The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-05-09
LIBELS THE CAPTAIN.
One Result Of the Monterey
Transit Collision.
THE LATTER WANTS $4,000.
A Claim That Capt. Ludlow, II the
Monitor, Was to Blame for the
Accident.

A10r7E-
States court. arising out Of the collision
Of the Central American Steamship Co.'S
steamer Transit win the Monterey. wAici
occurred In the ha-bor al Seattle on April
Il las As che result OF the collision. the
United States. through District Attorney
Brinksr. ibeie5 the Transit in he United
States district SQUIRT Al Tacoma on April
-. claiming that the Monterey was dam
aged Ss.sa by the collision ard that the
Transit was wholly in fault
The second chapter IN the litigation
opened yesterday In the United States dis
tricr eour, here. IN the fling of a libel in
personam'' against Capt. SicoiI Ludlow.
commander Of the Monterey. by Goraan &
Gorham. proctors for the owner OF the
steamship Transit. alleging that the col
Hsion was the farit of the captain OF the
Monterey. In anchor.ng his vessel in an
improper place, and claiming damages
against him IN the sum Of $la.co. The
action is entitled with WIlheinsea
owner Of the Norwegian steamer Transit,
VS. Nlcon IAidlow." The story Of the col
iision, from the standpoint OF the TranSir's
owners. Is given in fun in the libel After
the formal portions Of the pleading IL says:
''On the 12tn day Of April. 1885, the Tran
sit. under command Of Edward Thorssen-
sen. as master, In due course OF her said
business. left the pert of Tacoma bound
for the port Of Seattle. Tia. at the hour
OF s:8 p. m OF said day. the said steam
ship rounded the bell buoy of Duwam.sh
head, al the entrance OF Elliott bay. the
wind blowing a gale and drawing from
about south. the weather squaliy the sbb
tide just making. the wind striking said
steamer abast the beam. That II was the
intention and desire OF the master OF sail
steamship to make q starboard landing
on the north side OF the Arlington deck.
In the city Of Seattle. where freight was
said steamship rounding the said bell
buoy, and al all times thereafter In this
hoel mentioned. up TO and at the time Of
me collision herein mentioned, the United
states man-of-war or cruiser. with the
respondent on hoard and In comma I'll
thereof. laid TO an anchor about one and
half cable lengths from the shore and
water front OF Seattle. her stern exactly
parallel with the northern end of sad
Arlington dock, and about three cable
lengths north OF line drawn between
the oregon Improvement Company's bunk
ers. on the water front of the CITY Of
Seattle. and Duwarish head, and wholly
WITHIN the corporate limits of said city
OF Seattle
''On account OF ire strong breeze ana
ehb tide just making. as said steamship
rounded said bell buoy, II was Judged
necessary by the master OF said steamship
to hold well TO windward (the tide being
IN the same direction as the wind for the
purpose OF making said landing at Airing
eon dock With that end In view said
steamship was headed for the stern Of said
cruiser Monterey. and when within Ave or
SIX cable lengths Of said cruiser the en-
gfnes or said steamship were brought to
dead stop and the helm ordered 10 star
board for the purpose of passing astern
and to the Losthward of said cruiser.
AFTER reasonable time elapsed. the
steamship not answering her helm, the
order was given 'hard-a-s:arboard.' and
directly afterward, seeing the vessel did
not respond. the engines were ordered fun
speed astern.
II being evident that a collision with
the Monterey was unavoidable, with the
engines still making full speed astern.
the anchor was ordered dropped, but the
water was 50 deep that the anchor had
no influence In retarding the headway OF
the steamship and the Transit coIlIdea
with the Monterey. striking her head on,
about forty feet from the siernpost ~ the
Monterey, on the starboard side. hreaxIrg
the stem and turning the bow plates of
the Transit some three feet above the
water line. Said steamship. the engines
being still reversed. backed of and pro-
ceeded to the head OF Elliott bay, there
mcoring to one OF the buoys
That the said steamship Transit was
SO injured and damaged by said collision
with the Monterey that II was necessary
Tor her TO proceed to the port OF Tacoma
Tor repairs, and in consequence thereof
said iibellant has sustained damages FOR
injuries received by said steamship In said
collision, for repairs 70 said steamship.
expense OF pilot. expense OF crew dernur-
rage and incidental expenses. In the sum
OF ten thousand dollars which damage was
occa~ioned solely by the negligence. fault
and Improper condIct OF said respondent,
and not through any fault. negligence
improper conduct or want Of skill on the
part OF the master. officers or crew OF said
steamship.
That the anchorage OF said Monterey A.
the time Of said collision at the place In
Elliott bay and in the city OF Seattle above
described was an improper and Illegal
anchorage. and was made with the fun
knowledge and authority OF said respond
emit"