Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-06-30
A VICTIM OF THE WRECK.
Rsv. Dr. j. w. Diller Lost ON the seaw>n-
hakA.

Rev. DR.. J. w. Diller Lost ON the seaw.n-
hakA.
kilograms received by relatives residing
in this city confirm the truth of newspaper
reports the Rev. Jacob William Diller, ID.
D., rector of St. Luke's Protestant Episco
pal church, Brooklyn, was one Of the vic
tions of the wreck of the steamer Seawan-
haka burnt off College Point, East river, Oh
Monday afternoon, of which particulars
have been heretofore published. One of
the dispatchs announces that the body Of
Rev. DR.. Diller has been recovered, and
that the funera! will probably take place
OIL Thursday.
Kev. DIR. Diller was Il native of this
county, son Of George Diller. and
brother to George, Samuel and Isaac Dill
Ter, our well-known fellow citizens. He
was born in 1910, and was in his list year
at the time of the terrible accident result
ing in his death. He spent his early life
in Lancaster, and finished his education mt
Flushing, Long Island, under the guidance
Of Rev. DR.. Muhlenbers, former rector
Of st. James, this city. On being elevated
to the priesthood, he held one or two
minor charges, and was then chosen rector
Of st. Luke's, Brooklyn, and remained
connected with that church until the time
of his death. A year or two ago, on ac-
count of failing health, DR.. Diller ten
dered his resignation as rector of st. Luke's.
ralin fhs, Int; Of
the ministry but was continued as rector
emeritus for life, his congregation being
unwilling to have him sever his connection
with the church.
DR.. Diller leaves Il family of one SON and
four daushters-hiS son being the ceie-
brated Organist Of Brooklyn. to whose
wonderful performance hundreds of Ian
casterians have SO often listened with de
light. Two of DR.. OILERS daughters are
married and two are single. One Of them.
Miss Lille, was on the steamer with her
father at the time it was burned. A tele-
gram states that she is very severely burn
ed, but whether dangerously or not is not
yet known.
Details of DIR. OILERS Death and His DaucL
ter's Her Oic Devotion.
The New York Sun of this mOrnn"
prints the following narrowing details of
DR.. OILERS tragic death, and of the superb
herOism of his daughter in a fruitless at
tempt to save his life ''Before the fire
broke out two striking figures had attract
ed the attention of many passengers. One
was a venerable man of 20, silver haired.
portly, with gray whiskers, and Il gonl-
humored, pleasant face. Although be
weighed full 800 pounds. he was feeble,
and the object Of affectiOnate attention from
the lady who accompanied him. The man
was the Rev. DR.. Jacob William Diler.
rector emeritus Of st. Luke's Episcopal
church, Clinton avenue, Brooklyn. The
lady was his daughter. Miss Lille Dillcr.
Even while the other passengers were in
intense alarm for their own safety, their
attention was riyeted by the devOtednPss
Of the brave woman, whom not even the
flames could drive from the post of fiial
duty. DR.. Diller had been for some time
suffering from softening of the brain, and
the whirl of excitement OH the boat seemed
to have dazed him. Although Miss Dillcr
had placed Il life prcserver about him. he
clung with frantic grasp to one Of
the posts, and his daughters entreaties
could not move him. With eyes fixed in
almost vacant stare upon the terrible scene.
and regardless of the fact thai the flames
were creeping towards him. he hugged his
support. Gradually all in the vicinity had
fled to some place of safety and the tw"
were left alone near the cracking timber,
now enveloped in the smoke and hid from
view, and now set out in strong relief by
the background of fire. The sparks began
to fall near them, and again and again Miss
Diller entreated her father to leave the
spot. Save my father Save him Oh,
save him y she cried. Persons in the
water called to her to leap and save he
self. Finally the flames envelOped the un-
fortunate pair, and it was only then.
burning and her own dress had taken fire,
that she gave an embrace and Il parting
kiss to her father, and with 'Good-by
upon her lips, fell senseless into the water.
Among those who witnessed the dreadful
scene was Mr.. Mitchell Cooke, of SO
Broadway. He had been among those
who urged Miss Diller to jump into tie
water, and as he was an expert swimmer,
and had two life preservers, he was ready
to render her assistance. AS she rose to
the surface he grasped her streaming hair,
and bore her to the shore at the moment
when the fierce flames had Ovcrtaken her
father. Despite her heroic efforts to save
him, the fire soon hid him from the view
of the spectators. Miss Diller did not see
him die. She was taken to RandalTs
island where she was found to be tempOr-
arily, if not permanently, blinded by the
heat. Her face and neck were severely
burned, but her life will be saved.
Jacob William Diller, ID. d., was born
in Lancaster, Pa, seventy years ago.
He was associated with the Rev. DR.. Muh-
lenberg for many years, and acted as tutor
of mathematics under him. Over forty
years ago he was ordained deacon, and
was associated in the ministry with DR..
Johnson of St. Johns church, Brooklyn.
He was for five or six years rector of a
church in the diocese Of Vermont. About
thirty years ago he was chosen rector of
St. Luke's church, Clinton avenue, Brook
lyn, and has been in charge of that parish
ever since. He had a wife and five chill
dren. Two of his daughters are married