Year: 1869

deitetlA ana PRINCETON 0OlilsfOn Nuecs


Before Judge Benedict.


James Gray Jr, et al, Us. the Steamship Helpe
tia ana the steamer Prtnceton-The libellant, Gray
was the owner OF the canalboat, John Fee, and the
libellants, E. A. Packer Co., were owners OF the
cargo of coal on board OF her while on her voyage
- New York. on the 18th Of June, 1885, the canal
boat taken in tow, with thirteen other boats
New Brunswick, N. j., by the tug Princeton, to be
brought TO her pier In New York. About nine O'Clock
IN the afternoon the canaboat arrived in river
was trying to get INTO her pier the tide being mood and
The weather fair the canal boat being entirely under
the control OF the Princeton. The steamer Helvea,


just in from her last voyage from Liverpool was drop
ping her anchor and the canaboat John Fee. by
some mismanagement, Is alleged on the part OF
those IN charge or the two steamers, was brought so
violently In contact with the Helvetia tnat she was
so badly injured as 10 sink Immediately and become
total loss. The collision was caused, as hbellants
claim, by the ATTEMPT OF the Princeton TO go too near
the steamer Helvetia and by the Helvetas drop
ping her anchor more speedily and backing away
from the canalboat The action was brought
TO recover 5000 damages. The claimants OF
the steamer Helyeta set up in answer to the
libel that they took on board at Sandy Hook pilot,
as required by the laws OF the State OF New York,
and were under ms direction while attempting TO
anchor Off pier Al Hudson river The tide was Hood
and running strong the weather fair and the wind
nearly east. In coming up the Helvetia kept along
the Jersey shore ana went about abreast OF pier ~.
and an attempt was made to bring the vessel around
putting her helm aporL After getting her pretty
well across the river It was found that there was
not room enough 10 buu consequently u
line was thrown out TO tugboat IN
attendance. The boat not being able 10 bring
the vessel around her anchor was dropped and she
swung around with the tide, her stern up the river
While thus getting around the vessel carried up
the river about half mile. On getting around
she took up her anchor and once more gave
q line TO the tug and was proceeding to-
wards her pier at a rate OF less than two miles
hour, with the proper lights displayed and lookouts
on duty. While SO proceeding down the river an
order was given 10 stand by the anchor The engine
was stopped, and after the progress OF the vessel
over the ground was arrested, and as an order
about being gwen to let go the anchor
tie Princeton with her tow came in contact
with the Hevetia. When II was discovered that 1t
was the intention OF the Princeton to the bow
OF the Helvetla the aters engine was reversed and
the vessel had sternway when the collision took
place. The damage that was done was the fault
OF lie Princeton in attempting TO cross the flood
tide at so short distance below the Hevetia as the
latter was about letting go her anchor 1t was also
Claimed that the pilot was responsible for the move
nnls OF the ship and that II the collision was the
result OF the maDeuvrlng OF the Helvetia, which
was not admitted, thai the claimants were not
responsible The owners OF the Princeton In answer
claimed that the proper signas given and that
They were not obeyed by the Hevetia, and that the
collision was caused solely by the carelessness OF that
NesSe Decision reserved.