Year: 1874

on the signals given by the steam
whistles of both steamers, under the
laws governing the marine highway
for vessels at sea. Collisions being
the most dreadful and frequently una
| voidable incidents of the crowded track
of commerce, the shifting of this case
in court by the aid Of the testimony of
numerous naval officers, experts in
such matter, who were on board as
passengers, will tend to make this one
of the most interesting admiralty cas-
es ever tried in the United States
Court here. The case of the Louisiana
will turn substantially on the state
ment given as follows:


The morning was clear and star
light. When first seen the steamers
were five miles apart. The Falcon,
bound for Charleston, S. c., was to-
wards the western shore, though of
course no land could he seen. The
Louisiana was towards the east, COM
ing in. The lookout on the Louisiana
saw the red light of the Falcon and re-
ported to the pilot that a steamer was
on the quarter bow. The Louisiana
| then bore slightly to the east, and
when within two miles or mile and
half of the Falcon, blew a single
whistle To this it is claimed the
Falcon made no reply. After the
lapse of minnie or two the Steamer
Louisiana gave another single blast,
thus signifying her intention to pass
to the east. To this the Falcon re-
piled by two blasts of her whistle,
which is the regular signal indicating
that she would pass to the east, Just
at this time the Falcon uncovered her
red light, which was plainly visible to
the officers on deck of the Louisiana.
In moment afterwards the collision
occurred, the Falcon striking the Lou
! isiana about six feet forward of her
shaft and crushing through the wheel
house into the hull. About a quarter
! of an hour had elapsed from the time
of sighting the Falcon to the striking
the Louisiana. The speed of the boats
was twelve knots for the Louisiana
and about ten for the Falcon, jointly
tive nty-tWo miles an hour. just be-
fore the collision the Falcon had re-
versed her engine. and the wheels had
made one or two reverse revolutions,


but not in time to prevent the unfor-
| tunate result.


THE FALCON SIDE.


On Saturday afternoon Messrs.


Nordecai & Co., agents Of the Char


lesion line, were closeted with the


officers of the steamship Falcon.


The agents of the line instructed
every one on board the Falcon to


make no public statement, as law


suit was evident, and the points of
the case would be reserved for future


developments. Captain Haynie, of


the Falcon. hoHever, said that at the
time of the collision he was in the


pilot house with his second mate and


wheelsman, the usual number of
men being on the watch. The Falcon


was going about nine knots an hour,


and had green light on the star


board, red light on The port side,


and white light at the masthead.


When he first saw the Louisiana he
| blew Two whistles and WIS answered
| by one whistle, and that steamer, he
asserted instead of attending 10 his
signal TO keep to the left, steered


right toward him. When collision


seemed evident be stepped the en-


gines and when the shock occurred the


Falcon was backing water. Further


than having her prov slightly broken


the Falcon was uninjured:


| INCIDFNTS