The Champion steamer, hence to Portland, hove in sight yesterday afternoon, having in tow a dismantled vessel, which at first was supposed to be the wreck of the steamer Young Australian, but turned out to be the steamer Melbourne, from Port Elliott, bound to Port Adelaide. Captain Helpman, of the steamship Champion, reports that on the 20^th instant, at midnight, whilst beating down Backstairs Passage (at the time it was blowing very hard) we sighted a vessel ahead coming down before the wind on the starboard bow. The Champion put her helm to starboard, when the Melbourne put her helm immediately to port, which enabled the Champion to make her out to be a steamer ; she immediately reversed her engines, but at the same time running into the Melbourne abaft her port paddlebox, carrying away her funnel, and quite disabling her. At this time it was quite dark ; in fact the Champion had burnt blue lights for some time. The position of the Melbourne being discovered covered about two hours after the accident, a hawser was made fast to the disabled vessel, and having been taken in tow by the Champion, she was brought in. The Champion has received damage to the extent of �100, all the injuries being above water. S. A. Register, December 22, 1854

SG & SGTL Vol 12 ; Page 7 ; 8 Jan 1855

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