The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-05-14
4 Terrible ocean Disaster.
WRECK OF THE STEAMSHIP ScHiLhEh-
OVER THREE HUNDRED LIVES LOST.

A cable dispatch from London, on oatur-
dav morning. brought intelligence Of the
most terrible ocean disaster that has occur
rod since the less of the Atlantic. 1he
steamsI,in Schiller, of the Eagle Line, Capt.
John CT. Thomas, was wrecked AT Ten =
clock on Friday night off the Scillylsiands,
at the entrance of the British Channel, and
of the 3S5 persons on board only a small
number were known TO have been saved.
The Schiller sailed from New York ON
April 2Sth, for Hamburg, via Plymouth
and Cherbourg, her course being up the
English Channel, through the Straits OF
Dover to the German Ocean. 1t appears
that dense fog prevailed on Friday night,
preventing either of the Scilly lights being
seen, and the steamer struck upon Inc uhh-
perous Retarriere LedgeS, about third
of mile inside of Bishops Rock. There
is fog-ben at the latter point, but there
appears to have been heavy sea running,
which may have prevented its being heard.
A boat belonging to St. Agnes, the south
ernmost of the Scillys, picked up some OF
the survivors. who were swimming with
the tide, and landed them at st. Mary's
Island. The Scilly life-boat put OF for the
wreck, and also life-boat and steamer
from Penzance, Jut in the fearful sea which
raced on Saturday it was difficult for small
craft to live. They succeeded, however,
up to Saturday night in picking up forty
three persons, together with nineteen
corpses, some articles of the cargo and
twenty fine sacks of the ships mail. The
survivors were taken to Penzance and for
warded by rail to Plymouth. The steam
ship was at that time lying broadside on
the rocks, under water, her mainmast gone.
The Schiller was manned by crew OF
124 officers and men. She had l41 cabin
passengers and 100 in the steerage, includ-
ing four infants, making a total of 3S5. \
majority of passengers were of German
family large number being from New
York and many from the West. Among
the cabin passengers were the following
Penrsylvanians Mr.. Leo Weste saved,
Mrs IIern,iuc Weste. and Miss F. Mann,
Of Philadelphia DR.. f. j. Keen, of She
nandoah. Among the stecrage passengers
were +. MannhcimeT, wife and two chill
dren, Of Philadelphia, and J. F. Diewohl
and wife, Of Scranton. The principal Of
ficers of he Schiller were as follows John
G. Thomas, captain II. Killers, chief Of
ficer: j., Policeman, second officer q.
Freisc, third officer r. Heirtze, fourth
officer: :. rahlig. chief engineer. The
captain and second officer are known to be
lost.
THRILLING ACCOUNT OF THE CALAMITY.
LONDON, May 9-Eveniug.-F three
survivors of the crew and passengers OF
zance. OF these thiIty-three have gone to
Plymouth, and the remaining ten are too Ill
to be moved. The following additional
particulars Of the disaster have been re-
ceived \ heavy fog had prevented OBJ
scrvations on board the Schiller since Thurs
day, aud in consequence of the fog the en-
gincs were put at half speed and sail was
reduced at nine o'clock Friday night. AT
ten 0 clock the same night the ship struck
Il IL
vailed. Captain 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 cap
tain fired his revolver over their heads to
drive them out, then fired at them. but
without effect. Afterwards the ship was
washed with her broadside to the sea, and
all on bOar1 these boats perished. The
tackle at the stern was released too soon,
leaving the boats suspended by the bows.
Three boats then got away. One of them,
a life boat. was so badly injured that she
sunk, and eleven of the people on board of
her were rescued by the other boats. The
fog Fitted an hour after the steamer struck,
and the lights were plainly visible. Two
Of the boats on the steamer were crushed
by the falling of the funnel.
Rockets and guns were fired from the
steamer until the powder became wet
The deck house, crowded with people, was
swept away at , \. NJ. The captain gath
cred some of the Survivors on the bridge,
and all were gradually swept away by the
flood tide, which took the doctor and cap
tain last. The rigging which remained
above water was crowded with passengers
and crew all night. The mainmast fell at
7:30 A. NJ, and, being of iron, sunk with
all who had taken refuge on it. The fore
mast gave way soon afterward. Life-belts
ard wreck stuff saved the lives Of some
who drif,ed miles away. One man was
rescued after being in the water ten hours.
Two boats from St. Agnes arrived short
time after the mast fell, but were unable
to approach the steamer on account of the
shoals, but picked up strugglers in the
water. The passengers say that Captain
Thomas left the bridge at 8 \. NJ. to assist
those on deck, and when he reached the
deck was swept away by a 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 wo-
man was saved. The survivors who landed
at Trescow escaped in the Schiller's own
boats.
LATER PARTICULARS.
LONDON, May 10.-The sea is too heavy
to-day for boats 10 approach the wreck Of
the steamship Schiller. No cargo of any
importance has yet been recovered III
ermen report that the Schiller is firmly set
tied on the rocks and will not fall off into
deep water. Although it is difficult to ap-
proach the wreck now, there will be MANY
days in summer when salvage may be eff
fected.
LIFE BELTS.
There was life-belt in every one of the
Schiller's berths when the disaster occur
red. Captain Thomas issued orders that
one should be fastened to every woman.
bat the women we've drowned by the heavy
sea.
PICKING Up DEAD BODIES.
The boats cruising in the vicinity of the
Schiller continue to pick up the bodies of
the drowned. When the steamer left St.
Mary's island today. nearly fifty bodies
had been fouDd. Seven mail bags. in addi-
ton 10 those reported recovered, have
been saved. They contained mostly San
Francisco and Auckland nevsna,,ars