Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-05-21


wrecked steamer could be approached
without danger. Boats piled between the
wreck and the shore, all day, and the work
of recovering the dead bodies and saving
the cargo was pushed with yigor. Among
the corpses recovered were those of eight or
ten women, all of which were identified.
The body of Miss Dimock, of Boston, was
among these. The bodies have been in
TERED in two trenches, each twenty-five
feet long, except those of the cabin passen-
gers, whose friends have ordered them to be
cmbalmed and returned to America.
One of the passengers, Mr.. Stern says in
published statement
At about II O'Clock | succeeded in climb
ing up the mainmast, where | was at least
protected from the immediate rage of the
waves. Toward midnight the fog cleared
up, and | saw the light of Bishops rock
clear before Us at no great distance. But an
hour after, it became dark again. and |
could hardly distinguish anything but the
white heads Of the waves and the parts OF
the vessel nearest to me. The third Cihcer
kept firing rockets and blue lights, from
time to time, as often as the rage OF the
elements permitted it, in order to secure
help from the shore. There were lights
burning in the pavilion, up to one o'clock
then suddenly there came Il tremendous sea
that carried everything before itself, and
swept the whole house, with all who were
in it, mostly women and children, clean off
the deck One heart-rending outery of many
voices rose to the skies, then there was the
silence of the grave Many persons who
had sought refuge on the bridge were gradu-
ally swept away by the greedy waves, at
last also the captain, who stood at his post
like brave man, as he was.
At O'Clock in the morning one OF the
tunnels fell and smashed our last available
boat Not long alterward boat was low
cred, but it was STAYED and broken before 1t
scarcely touched water. Another and more
fortunate attempt was made by three sailors,
who got safely away from the ships side,
but these men could not be induced 10 allow
any others to get in. Soon after this, the
liie-boat was launched from the starboard
side, with Polemann in command, but she
careened over Immediately, and caused the
death Of many of those who had got in. They
succeeded, however, in righting her, and She
alterward reached shore with ten persons,
assisted by the first boat In this boat was
Mrs. JocnS. the only surviving woman
There was a fearful state Of excitement
and confusion on board. Many of the crew
and passengers were intoxicated. one of the
officers having celebrated his birthday, that
evening Morning now began to dawn. and
| counted about thirty persons hanging with
me in the rigging Of the mainmast. The
ship gradually went deeper and deeper
and began to settle down on one side, 80 that
the waves went over the rigging. Between
) and q O'Clock, our mast suddenly snapped
of, and we were all hurled down into the
deep and all, believe, except me, who had
saved themselves in the rigging, were either
-lain by the falling debris or drowned. Most
Of them were weakened by exposure and
fright to such degree that they were IN
able to make the least further effort, and
alphabetically submitted to their fate.
After being thrown down into the water
succeeded in catching two floating beams.
with the aid of which | kept a1oat, and WAS
washed toward the cliffs. A. far as can
remember, had been in this condition Tor
about two hours. when saw 4 boat ut last
cried for help. They heard me, and in
few minutes | was saved. The boat which
saved Us was from ST. Agnes island.
Capt. Thomas deserves the highest praise
in every respect. An able seaman, courage
Gus and skillful, he did everything he could
to assist those whose lives were entrusted to
him in the hour of danger.
One of the most singular and touching in
ciients connected with the sailing OF the
Schiller was that concerning Mrs. Cayerly
and her daughter, Amy, who were travelling
in company with Mrs. Ridgway and Mr..
Walter Henry J. Gelien, the master painter
of the Eagle company, being detained by
business ON the steamer remained on board
until it reached sandy Hook, where the pilot
left the ship. Mr.. Gclien accompanied the
pilot. lie had become acquainted with Mrs.
and Miss Clyerly, and they, torewarned by
some mysterious preScntiment, were anxious
to leave the vessel on the pilots boat. They
were disSuaded, however, by Mr.. Walter and
Mr.. Gelien, and determined to remain, al
though their trunks were packed and ready
To be carried on deck. They sent letters TO
their friends, who reside in East Forty-third
street, by Mr.. Gelien; and. as he descended
to the pilot boat, they called out that they
would never see the Highlands again ~
sad incident Of the wreck was the blot
ting out of the entire flmily Of c. W Wal
ter, oi New York, who, with his mother-in-
law and his motherless little girls, were lost.
Mrs Walter was educated at the Agassiz
school, near Boston, and was woman of
fine mental culture. She accompanied her
father and dying sister to Cannes and Italy,
a few years ago Shortly after their return
Il HI G. tbn L.
with grief and died her own health fail
ing. she was accompanied by her husband
and children 10 LuganO, Italy, where she
also died Mr.. Walter brought the remains
to this country, and devoted himself to the
education of his children. He gathered into
his own household his wile's mother, and
Mrs. Caverly and her daughter, the former a
cousin of his wiie's father, and daughter of
Judge Crosby, of Lowell. An old colored
servant attended oa the family, she having
formerly been slave in the Ridgeway fam
ily. who were Southerncrs. This household
OF seven persons, including the negro ser
want, Mr. Walter took with him on the ill
fated Schiller, as well for the health of his
children as to visit the scene of their mothers
death.
Christina Jones, the only surviving wo-
man, states that she was about to retire
for the night with her husband when the
first shock occurred They both ran on
deck and Jumped into a boat Just being
lowered. The boat was full of water and
without oars She drfted around in it for
two hours, until she was finally picked up
by Polemanns boat. She was unable to
give further details, having been in the boat
filled with water for ten hours.