A stern view of one of the clinker-built white lifeboats from the German passenger/liner Schiller (1873). The boat is dried out on Hugh Town Beach, St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly, at low tide. In the distance, near the waterline is a second white clinker-built life boat tied by a long painter to the stern of the foreground boat. Two men are studying the distant lifeboat. The lifeboat has 'SCHILLER' on the port quarter and 'HAMBURG' on the starboard.

Other small boats and a cargo barge are also dried out on the beach. A brigantine is grounded, listing to starboard inside the short breakwater and a larger three-masted barque is dried out along the outer wall of the pier.

The Schiller was on passage from New York to Hamburg with a cargo of mail, general cargo and 300,000 $20 gold pieces. On 7 May 1875 the ship struck Retarrier Ledge, Western Rocks, in dense fog having reduced to four knots and posted extra lookouts to see the light or hear the bell from Bishop Rock - including volunteers from the passengers. The ship pulled clear of the rocks but three large waves hit her beam-on, causing the ship to hit the reef broadside too and list rapidly. Despite firing rockets and sign-guns their distress call was mistaken for a vessel signalling her arrival off Scilly. Successive waves washed passengers and crew into the water. Of the eight lifeboats on board only two could be use, resulting in the loss of 311 passengers and crew. Only 42 men and one woman survived.