The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-12-12
TIE ACCIDENT TO TIE CHAMPION
Full Details of the Collision.

The New York Evening Post, Of Wednesday,
brings us the following detailed account OF the
collision at sea OF Long Branch: on Monday, at
midnight, between the coastwise steamers Cham
pion and Isaac Bell 1t Will be seen that 1t veri-
nes the account we have already published.
The Champion was at the time on her way to
this city from Charleston, S. T., and carried
cargo OF assorted merchandise and about fifteen
passengers. Nothing OF any importance occurred
during the voyage until The vessel arrived OH tnat
part OF the New Jersey coast known as the
Woodlands, about twenty miles south OF Sandy
Hook, when de- nse fog was encountered. Inc
vessel continued on her way to the city, put tne
fog became SO dense that the passage became
dangerous. The steamers lights were unable 10
penetrate the surrounding darkness, and to give
notice Of their position to approaching vessels,
the whistle was blown continuously. The ofncers
were all on deck and all hands were on the looK-
out. Toward midnight the captain heard tne
swered with the usual signal to go to port.
Every effort was made to avoid the collision
that nov seemed inevitable, but without avail.
The vesses approached each other. orders were
one vessel to the other, but In the darkness and
confusion the words were lost. The engines OF
both vessels were stopped, but the impetus OF the
champion was 80 great that she @ ssraSk ne Isaac Ss
smashing her guards and carrying away her
Whee!house.
The damage sustained by the Champion is
slight in comparison with that inflicted upon the
Isaac Bell. The Champion received the shock on
the port side OF the bow and had hole Knocked
in her about eight feet long and four leet wide,
about six feet above the water line, and also had
her bulwarks badly crushed and spllntered. But
as all her Injuries were above water her condition
was not dangerous and her sailing capacities
were not impaired.
The case was different with the Isaac Bell. She
left her dock Monday afternoon and started on
her VOYAGE South. The passage through the Mar
rows and down the bay was as uneventful as
such passages usually are. and when the night
closed In and the vessel stooa oat .o ine me open
fortune. When or the Woodlands, Captain
Brakeman, who was on deck. heard the fog whis-
tie OF the Champion and answered IT, Tne en-
gines were slowed TO onebell, and finally stopped.
The head light OF the approaching steamer was
seen about one point and half on the starboard
bow, but the vessels were then so close together
that 10 effort on the part OF either could avert
the threatened collision. The champion nnm came M
starboard side, forward OF the paddle. The
Iron bow OF the Champion ran along the Side OF
the vessel for q distance OF nearly eight leet,
pioughIng into the very tlm0ers, and crushing
the outer planking into atoms. The Champion
then glanced or and struck the wheei-house, cut
ting Il from the sides OF the vessel, reducing
the iron wheel within to mere wreck. The bow
of the Champion crashed through the wheel and
struck the shaft with such violence as to bend 1t,
own Injuries were received. The wheel was o.
most cut OF, and hung from the shaft shapeless
mass or wood and iron. The iron spokes were
bent up and knotted like ball OF wire; but
such was the quality Of the metal, that 1t did not
break Not rlvet was started, but the entire
wheel, bent into O shapeless mass, cung to the
vessels side. After the collision the vessels
separated, and both were stopped that their con-
dillon might be examined. 1t was soon ascer.
taIned that neither vessel was leaking, but the
Isaac Bell, being unable to use her machinery,
was taken in tow by the Champion, and conduct
ed up to quarantine, where tug-boat was pro.
cured and she was taken up to her dock. The
Isaac Bell had on board 8 mixed cargo and abou,
seven passengers, sll OF whom were badly fright
ened. but none OF them injured. One Of the
sailors, named Benjamin James, was killed. At
the time OF the accident, he was leaning over the
rail, at the side OF the wheel-house, and was
struck on the right shoulder by the bow Of the
Champion. His arm was completely severed
from his body, and fell into the water. The crash
OF the wheel.house Immediately followed, and the
entire mass, as 1t went overheard, struck him,
throwing him to the decks corpse. The body was
terribly mangled and was taken up BY his COM
panions and carried below.
The damage inflicted upon the Isaac Bel!
amounts 10 about 600, and as the repairs VIII
take some time, her cargo was Immediately trans
ferred 10 two other smaller steamers, the Hatteras
and Niagara, which will sail South to-day. The
Isaac Bel ID one Of the largest steamers belonging
10 the company and her loss at this season OF the
year Is severely felt.
The repairs on the Champion will not cost over
$1,000. and she will be ready for sea again in
oh0rt time.