Year: 1879

bearing down upon us. rang the bell to reverse
the engine but the ship was that before
headway was checked we were struck The whole
of the Champions bows stove in and the fore
topmast and head Of the topmast went by the board


OF THE FIRST OFFICER.


al then ordered the first officer forward to If
the ship was making much water. but even before
he called out felt the ship settling at the bow The
first officer returned. and 1 fear that he
carried down under the house which protects the
forecastle hatch. I then ordered the second mate
aft to clear the boats. but. finding the steamer
settling rapidly. directed him to cut tho falls
away. then ran into the cabin and told everybody
to come on deck without waiting to Dress then
ordered the second mate to cut the life raft loose.
and opened the boxes Of life preservers and dis
tributed them about the deck. telling all in sight
put one on.


''rhe deck was at this moment standing at an
angle of forty-fve degrees. With sudden lurch
forward the Champion went downs There
chance for any one to climb into the rigging Those
who were saved were fortunate enough to get hold
of something or wore life preservers. The conduct
of the second officer deserves great praise for with
much GOODNESS when the life raft became jammed
against tho rigging he sprang to the spot
and averted its loss. Everybody was swept of
into the water, which was so cold that
one could live long in it. never heard such
crashing in all my life when the water entered the
vessel. The air rushed up the companionway and
roared under the upper deck like the widest hurri
cane. have been in that ship thirteen years and
was really very fond Of the craft.


THE GREATEST LOSS.


IT am deeply grieved about the loss of the ladies'.
God knows tried to get them out. I went into the
cabin aoain at m md callad To them to
come with me. The doors tried were fast and all
the noise made produced no response. My voice
was Knocked by the roaring OF the air under the
deck beneath my feet. Despite all the other
noises, that chamber of death seemed silence OF
the grave The passengers all abed and asleep
the sleep that succeeds the anxiety Of departure 1t
was utterly impossible to do more; and, though
say it, no man could have done more. The ladies all
went down-two Of them personally known to and
esteemed by me-Mrs. Andrews and her young
daughter, Miss Mary Mikell. The loss of the
first oficer is also great blow to Was he to
blamep We have been for nearly fourteen years
shipmates. and would trust his Judgment as
quickly as my own. No; do not think he made
any mistake.


THE HOUR AND THE PLACE.


"My watch stopped at 3h lin. 3Os.. you see.
That marks the moment went into the There
was time to lower a single boat. We all took the
water. Any one Of the officers men can tell you
of the efforts made the people floating in the
water. When left the vicinity Of the wreck after
daylight on Friday morning all that could be seen
of the Champion was the cap of her main topmast
showing few feet above the ocean SWELL The
collision occurred at point sixteen miles east
northeast of Five Fathom Bank Lightship-or thirty
miles in round numbers off Cape Henlopen.''


FATALITY.


ssJIow do Won eypain the disaster asked he
porter, rs the train drew up at Trenton junction.


sIt was fate. sir. We were not due to sail until to-
day; but 1t found impossible to get the LOO
tons of coal out Of the George W. Clyde in time for
her to go, and were despatched The Clyde
had been chartered by the Pacific Mail Steamship
Company to go to Aspnwall and coaled for much
longer voyage than usual. Some suit at law which
do not understand prevented her going to Chagres,
and SO she will leave tonight tomorrow for
Charleston. The Champion was not insured for
marine risk. although she against FIRE. She is q
total loss to the company"


THE CHAMPIONS SECOND NATE


Charles Muller. the second mate of the Champion.
was attired in fur cap, long overcoat and pair Of
rubber boots. He said :-sH have been ON board the
Champion over ten years. I had charge OF the
watch on Thursday night, which was composed of
three men besides myself. Nothing unusual oc-
Cured and the lights set at the masthead and
on both sides of the vessel usual. At twelve
O'Clock relieved by the first mate and turned
into bed. My stateroom was forward in the mess
ROOM About three O'Clock in the morning was
awakened by the sound of two bells striking This
was the signal to stop. Then there was pause Of
about half o minute and frightfu crash, which
shook the whole vessel


ON DECK


Lights were burning in our mess room. and
pulled on my boots and ran deck. The captain
out of the pilot house as came up and called
to me. "Go aft and clear away the boats" He then
to the cabin and told the passengers to come
deck in o hurry could feel the ship sinking rap
idly. I seized two and ran aft gave of
the to sailor and ordered him to cut away the
lashngs from the port quarter boat. and began to
cut the lashngs from the starboard quarter boat
myself While doing so Isaw large ship right into
us on starboard bow. Several men on her
forecastle and the Champion was backing away at
full speed. When the lashings cut ordered
the men to swing the boats out. All tho
people saved then deck. think;
but there did not to be much excite
ment and hardly any confusion. The bow Of
steamer was going dow rapidly and she began
to lurch and tremble as she sank. The captain or
dered me to cut away the lashnRs from the life
raft and ran to do saw the captain go to the
cabin again and order the ladies to come deck
without waiting to dress. as the vessel was going
down fast. took knife and cut away the lashings
from the life raft had good deal Of trouble in
doing so. the ship stood nearly end The cook
helped me- and just tho raft free Of its fast
enings the water broke the dock of the Cham
pion and she went down with plunge. bow first.


SAVING THE RAFT


"The life raft caught under the mainstay
and the side hung to was dragged under the
water until the raft stood upright. 1 climbed
up the raft as I was being dragged to the bottom
and pushed against the mainstay with all tho
strength had Each second seemed hour rs
struggled for life under the in the darkness.
Just as was about to give up gave q tremendous
push. and the raft sliding from under the mainstay
to the surface. was just able to climb 1t.
when saw tho cook clinging on to the other side.
although he had been utterly helpless under the
water. then the captain swimming in the