Case Name: Freeman vs. The Engelmann Transportation Company
Court: Wisconsin Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Wisconsin
Decision Date: 1875-01
Citations: 36 Wis. 571
Docket Number: 
Parties: Freeman vs. The Engelmann Transportation Company.
Judges: 
Reporter: Wisconsin Reports
Volume: 36
Pages: 571–574

Head Matter:
Freeman vs. The Engelmann Transportation Company.
CONTRIBUTORY Negligence. (1) Averment held sufficient.
Appeal. (2) An order striking from, the answer an amerment of fact not necessarily pleaded to entitle it to be shown in evidence, held not a/pj>ealr able.
1. In an action under the statute for defendant’s negligence in the management of its steamboat, causing the death of plaintiff’s intestate by drowning, the answer avers that all'the passengers on board said boat, at the time charged in the complaint, were urged by the officers to take the small boats; that some of them refused to do so, recklessly staying on the sinking vessel, and were thereby lost; and that plaintiff’s intestate, if on board and lost, was so lost by his own carelessness and recklessness in refusing to enter the small boats, and remaining on board the sinking vessel. Held, that these averments state a defense.
2. An averment in the answer that “ all the passengers who entered the small boats were saved, and ultimately reached the land,” was stricken out on plaintiff’s motion. Held, that as the fact alleged, if true, appears to be apart of the res gestee, and to bear upon the question of negligence, so that it will naturally appear in evidence ■ at the trial, whether pleaded or not, the order does not affect a substantial right, and is not appealable.
APPEAL from the County Court of Milwaukee County.
Action by plaintiff as administratrix of the estate of Henry Freeman, deceased, to recover damages caused by the alleged negligence of the defendant in the management of its steamboat, the Lac la Belle, by reason of which plaintiff’s intestate was drowned. The answer, among other things, alleged that the small boats were lowered, and all passengers were invited into and, urged to tape them; that some of the passengers refused to go into the small boats, and wantonly and recklessly stayed upon said steamer when it was evident she must sink; that all the passengers who entered the small boats were saved, and ultimately reached the land ; and that if plaintiff’s intestate was drowned while on said steamer, it was because of his own carelessness and recklessness in hot complying with the reasonable and proper requests of the officers and crew to come into the small boat, and in his reckless and wanton determination to remain on board of a sinking ship.
On motion of the plaintiff, the averments in the answer to the effect that some of the passengers refused t© go into the'small boats, and that all who entered the small boats were saved and ultimately reached the land, were stricken out. Erom this order the defendant appealed.
Finches, Lynde & Miller, for appellant,
argued that the facts stated in the portion of the answer stricken out were relevant and material as tending to disprove the alleged acts of negligence on the part of the defendant, and to establish the charge of negligence against the plaintiff’s intestate. 44 Ind., 264 ; 1 Estee’s Pleadings and Forms, 189, 142-9 ; 2 Wait’s Pr., 478 to 485 ; Holmes & Disb. Pr., 101-8.
Davis & Flanders, for respondent,
in support of the order, cited Bank v. Kitching, 7 Bosw., 664; Fabbricotti v. Launitz, 3 Saudi., 743; 2 Wait’s Pr., 478 to 480.

Opinion:
Ryan, C. J.
The answer of the appellant does not admit that the respondent's intestate was on board of the lost steamboat; but admits that, if on board, he was lost. It avers that all the passengers on board were urged by the officers to take the small boats ; and that some of them refused to do so, recklessly staying on the sinking vessel, and being thereby lost. And it avers that the intestate, if on board and lost, was so lost by his own carelessness and recklessness in refusing to enter the small boats, and remaining on board the sinking vessel.
If these averments be true, the intestate's own gross and proximate negligence contributed directly to his death, and the respondent cannot recover. Potter v. C. & N. W. R'y Co., 21 Wis., 372; Cunningham v. Lyness, 22 id., 245.
If " all the passengers who entered the small boats were saved and ultimately reached the land," the fact must probably appear by the first witness called by the respondent to prove her case. It appears to be part of the res gestee, inseparable from the calamity, probably bears on the question of negligence, and ought not to be excluded on the trial, if it could be. It therefore seems to me immaterial to either side whether it be pleaded or not. The order striking the averment from the answer, therefore, affects no substantial right, and in no degree involves the merits of the action, and is not appealable. And the appeal must be dismissed. Orton v. Noonan, 30 Wis., 609.
By the Court. — Appeal dismissed.