West-Jersey pioneer., 1875-05-13
TERRIBLE DISASTER AT SEA.

the Sicily Islands, near the British coast.
During heavy fog and a rough sea, she
struck on the Retarriere(or Retaineer) Ledge
near Bishops Rock, about thirty five miles
from Lands End. Of 3s5 persons on board,
only forty-threc are reported to be saved,
many of these being picked up while swim
ming with the tide. The Schiller sailed
from New York on the 28th ult., bound to
Hamburg via Plymouth and Cherbourg.-
Her course was up the English Channel,
through the Strait of Dover into the Ger
man ocean. 1t is apparent that the Captain,
probably owing to the heavy fog, was con-
siderably out of his course. This part of
the British coast, however, is notoriously
dangerous and difficult of navigation, not
withstanding it is abundantly supplied with
lights. The Schiller carried full cargo
and an unusually heavy mail, and was man
ned by crew of 124 officers and men. Her
cabin passengers were 141 in number; the
steerage 100, including four infants, making
the total Of 1856 souls. AS the details of
the disaster come out, the wonder is, not
that so few were saved, but that there were
any survivors at all. 1t is one more proof
of the utter helplessness of man when
brought into conflict with the fearful forces
of nature.
DETAILS OF THE AWFUL WRECK.
A special despatch to the New York Her.
aid, dated London, Sunday, says: All day
long, details of the Schiller disaster have
been coming in. Unfortunately no more
are constantly being picked up. Among
the recovered are those of George Leon
hardt, Carl Schmidt, Mr.. Reidner and child,
Mrs. Becker, Mrs. Ridgway and Mrs. Her
mine Weste, and five men, five women and
two children. Altogether twenty -four bodies
have been found. The total number of
lives lost is 311. Mr.. Poleman, the second
officer of the Schiller, and Henry Stern and
Mr.. Frahm, first-class passengers, have been
interviewed, and from their narratives we
gather that the voyage was moderately good
until May 4. The last three days it was
impossible to take observations. The ship
time of the catastrophe. Captain Thomas
was on deck night and day for four entire
days. At seven o'clock on the evening of
the 7th, there was dense fog. The sails
were taken in, the engines put on half
speed, and fog bells used. Bishops light
was unseen, though only half mile distant
At 10 O'Clock we struck on the reef, and
after four bumps the steamer settled down.
There was violent sea, and the tide was
rising. The darkness was intense Most
of the male passengers were awake, and
there was the usual rush for the boats, but
nearly all the boats were stove. One boat,
with few sailors left the ship, cowardly
refusing to give aid. Two boats were saved.
The captain endeavored to compel obedi-
ence by firing a revolver over their heads.
During two hours six cannon shots were
fired, when the powder dampened. Dis
tress signals, rockets and blue lights were
unanswered. At midnight the fog lifted
for minute, revealing the lighthouse, the
waves sweeping the decks and carrying
away victims. At 2 2o'clock the deck house,
in which were the women and children, was
swept away. The cries and shrieks of the
victims were heart-rending and then fol-
lowed ghastly silence. The smoke stack
fell, crushing some of the boats, and two
others were carried away. The remainder
followed the captain to the forward bridge
Each succeeding wave took fresh victims.
Some persons sought refuge on the main
mast, and some on the foremast. At 3
o'clock, the captain and two other officers
were on the bridge. The captain descended
for moment to render assistance and was
swept away. Thus perished brave man,
says Mr.. Stern. By this time about ten
persons were clinging to the rigging of the
mainmast and thirty to that of the fore
mast. The ship had careened, her yards
touching the water, and the tide was rising.
At O'Clock the fog lifted. The survivors
shouted, but their cries were unavailing.-
At seven o'clock the mainmast, and at a
quarter to eight the foremast, both of iron,
fell. Then two of the St. Agnes boats
came and rescued few who had managed
to keep af1oat. 1t was reported yesterday,
that there were 103 women ON board. The
survivors were taken to-day from Penzance
to Plymouth, where they will be sent for
ward to Hamburg, where the greatest ex-
citement prevails It is asserted that life
saving 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,
but this boat capsized. Poleman says seven
boats were launched, and only two lived.
The others were STAYED and swamped i'm
mediately. The cries for help lasted until
three o'clock. The last cry heard was that
of little child in the cabin. 1t is not
probable the boats could have lived even if
they had been successfully filled. The
whole number saved is forty-four. Forty
bodies have been recovered.
SKETCHES OF SOME OF THE LOST.
Probably one of the most prominent OF
the passengers by the Schiller, is Consul w
Zach, who was for long time vice consul
of the German Empire in New York CITY.
and is very we'll known among the German
residents of that city, Philadelphia and
other cities. year or two ago, he was
transferred to Havana, where he represented
the German Empire until his departure for
Europe via New York. He obtained a
short leave of absence, and went to New
York to embark on the Schiller, taking with
him his wife and daughter. MIR. Zach was
native of Frankfort-on then Main, where
he has many relatives. His wife belonged
to highly respected family in Berlin His
daughter was bright young girl about ten
years old. Mr.. Zach was about forty five
years old, man of. prepossessing appear,
ance, and popular manners and sound edu-
cation.
Miss Fredericka Mann, also among the
list of passengers, was a Philadelphian, a
young lady, whose parents are now in Eu.
rope. Miss Mann had been making visit
to her friends here, and was now returning
| To E,,ro,,o Sho xuaS n uo,,n4r L ,f. oI