The New York herald., 1879-11-14
THE LOST CHAMPION.

CORRECTED STATEMENT OF MR.. Mitchell, ONE
OF THE SURVIVING PAssENGERs-DID THE
CAPTAIN DESERT THE SHIP?
Mr. Joseph Mitchell Of No. 1919 Washington street.
one of the surviving passengers of the Inflated
steamship Champion. in conversation with HERALD
reporter yesterday said that the statements obtained
from him on his arrival in this city were in many
respects grossly inaccurate because of his being
stupehed by liquor at the time. He did not know.
he said. one-half of what he was saying. and made
many statements tnat he now knows to be
mistakes His manner. while in conversation,
was extremely straightforward and cool. although
at times he showed plainly that he had
not entirely recovered from the nervous con-
dition his extraordinary escape had created
He said that he had never drank liquor be-
fore and was filed with it on the way to the city.
He was cold and in a state of extreme nervous de-
bility and the liquor seemed to quiet and warm him
more than anything else. As he now tells the story
of the disaster and it differs widely from his
previous statements and reflects greatly upon the
captain and officers of the ship. When the ship
struck he said. DO was in his stateroom and msde
all haste to reach the deck. He is positive that he
did not occupy more than two minutes In doing
this. As he going on deck he met
the stewardess going below. She was crying
Wrt her hands He did not see her after sha.
and does not know how she was saved. When he
reached the deck he could not see the captain or o
GERS nor did he the liferaft. He never saw the
raft and did not know whether there was any on
board. He looked about for life preserver but
could find none. Then he turned his attention to
the boats and saw some people. whom he thinks
were passengers trying to lower one. Some one
called for tn,nss there none we're anv Of
the crew about they would have known where to
find the axes if there were any on board The ship
then began settle forward and he up the after
deck catch the rail. Before reaching there. how
ever. the ship gave great lurch and went down
headforemost, carrying him and others with it. 1t
was about eight minutes. he thought from the time
OF the shock until she went down.
He heard no one calling the passengers. and says
distinctly that he believes tho captain left the ship
on the raft with some OF the crew within three
minutes after the shock. 1t very clear night
and not foggy and he is quits positive that the boats
were not lowered or cut away. but went down
with the ship. The story OF his struggle with the
waves and the assistance received from a skyhght
has already been told He is very positive indeed,
about his statements rejecting on the crew, and
says he is willing to make affidavit to the facts as he
relates them. He went to the company's Office in
this city. he says and asked the manager what he
could do for him. He had lost $205 in money and
that they would give him his passage money, but
laughed at him when he asked for clothes.
TESTIMONY OF THE FIRST MATE OF THE LADY
ocTAvIA.
PHILADELPHIA. Nov Is. 1879.
The investigation by the British Court of Inquiry
into the causes Of the Champion disaster
sumed this afternoon, Acting Consul Crump pre-
siding.
James Ferguson, tho first officer of tho Lady Oc-
tavia, testifed:-At two A. NJ. November 2. had
charge Of the Lady Octavia's deck; she sailing
barely three and half knots per hour; 1t twenty
minutes to three walked forward and saw both my
lights burning brightly and the lookout at his post;
then walked up on the poop, and In q few minutes
noticed green light on our port bow; thinking it
was sailing vessel took bearing Of the light.
which was north-northeast; I finally saw with the
aid Of night glasses that the vessel approaching had
o masthead light which burned very dimly. and yet
q few minutes later discovered her red side light;
the first light was the green side light; was
standing the weather side Of the Wheel and about
three minutes after saw the green light saw the
red light, the former being shut out entirely and
made sure she was going astern saw the red light
about two minutes and said must be New York tug
boat going to speak us; said this because thought
she was going around under the lee quarter; then
she shut out the red Light and showed green light
again. about three minutes after I the
light first she appeared to be sheering
altering her course; when she shut out
the red light and showed the green I almost
certain there would be collision. less, and
before had time to do anything the steamer struck
us end on little abatt the stem; when she struck
us was on the weather side of the wheel; it
was going down of the poop met the master; ran
forward on the forecastle to which vessel
most damaged; looked over the bow; OF course.
the first thing saw was the steamship IN actual
top OF our stem; only heard one man cry tor help.
Ferguson piled with questions by members Of
the Court, put insisted that ne mad no time to get
out of the steamers way after seeing the green light
the second time, and that scarcely half q minute
elapsed after this before the collision occurred In
all only ton minutes passed between nrst seeing
the green light ana the collision. The night
dark but the atmosphere clear.
The inquiry will be resumed tomorrow.