Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-05-14
TERRIBLE MARINE DISASTER.

The large and hrst-class steamship Schill-
or, Capt. Thomas, of the Eagle line, which
sailed from New York April % for Ham
burg, with 254 passengers, 100 of whom
we're Storage, owing to a thick fog struck
ledge at 10 o'clock p. m. on Friday last,
near the Scilly Isles, which lie off the
southwest coast Of England, and careened
and sank, more than 300 persons going TO
the bottom. The fog was SO dense that
Capt. Thomas could not see either of the
lights on the islands. A few Of the passen-
gers were saved, but just how many Is not
yet known.
The following particulars of the disaster
have been received; "a heavy fog pre-
vented observations on board the Schiller
after Tuesday. In consequence of the fog
the engines were put at half speed, and the
sail was reduced at o o'clock Friday night.
At 10 o'clock the same night the ship struck
the ledge. A great panic prevailed.
Captain Thomas is highly praised for his
conduct during the scenes which followed.
Two boats were filled with men, who re-
fused to come out. The Captain fred his
revolver over their heads to drive them out,
hhu NhCu hltN Autln WlluOuk GI1eCl. AL
terward the ship was washed, with her
broadside to the sea, and all on board these
boats persisted.
Three boats then got away. One of them,
a lllcboat, was so badly injured that she
sunk, and eleven of the people on board
of her were rescued by the other boats.
The fog lifted an hour or two after the
steamer sunk, 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 a. IN, The captain gather
ed some OF the survivors on the bridge,
but all were gradually swept away by the
flood tide, which took the doctor and cap
tain last. The lileboats and wreck stuff
saved the lives of some, who driIted miles
away. Two boats from st. Agnes arrived
short time before the masts fell. They
were unable to approach the steamer on ac-
count of the shoals, but picked up the
strugglers in the water.
The passengers say Capt. Thomas LETT the
bridge at a. IN. to assist those on deck,
and when he reached the deck was swept
away by heavy sea. A II concur In say
ing he exercised the greatest care and was
not abed for five nights previous to the dis
aster. The sea began TO break over the
vessel half an hour after she struck, and
the tide rose 25 feet before daybreak. On
y one woman was saved.
The Sciuy islands, upon one Of which
the Schiller was wrecked, form group
about 80 miles west-southwest of Lands
End, Cornwall, England. They consist of
about 40 islets and rocks, only about 40 of
which have any greenswArd, the rest be-
ing rocks, and only six being inhabited.
THE VESSEL AND CARGO.
The lost steamer was one of the new est,
strongest and fine ST of the transatlantic
fleet. She was $40 feet in length, 40 feet
beam, 81 feet depth Of hold, 5000 tons bur
then. She was divided into seven water
tight compartments, and was provided with
every known appliance for safety, includ-
ing eight large lifeboals. Her appliances,
in fact, were superior in great many par
ticulars TO anything eretorore introduced,
having - steam engines, Independent Of
the working engines Of the ship; a start
ing and stopping engine, aud a steering
apparatus in the middle of the steamer, be-
low the captains bridge, both of which
put the vessel under the immediate con-
troll of the captain.
The Schiller had a cargo of general mer-
chandise, valued, exclusive OF the specie
on board, at about 100000, most of il in
sured. One of the shipments consisted of
$500, 900 in gold coin, packed in six kogs.
This treasure was insured for its full
amount in three London companies. The
mails comprised 81 bags containing 81, 900
letters for England, France and Germany,
and the entire regular transcontinental
mail from Australia and New Zealand,
comprising lG2 bags.
The Eagle steamship line, or German
transatlantic steam navigation company,
was organized in 1872. Its capital stock
was about .SlG, 600, 900, and has been held
chiefly in Germany, although a part is
owned in this country. The steamers run
from New York to Hamburg.