After our epic entertainment last night when we were still up at gone 1am, we all have a lie in. Eventually we all rise. Roger demonstrates “happy baby” to Olly who is a yoga enthusiast! Roger & I cook breakfast of bacon, eggs & mushrooms. Richard who initially declined breakfast because of his run weakened and joined us! Janet was her usual healthy self and stuck to overnight oats. Later we walked to the Old Town. We are all surprised how hilly this small island is. It’s a bright day but we wrap up as rain is expected later. We walk to the Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin and are welcomed by Cannon Perran R Gay and his helpers who tells us they now have more covid on St Mary’s than all the Scillies. 1 in 8 now has the virus! Onwards passed hedgrows full of wild garlic and daffodils to the beautiful Old Town churchyard which must have the best views from the island looking out to see over the beach bay. A great place to rest! Janet is keen to find Harold Wilson’s grave. Harold and his wife Mary retired to Scilly and were welcomed by the locals, living here until they died. We learn about the tragic sinking of the SS Schiller from a local couple walking through the graveyard. Onwards to the Old Town Pub which is heaving. So few bars or eateries on the island so the locals book all the tables early. We manage a table outside for refreshments before the walk back. It starts to rain so we are pretty soaked when we get back. Janet starts baking and turns out delicious scones which are welcome along with the clotted cream and raspberry jam. It looks like Roger has purchased too many hot cross buns so Janet knocks up a bread & butter pud for tea. As a man who likes his pud’s I think I will never get Roger home at this rate. Olly is concentrating on a new trick which we hope he will show us later.
Although the Scilly Isles has had many awful shipwrecks, one of the worst was the S.S.Schiller, a German ferry which hit the Retarrier Ledges in 1875. The Schiller was one of the largest vessels of her day, and was making a fast transatlantic passage from New York to Hamburg via Southampton. She was carrying a cargo of sewing machines, gold coins, 254 passengers and 118 crew. On the evening of the 7th May, the Schiller was somewhere off the Scilly Isles and encountered thick fog. She slowed to 4 knots, and her lookouts kept watch for the reassuring sight or sound of the Bishops Rock Lighthouse or foghorn. Neither were seen, and the Schiller slowly crept inside the Bishops Rock and struck the Retarrier Ledges. The Captain managed to reverse off the reef, but two large waves smashed the ship broadside to the ledges and the hull started to break up. Many of the lifeboats were fatally damaged when the Schiller struck, being ground against the rocks, and most of the others were found to be defective due to poor maintenance. As some were cut loose, they just fell into the sea with all their passengers and were crushed between the ship and the rocks. Panic spread and there were extraordinary violent scenes, with men pushing away women and children from the boats so that they could save themselves. The crew were just as bad, and many of the women and children took refuge in the main cabin. Their relief was short lived as the roof was torn off by a huge wave, which sucked all the women and children out onto the deck, where more waves threw their bodies into the sea and drowned them. The Captain tried to restore order by firing into the rioting passengers but it was no good. In the end only two boats bearing just 27 people managed to get away. As the Schiller started to slip further into the water people took to the rigging where many were killed or maimed by flying chains and other sailing gear. The Captain had ordered signal cannons to be fired to notify those on shore of their distress, but they were mistaken for requests for a pilot cutter. However at daybreak a cutter from St. Agnes, set out to investigate more reports of gunfire and were shocked to come across the remains of the Schiller. They picked up five survivors and rowed back to St Mary’s to raise the alarm. ( credit Peter Mitchell)
In memory of Louise Holzmaister. Born at New York May 15th 1851. Lost her life in the wreck of the SS Schiller off the Scilly Isles may 7th 1875. Her body resting in the deep. This monument has been erected to her memory as a mark of affection by her huspand.
Boats came from all over to try and find survivors but they were few and far between. Some people had managed to get to the small uninhabited islands and were rescued but for the rest hope had vanished. The boats searched for hours but all that was left were lifeless bodies and ships debris floating on the water. Of the 254 passengers and 118 crew only 37 survived. None of them were children.
The Scillonians took great care to gather as many of the bodies as possible, identify, and bury them with reverence and dignity. So impressed were the German Government, that when the Two World Wars broke out between England and Germany, orders were sent out to prevent bombing or attack of the islands in recognition off the kindnesses that the Islanders had shown their countrymen all those years before.
To be continued…….
Liquid Tales 