The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1875-05-13
APPALLING DISASTER.

The Loss of the Steamship ScI1iI1er-Over
800 Lives Particulars of the
Awful Calamity.
The steamship Schiller, which sailed
from New York on April % for Hamburg,
was wrecked off the Sicily Islands on the
morning of the 9Th of May, and over 300
persons persisted. The Sicily Islands, a
group of about lao islets and rocks, lie
off the southwest coast of England, about
thirty miles from Lands End. The To-
cation has always been dangerous one
for shipping, aud many horrible wrecks
have taken place in the vicinity. The
voyage of the Schiller was moderately
good until May 4. The last three days
it was impossible to take observations.
The ship was out of her course half
mile at the time Of the catastrophe.
The New York HerGld's correspondent
interviewed Mr.. POLICEMAN, second officer
of the lost steamer, and Mr.. Stern, one
of the passengers, and from them gained
the following narrative of the disaster ::
"Capt. Thomas was on deck night and
day for four entire days. At o'clock
in the evening of the 7th there was a
dense fog. The sails we're taken in, the
engines put on half-speed, and the fog
bells were used. Bishops Light was
unseen, though only half mile distant.
At 10 o'clock we struck on reef, and,
after four bumps, the steamer settled
down. There was violent sea and the
tide was rising. The darkness was in
tense. Most of the male passengers
were awake, and there was the usual
rush for the boats, but nearly all the
boats were STAYED. One boat with few
sailors left the ship in cowardly
manner, refusing aid. Two boats were
saved. The Captain endeavored to COM
pei obedience by firing revolver over
their heads. During two hours six cam
non shots were fred, when the powder
dampened. Distress signals, rockets
and blue lights were unanswered. At
midnight the fog lifted, in minute re-
vealing the lighthouse. The waves were
still sweeping the decks and carrying
away victims. At 2 o'clock the deck
house, in which were the women and
children, was swept away. The cries
and shrieks of the victims were heart
rending. There followed CHASTITY
silence aft. The smokestack fell, crush
ing some of the boats and two others
were carried away. The remainder fol-
lowed the Captain to the forward bridge.
Each succeeding wave took fresh victims.
Some sought refuge in the mainmast and
some on the foremost. At o'clock the
Captain and two other officers were on
the bridge. The Captain descended for
a moment to render assistance and was
swept away. Thus persisted a brave
man, says Mr.. Stern. At this time
about ten persons were cinging to the
rigging of the mainmast, aud thirty to
that of the foremost The ship had ca
reened, her yards touching the water,
and the tide was rising. At 5 o'clock
the fog lifted and the survivors shouted,
but their cries were unavailing. At z
O'Clock the mainmast, and at quarter
to the foremost, both Of iron, fell; then
two of the st. Agnes boats came and
rescued the few who had managed to
keep afoat. 1t was reported yesterday
that there were 1O3 women on
board. The survivors were taken
to-day from Penzance to Plym-
outh, whence they will be sent
forward to Hamburg, where there is the
greatest excitement. 1t is asserted that
ife-saving belts were issued to women.
It 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. POLICEMAN
says that seven boats were launched, and
only two lived. The others were STAYED
and swamped immediately. The cries
for help lasted until o'clock. The last
voice heard was that of a little child in
the cabin. It is not probable the boats
could have lived even if they had
been successfully filed. The whole
number saved is forty-four. Thirty
bodies have been recovered"
The number of lives lost by this terri
BILE calamity is not exactly known, but it