CALAMITOUS SHIPWRECKS AND LOSS OF LIFE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VIII, Issue 510, 23 September 1857, Page 4

CALAMITOUS SHIPWRECKS AND LOSS OF LIFE.

COLLISION BETWEEN THE STEAMER LADY BIRD AND CHAMPION. THIRTY-TWO LIVES LOST.

The following account of this melancholy accident, which took place on Monday night about ten miles this side of Cape Otway, has been handed to us (Melbourne Herald, Aug. 28,) by one of the passengers by. the Lady Bird. We r.Ji'rain from making any comments at present, as, in all probability, an enquiry will be made into the cause of the collision, when the facts will be laid before our readers.

The Lady Bird left Sandridge Pier on Monday, at two p.m., and continued her course to Portland, with' a nice light breeze, and with every prospect of a speedy termination to her voyage, when about, halt-past eleven p.m. a shout and a, crash were simultaneously heard, and every one was immediately on deck. It then appeared that the Champion steamer was struck by us immediately abaft the mizenmast, and she showed every indication of having1 been cut .through. Captain-Helpraan, of the Champion, in his shirtsleeves, jumped into the bows of the Lady Bird and most urgently begged that the boats might be lowered. Every effort was made to save the passengers, but of the crew and passengers of the ill fitted Champion, numbering about sixty, only twenty-eight were saved; thns there must have perished the large number, of thirty-two, of whom seventeen were women and children, to whom no assistance could be rendered, as the Champion sank within five minutes after the collision, going down stern foremost. The Lady Bird was supposed by all on board likely to share the same fate, as for a considerable time the water seemed to flow into the damaged bows fearfully, and to fill below. The Captain however stood firmly by his post, and by getting out the cargo from the fore hold-promptly and sending it aft, lightened her considerably forward, when hope once more revived, and slowly and sadly she returned to this port which she left under such favourable auspices.