed reduced and at 10 p H. tho vessel having
the light heard the fog bell which going ri the
time, struck upon the Rearrer Lodges, and ultimately
became total wreck with loss Of 331 lives including
her captain shortly after the vessel struck orders
given to get the boats OF the eight board.
six OF them feboats only one. g was got into tho
water safely; the others either stove in lowering
washed away by the or fe5elts there Was also
they would seem TO have been uskillfu uscd NJ Il was
said that all the bodies washed on shore were provided
In tracing back the OF the vessel from the Rctar
rer Rocks till noon OF the 7h viii appear tha she had
been obtained for the three previous days. the assumed
position must have been one, and the
sci in reality further to the northward and eastward
than their dead reckoning denoted. Had cast tho
lead taken ut eight even nine o'clock before the
and nature OF the bottom it would have shown them
their proximity danger and the In their reck
onng, and would probably have aVerted this SAD dS
The directions for approaching the English Channci
the EAGLE Company for the safe navigation OF their ships
both of which unfortunately neglected inc former
warn paygators to oIard northerly set when
approaching scy and neucate the necessity OF care
full use Of the lead in scA sr .ne no ~
neglect any OF the usual precautions When making the
land. -. .,-.,.., 4. l., .,o
opinion OF the Court the sole cause OF this terrible ca
lamy, involving such great sacrifice OF lie anu prop
During the course Of this inquiry great many qles
tons asked by counsel as to the comparase cs
difficult question has been recently the subject Of
searching investigation by the highest AUTHORITIES e
Court considers 1t prcsumptuous to offer any opuon
upon this matter. Aison also made 10 the neces
sty Of fog signals being placed on the scily Isles
Should however it be thought advisable " adopt any
further precautions by the erection Of additional fog
signals the Settles or by establishing com
mlinicaton between the inhabited islands, the Court
would call especial attention to the evidence OF Mr. Dor
ren Smith, the proprietor Of the islands, and Mr. Doug
las chief engineer Of the Trinity House. both OF these
gentlemen being intimately acquainted with the locality
and having paid great attention TO the subject.
Az hppu
vessels when passing Scy to made OF tho recog
nzed signals OF distress for the purpose OF announcing
their arrival in Justice to the memory OF the late Capt
Thomas well 10 the propretors OF the Eagle Line.
the Court wish to express their opinion that any mp
ton upon them tbs practice OF firing guns or using
signals of distress elegraphs OF arrival are utterly
without foundation.
Ii. j. PATTEsoS Stipendiary Magistrate
We concur In this report.
H. HARRIS and CuAs. f. PRYCE, Nautical Assessors