The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-05-05
JUDGMENT FOR THE MARIToNA.
Sailing Vessels Have Some Rights
Which Steamships Must Respect.

SalllnB vessels Have some hlRnLS
Which Steamships Must Respect.
An interesting case was on trial this week
In the United States District Court on the
hearing Of which one is reminded Of the
difficulties which were encountered by our
progenitors in the construction of the Tower
Of Babel. The case was on a libel and
cross-libel in admiralty for a collision on
the high seas
From the standpoint of the libellant 1t
appears that on the evening of Jan. 9, 1883,
the Austrian brig Maratona, of Lussinpfc-
colo, Dalmatia, tight. staunch and strong,
bound on voyage from Mayaguiz, Porto
Rico, to Tybee roads, was going close by
the wind, with light breeze blowing from
the south, and making four or five knots
per hour. With her galaxy of stars, the
moon no longer the pale goddess of the
evening had hidden her face behind the
western hills, whose foot lines doomed out
dimly, where beacons marked the bound
aries OF oceans sway, darkness spread its
folds over the bosom of the deep, and
nanght was left to guide the mariner Ger
the pIthless waters, save that little west
by north far across the waters a cheering
beam struggled from Tybee light and from
the northwest Martins Industry lightship
phantom light is seen to rise and fall like
a sparkling gem nesting in the dark folds
Of oceans bosom.
The brig was on the port tack, heading
about west southwest, with lights properly
set. Suddenly a Slavonian cry is heard
from the lookout seaman Giovanni Caste
lanich, which being interpreted was
ship ahoy-a white light on the port side
forward" A half hour later the Stranger
shows green light, indicating a steamer,
and little later red light, and again a
green, and as Giovanni calls out to Giuseppe
Carina, the officer on the deck, that the
huge monster is down upon them, be stands
on the brink Of oblivion and stares eternity
in the face. The scenes of his boyhood
pass through his mind-again he walks
the verdant hills of Dalmatia with
shepherds crook tending his fathers foclxs,
again the alurements Of the blue Adriatic
have enticed his bounding hopes over end
less seas, thoughts of a mother, and perhaps
Of another, of hopes deferred, dreams never
TO be realized, probably in a Slavonic way
sweep through the sailors mind Then
comes crash, cry of mon, and the great
steamer State of Texas strikes the Mara
tona like the swoop OF an eagle upon It's
prey. The struggle is brief and when the
steamer frees herself, the whte-winged bird
of commerce lies lame and crippled upon
the waters, but not without having also in
t1lcted serious damage upon the steamer.
Both vessels llbeled each other, and it was
left TO the court to decide who was to blame
At the threshold of the trial it was found
that mate Giuseppe Carina spoke only the
dialect Of Dalmatia, and for some time it
looked as if it would be impossible to find
disnterested interpreter, who could trans
late the patois of that country, which, to
judge from Giuseppe seems to consist
largely of wild gesticulations and pantomi-
mic evolutions, particularly in the descrip-
ton of collision
In Mr. Trapani, in charge of the Italian
department, with Messrs. A. Il. Salas & Co.,
of this city, however, was found an admir-
able interpreter, and the temper In which
Mr.. Carlna took tho croSS-examination of
American counsel, which was probably a
novel proceeding to him, showed clearly
that its force was not lost by striking the
object second hand.
When Giovanni CaStelanich was put
upon the stand it was found that he spoke
only SlavOnian, and his lingo was little
too near Sanscrit even for Mr. Trapani
However Russian tar was finally picked
up who could translate Slavonian into Ital-
ian, and with Mr.. Trapani's assistance this
was finally converted into English.
The clerk administered the oath to the
witnesses by passing it around by way of
the interpreters. The next witness put up
was an American seaman who was mis-
taken by the clerk for one of the crew of
the Austrian brig, and he was on the point
of having the oath administered in pure
Slovenian when he was given to under
stand by the witness that he usually did his
necessary swearing in such American as
needed no Interpretation.
The court last night in lengthy decision,
in which he held That sailing vessels had the
right Of way to old ocean, held that the
Maritona was entitled to damages, and re-
ferred the case for the ascertainment of
same.
The Coast line railroad case, which was ar
gued at length by r. r. Richards, Esq, yes
terday morning, of counsel tor Desvergers,
was resumed last night after the decision in
the admiralty case, and ex-Gov. Chamber
lain addressed the court at length for Par
sons. The court has not yet rendered a de-
cSion in the case.
To-day court will adjourn for the term,
and on Monday court will convene at
Macon.
ON RAIL AND CROSSTIE.