Case Name: Van Dyke v. The Bridgeport and The John E. Mulford
Court: United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1888-05-12
Citations: 35 F. 159
Docket Number: 
Parties: Van Dyke v. The Bridgeport and The John E. Mulford.
Judges: 
Reporter: Federal Reporter
Volume: 35
Pages: 159–159

Head Matter:
Van Dyke v. The Bridgeport and The John E. Mulford.
(District Court, E. D. New York.
May 12, 1888.)
Collision—Vessel at Anchor—Fog.
Where a steamer was runaing in a hank of fog as slowly as it was possible for her to do under the circumstances, a collision between such steamer and a schooner at anchor held to he an inevitable accident, imposing no liability for damages upon the steamer.
In Admiralty.
Libel by the schooner Messenger, which, while proceeding through the East river to the Sound, on the flood-tide, in charge of the tug John IS. Mulford, had anchored in a thick fog off the Sunken Meadows, and while at anchor had been run into by the steam-boat Bridgeport. The suit was begun against the steam-boat alone. The latter, by petition under the fifty-ninth admiralty rule, brought in the tug Mulford, which had the schooner in charge, as party defendant.
Sidney Chubb, for libelant.
Benedict, Taft & Benedict, for the Bridgeport.
E. G. Davis, for the John E. Mulford.

Opinion:
Benedict, J.
This is an action to recover damages occasioned to the schooner Messenger by being run into by the steam-boat Bridgeport, when at anchor off the Sunken Meadows, above Hell Gate. These vessels, while proceeding towards the Sound, were all caught in a bank of fog that came suddenly upon them. The fault charged upon the Bridgeport is that she was running in the fog at too great a rate of speed, but the proofs satisfy me that she was going as slowly as it was possible for her to do under the circumstances. My opinion is that the collision should be held to be an inevitable accident. Let the libel be dismissed, with costs.