Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1875-05-14
LOST AT SEA.
Detailed Account of the Wreck OF the
Steamer SchilIer-Oyer Three Hum
dred Lives Lost. aE1eH

Detailed Account OF the wreck OF the
Steamer SchiIIer-Over Three Hum
dred Lives Lost. asd
sfe m ~ New YORK, May s.
THE Eagle line steamship Schiller,
Capt. Thomas, which sailed from New
YorkApril 2S for Hamburg, bylway of
plymouth and Cherbourg, has been
er sailed from here with 149 cabin pas
sengers.
The Scilly Islands, group of about
140 islets and rocks, lie off the south
west coast Of England, about thirty
miles from Lands End, and in lat
itude so north, longitude 6 west of
Greenwich. The larger OF the group
are st. Mary's, Tresco, ST. Martins,
Brechar, St. Agnes and Sampson The
aggregate area is 5, ,770 acres. The islands
rise abruptly from q deepssea, imaslim-
tied circumference of thirty miles, and
consist for the most part of solid, .unin-
habitabie granite. In few places the
soil is sufficiently fertile to enable the
few people who attempt existence there
I to raise small crops of rye, oats, barley
etc. The chief means of subsistence,
however, are fishing and the manufacture
of kelp.
The location has always been danger
Gus one for shipping, and many horrible
wrecks have taken place in the vicinity.
A large lighthouse rests on the little
Island st. Agnes, but has often proved
an inefficient protection. One OF the
noted disasters which have been caused
by these islands was the sinking of three
lne- f-battle ships, under Sir Cloudesley
Shovel, on the 22d of October, 1907.
LONDON, May
The following additional particulars
of the disaster have been receved
A heavy fog prevented observations on
board the Schiller since Tuesday. In
consequence of the fog the engines were
put at half speed and sail reduced at
nine o'clock Friday night. AT ten O'clock
the same night the ship struck the ledge.
Great panic prevailed. Capt. Thomas is
highly praised for his conduct during
the terrible scenes which followed. Two
boats were filled with men, who refused
to come out. The Captain fired his re-
volver.. over their heads to drive them
out, and then fired at them, but without
effect. Afterward the ship was washed
with her broadside to the sea, and all on
board these boats perished The tackle
at the stern was released too soon, leav-
ing the boats suspended by the bows
Three boats then got away. One, q life
boat, was 50 badly injured that she sunk,
and eleven of the people on board were
rescued by other boats.
The fog lifted an hour after the steamer
struck, and the lights were plainly visi-
bic. Two of the boats on the steamer
were crushed by the falling Of the fun
mel. Rockets and guns were fired from
the steamer until the powder became
wet.
The deck, which was crowded with
people, was swept awaYat two a. IN. The
Captain gathered some of the survivors
on the bridge. All were gradually swept
away by the flood tide, which took the
doctor and Captain last,
The rigging which remained above
water was crowded with passengers and
crew all night. The mainmast fell at
F:30 a. M, and, being of iron, sunk with
all who had taken refuge on it. The fore
mast gave away soon afteIWard.
The lifeboats and wreck stuff saved
the lives OF some who drifted miles away.
One man was rescued after being in the
water ten hours.
Two boats from st. Agnes arrived q
short time before the masts fell They
were unable 10 approach the steamer on
account of the shoals, but picked up
stragglers in the water.
The passengers say Capt. Thomas left
the bridge at three a.. m. to assist those
on deck, and when he reached the deck
was swept away by heavy sea- All
concur in saying that he exercised the
greatest care, and was not abed for five
nights previous to the disaster
The sea began to break over the vessel
half an hour after she struck, and the
tide rose twenty five feet before day
break Only one woman was saved. The
survivors who were landed at Tresco
escaped in the Schiller's own boats.
@ AfF
A special dispatch from Lyndon on
the 9th to the New York Herald says the
total number of lives lost is 311. OF
these over 100 are women. The special
says: "The survivors were taken to-day
from Penzance to Plymouth, whence
they will be sent forward to Hamburg,
where there is the greatest excitement.
1t is asserted that livesaving belts were
issued to the women. 1t is certain that
most of the passengers found none. An
order was given that the first boat should
take the women and children. This boat
capsized Poleman says seven beats
were launched and only two lived The
others were STAYED and sWamped lmme-
diately The cries for help lasted until
three O'Clock The last voice heard was
that of little child in the cabin. 1T is
not probable that the boats could have
lived even if they had been successfully
filed. The Whole number saved is forty
four. Thirty bodies have been reeoY-
ered."