Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-04-29

Law OF THE WATER HIGHWAY, &C.-The
u. S. Supreme Court delivered decision yes
tcrday in the Lucille Champion collision case,
on all appeal from The Circuit Court for Mary
land, III wi ich certain nautical rules as applica-
BILE to water highways are accepted as binding
BY the court, making the decision Que not only
OF local, but of great general interest. Suit
was brought by the owners Of the schooner
Champion against the steamer Lucille for COL
liding with and sinking the former in the
Chesapeake bay, at one o'clock a. N. of Dec
90, 1868. The Champion was bound to Balti-
more from Milford Haven, Va, and the
Lucille was bound from Baltimore to Whining
ton, n. e. The United States District Court
for Maryland, in which the suit was brought
awarded $4,000 damages and the costs against
the steamer. The case was appealed to the
Circuit Court for Maryland Judge Bond pre-
siding, W here, on Dee 5, 1871, the decree Of
the District Court was affirmed, and the case
was then appealed to the Supreme Court of
the United States, The decision of the court
was read by MIR. Justice Hunt. The court
held that noutical rules require that when a
steamer and sailing vessel arc approaching, that
from the very moment the sailor is in view the
steamer shall watch with the utmost diligence
her course and movements, SO as to be able to
adopt such timely measures Of prccaution as
will necessarily prevent the two boats coming
in contact Fault on the part of the sailing
vessel does not abSolvc the steamer suffering
itself to get in too dangerous proximity. The
steamer in allowing such proximity, is charge
able with all the damages resulting the steam
er is bound TO keep out Of the way Of the sail
ing vessel In this particular case the vessels
when sighted, were about two miles apart, run
ming nearly parallel, with perhaps half point
difference tending to conyergence 1t was the
duty of the schooner to keep on her course and
Of the steamer to avoid her, but instead Of this
the steamer kept on. The court, from all the
circumstances, cannot believe the allegation
schooner put up her helm it was to avoid the
collision then IMMINENT and it is quite prob,
able that she did. The court Is satisfied that
no change was made in the course of the steam
or till :lic was almost on the schooner, and
that the collision WAS the suSult Of negligence
on the part OF tho former. The court do not
consider the damages excessive, and the decree
Of the Circuit Court is affirmed, with interest
from March II, 1869, ut the rate allowed by
the law Of Maryland. --Bo(tinaore San.
y NICE i'oiNr THE Supreme Court of the
State says The Chicago Tribune, is to be called
upon to decide question Of importance to all
hotcl.kccpcrs, to wit: Whether guest" and
'boartcr' are the same, 50 far as concerns
the responsibility Of the proprietor for their
baggage. Justice Boyden held yesterday, that
there was distinction between the two terms
and from that opinion an appeal is to he taken.
The case before the Justice was that Of Meservc
VS.. Moss. The defendant boarded at the Pal
mcr House before the fire. and was resident
of Chicago, and in business here. One day his
room was entered by thief, who stole clothing
valued at $lO5. When his bill was presented
he claimed that the sos should be deducted,
lis the proprietor, MGSeryc was responsible for
his (Aloss's) property. Meservc denied the
claim, refused to compromise, and finally
brought suit to recover the full amount of the
bill--sl66l5 The Justice said that there
was broad distinction between guest and a
boarder; that while the proprietor of hotel
was liable for the value Of guest 5 baggage,
he could not be held responsible for that of a
boarlcr. There had been 10 decision upon
the point" and he would accordingly give
judgment in favor Of the complainant If there
be distinction between the two terms, the
hotel proprctors will undoubtedly be anxious
to know it; and until the Supreme Court pas
scs upon the question, as much attention should
be bestowed upon the trunk Of a ''boardcr' as
upon that Ola guest