Appalling Disaster

Tho stéftmship Schiller, which sailed from New York on April Ü8 l'or Hamburg, was wreeked off tJie Scilly Islands on the morning of the 8tH of May, andover 800 persons perished. The Scilly Islands. a group of about 140 islets añil roeks, lio off the southwest coast of IOngland, about tbirty milos from Land's End. Tho location has always been a dangerous oae for ahipping, and many horrible wreoks _ havo taken placo in the vicinity. The voyage of the Schiller was nioderately Rood until May 4. Thjb last threc days it was imposwible to toko observations. The Bhip was out of her course half n mile at the timo of tho catastrophe. 'I'hc New York Ilerald's correspondent intorviewod Mr. Poleman, B6cOnd officer of tho lost steamer, and Mr. Stern, one of the passengers, and from them gaincd the following narrutivo of tho disaster : "C;pt. Thomas was on deck night and day for four entiro days. At 7 o'clock in the evoning of the 7th thero was a denso fog. Tho sails were taken in, the engines put on half -speed, and the fogbells wero used. Bishop's Light was unseen, though only half a rnilo distant. [ At 10 o'clook wo struck on a reef, and, after four bumpa, the steamer settled down. There was a violent sea nnd tho tide was rising. The darkuess was intense. Most of the male passengers were awake, and thero was tho usual tush for tho boatn, but oearly nll tho boats wero staved. One boat with a few sailorg left the ship in a cowardly ' manner, rofusiug aid. Two boats wero saved. The Captaiu endcavored to compel obedienco by ftring a revolver ovor their heads. During two hours six can: non shots wero fired, when the powder damjiened. DistréfB signáis, rockets md blue lights wero unanswerod. At micbiight the fog lifted, in a minute revealing tlie lighthouso. The waves were still sweoping the decks and carrying awuy victims. At 2 o'clock the deckhouse, in which wero tho women and childron, was swept away. Tho crios and shrieks of the dotims wero heartrending. There foDówed n ghastly silenco aft. The sniokestack feil, crusking somo of tho boats and two others were carried away. The remainder folI lowed the Captain to the f orward bridge. Each succeedingwave took fresh victims. Some took refuge in the mainmast ajid sorao on the foremast. Al, 3 o'clock the Captain ond two other officers were on the bridge. Tho Captain descended for a moment to render assistance and wa.. swept away. 'Thus perished a brave mau,' says Mr. Stern. At this tinte about ten persons were clinging to the rigging of the mainmast and thirty to thftt of the foremast. The ship liad careened, Jier yards touching the water, and the tide was risirg. At 5 o'clock the fog lifted and the survivors shouted, but their cries were unavailing. At 7 1 o'clock the mainmast, and at a quarter to 8 tho foromast, both of iron, feil; Uien two of tho St. Agnes' boats came aud resoued the few wlio had managod j to keep afloat. It was reported yesteri day that there -were 103 women on board. The survivors were taken to-day from Penzanco to Plymouth, whence they will be sent j forward to Hamburg, where there is the ! greatest excitement. It is asserted that I life-saving belts were issued to women. I It is certa in that most of tho passengers j iound none. Au order was given that the lirst boat should take the women and children. This boat capsized. Poleman ; saya Beven boats wero launched, and ■ only two lived. The others were staved I and ewamped immediately. Tho cries ' for help lasted until 3 o'clóck. The last voice heard was that of a littlo child in the cabin. It is not probable tho boats oould have lived even if they had been successfiüly iillod. The whole number saved is ïorty-four. Thirty bodies havo been rocovored." The munber of lives lost by this terrible calainity is not exactly known, bnt it is believed it will reach 350. There were over one hundred women on board, all of whom, with one solitary exception, perished. Tho passengers wero nearly all Germaus. The crew consisted of about 120 men. Tho passengers in all numbered. Oabin, 149; steerage, 106 adulto, 1G chiklren, and 4 infants. Many of tho lost passengers belonged in Chicago, Milwaukee, Detroit, Davenport, and other Western cities. The Schiller was one of the newest and best boats in the transcontinental servico. Her dimensions were: Length, 875 feet; beam, 40 feet; depth oi hold, 32 feet; 3,600 tons burden, and 3,000 indicated horse-power. Sho was valucd at $700,000, and was insurod for her full value. Her cargo was valued at f150,000, and was fully insured. She also oarried six kegg contaimng 300,000 in gold, and 250 mail-bags, containing the entire continental mail.