Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1879-11-14
OCEAN DISASTERS,
A Collision and n shiBwPcck Forty.five
Lives Lost.

The steamship Champion, from New York
for Charleston, was run into and sunk yester.
day morning on the Capes. Thirty lives were
lost.
The collision took bIate tbirtt.dve TITLES
eastward Of Capes May and Henlopen, lust
about daylight, at which time considerable
log lay on the ocean off the shore. The shin
Lady Octayia was much damaged and could
not proceed further on the voyage. Accord.
ingly signal of distress was hoisted and a
lag shown for q, tug In response one of the
large Delaware Bay g-b6ats came to her and
gave her tow. Sue is now OH her waf do
the Delaware River bound to PHILADELPHIA,
The breakwater is full of shipping, and
masters of vessels are at anchor here, and
the residents Of Pilottown are fockinp To
Lewes for news, The Champion was one
of the first iron steamships launched in this
country, having been built in 1859 at vii
mington, Delaware, for the late Commodore
Vanderbilt She had frequently been over
hauled and repaired, and was considered in ex-
Cellent condition. The steamer was rated at
one and half. Her original tonnage was
l,452, but Of late was LAS. She had three
decks and two masts; was built In four com.
partments and was brigantine rigged Her
length was two hundred and thirty-four feet
breadth of beam thirty-one feet, and depth of
hold twenty-five feet. She was eouipped with
beam engine. The Champion originally ran
10 Panama. She was sold by Commodore
Vanderbilt to the Pacific Mail Steamship Com
pany, from which she was purchased about
twelve years apo for the Charleston Line. Her
last voyage was the two hundred and sixty
sixth that she had made while in the service
OF the latter company. The vessel had never
met with any mishap before and was consid.
cred remal kablY lucky ship.
Captain James johnson, of Greenock, mas
ter of the Lady Octavia, makes the following
statements My ship arrived at Delaware
breakwater from Rio Janeiro for ortlers the
2f31 Of October. and aaflad fOrN
ten O'Clock on Thursday night last. About a
quarter past two yesterday morning, when we
had sailed about thirty miles, a collision oc-
CURED. The night was clear and warm, and
the moon was shining brightly. We were
moving at the rate of three and half or four
knots per hour. My chief mate reported a
steamer ahead ten minutes before the acci-
dent happened. The steamer continued on
her course, and | on mine, and we ap-
preached each other; but Immediately before
the crash the man on the lookout of my
vessel reported the steamers starboard light
from our port bow, and then she shifted and
her port light became visible, showing that
she had turned on her course. We had a man
on the lookout constantly, but there could
have been no lookout on the Champion. Her
Captain, Lockwood, subsequently told me he
had altered his course a moment before the
collision, but assigned no reason for doing so,
and that he did not see my ship, which fndi-
Gates that my idea in regard to the lookout
was correct. Indeed / was informed that the
man who should have been In the lookout
was aloft loosening sail.
The ship sank in four minutes after the col
lsion and there was terrible panic. l at
once ordered the boats lowered, and in fact
they were In the water before the steamer
went down. Two of the crew Jumped on
board my ship at the time she struck.
In all thirty persons were lost, among them
,he first mate and five women. Twelve of the
missing were passengers.
mean to say that the steamer came at us
end on, and there was no possible means of
avoiding her. 1t was impossible to tell the
extent OF her injuries, she went down go
quickly and there was much confusion. Four
If the passengers and two of the crew were
'ent to New York in the bark that came
alongside, but | did not get their names or
he names of the vessels they are on.
Captain Lockwood, in answer to interroga-
ives, gave the following account of the dis
.ster:
We had remarkably quiet voyage up to
he time OF the accident. When we left New
FORK the weather was foggy, but this cleared
Iway before we were ten hours out. On the
morning of the collision | left my room about
i've minutes past three and returned to the
blot house for few seconds. had hardly
got back to my room again when heard some
me sing out, Sail ahead ana hard byp
umped into the pilot-house, rang the bell TO
top the steamer, and then to back at full
peed. l saw that the ship was coming
Town upon us and that collision was
Inevitable. She was east northeast, and we
we're going south southwest, half south. The
nip had tull sail on and headed right at us.
We were going under steam and had lust set
he fore topsail. She struck us right on the
lows OF the cathead on the starboard side and
rushed right into US, staving in our whole
lows. was afraid that my vessel would sink
q almost an instant, and at once ordered the
lrst mate to 90 forward and see what water,
I any, the Champion was making; but before
lie had time to return | found that my ship
vas fast sinking. then ordered the second
nate to get the boats in readiness that is, to
ut them loose from my ship, as it was fast
,otng down. l also ordered him to have the
life raft cut sdrtft, so that it might be rendered
Isetul in case the steamer went down. as was
fraid she would give US no warning. The next
york was to warn the lady passengers of their
reat danger. | rushed into the cabin and
rled aloud, Ladies, the ship is going down;
ou have not moment to spare; never mind
our clothing, come out at once.' 1 believe
here were but three ladies there, but of this
am not sure; none of them came out, and
he only response received was loud scream
ng and hallooing. They could have come out
cry easily II they wished, but suppose they
ecame panic stricken. My duties called me
way, and was still in hopes that the women
lad obeyed my summons, but unfortunately
ound out afterwards they had not. / believe
hey we're all lost. There has been but one
emale saved, and that is the stewardess,
Cross. When the ship went down [
Tas standing by the main rigging, and near me
TODD number Of the crew. Isaid, Boys, save
ourselves and don't mind me- Each Of them
hen took life preserver and expressed their |
to stand by me. After few |
econds said, Throw the life raft overheard. |
viii come afterwards. Jump for your lives
his was speedily done, and they left me. |
1as the last to leave the vessel, and went |
own with her. | soon came to the surface |
gain This may seem strange, but IL Is |
eyertheless fact. kept near the surface |
4 the water, and so l suppose did not ex-
erience the suction OF the vessel while she |
las going down. When l came to the top of |
he water found myself close to the life raft, |
n which l was pulled by those already there. |
have been commander of the Champion |
Or the past thirteen years. Mr.. Leonard, |
rst officer, was in charge when the collision !
Ook place. he ran forward the moment the |
rash occurred, and that was the last saw of |
i'm. lie was tried and experienced seaman |
nd had sailed with me for over fourteen
ears. He was man about forty-eight years |
ID, resident OF Brooklyn, and he leaves
rent just before the collision, adjoined the
Hot house. In fact you could almost step from |
ne to the other. The Champion carried about |
We life boats and life raft. understand |
hat four passengers and two seamen were
licked up by bark bat came along some !
lme after the collision. l have heard since |
hat she was the Norwegian, but that is ali. |
'one OF us knew her name or anything about |
er beyond the fact that she was evidently |
ound north. The Lady Octayia, the ship |
hat ran into us, saved nine lives; we saved |
he rest on the life-raft, except, OF course,
hose who were picked up by the unknown |
ark. The night was beautiful starlight one, |
18th little moonlight. We were about thirty |
liles from land from Cape Henlopen, which |
ore between fifteen or sixteen miles east |
ortheast OF Five Fathom Bank LiKhtship. We |
Iere in about fourteen fathom water at the |
me. The last saw of the Champion, or at |
,ast her wreck, the topmasts were about two |
set out Of water. / would rather not Just at
resent say anything about who was to blame |
or the collision, but l think the ship could |
ave avoided it.n
New YORK, Nov. g.
The Austrian bark Rebus, arriving In port |
his afternoon, brings news OF the loss Of the |
,hooner Petrol and hfteen Of her passengers |
nd crew, Including the Captain. She also |
rings siN surViVOrR ALI that wara laft ~ .