Court Opinion

ID: 8743676
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-11-26 10:58:40.071908+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:00:32.501960
License: Public Domain

PER CURIAM.
The answer of the Hudson City alleges:
“Seventh. And for a further and independent defense the claimant avers that, if the libelant’s scow was injured as claimed in the libel, there is no reason why, by proper vigilance and care, she should not have been kept free of water or taken to a place of safety before she sank.”
*304This point is hot discussed, either in the opinion of the district judge or in the report of the commissioner.
The Ellis had two scows in tow, the libelant’s, No. 15, on a hawser, with 35 to 40 fathoms out, and the other, No. 17, astern of No. 15, on a short hawser of about 15 feet. There was a man assigned to each scow. At the moment of collision, Davis, the man assigned to No. 15, was on No. 17. He at once went aboard No. 15, took a lantern from the after bitt, and with its assistance walked around and looked to see if there was any injury. He perceived none; saw “no timbers broke up to the deck; none of the deck timbers seemed to be sprung up.” Meanwhile the Ellis had hauled the-scow up to within 15 fathoms, and her master hailed to know if there was any damage, to which Davis replied, “All right;” whereupon the tug proceeded on her course. It is true that Davis did not go clear to the forward edge of the scow, and lean over to make an inspection below the water line, but from the description of the wound inflicted we are not satisfied that, had he done so, he would have made any discovery which would have called for a prompt return to shoal water. As stated before, the scow was heavily laden and deep in the water.’ It was dark, her wound was below the level of the water, and her end overhung. Presumably Davis could not have seen the leak. Two tyitnesses who saw the scow after she was raised give conflicting descriptions of the appearance of the collision wound. One of them (Shewan) says that the bumper log (the biggest log in the scow, that goes across the end, and forms a part of the end and a part of the deck) was cracked, and that below it her bow planks were shoved in and broken right off. The timbers and everything else went right in, and left a large hole, six inches by two or three feet. This story seems incredible. With a hole like that below the water line at the forward end, the scow would not have floated long enough to get out of the North river. The other (Bullís) apparently made a more careful examination. He’made measurements, and prepared a diagram, to which he testified. He says: “We saw at the bow of her there was one butt with a plank started off, sprung off about four inches, a plank, 6x10, — and there were five others that were cracked, but not broken through; and her bumper was cracked, not shoved back.” The planking was broken, but there was no hole at all. She would,however, make water near the butt that sprung off, enough to sink her in time. The record falls short of making out a case of such negligence in continuing on the voyage as would relieve a conceded wrongdoing from the natural consequences of the collision.
It is further contended by appellant that the damages sustained while lying on the bottom were due to faults of the owner or of the tug in failing to .buoy, watch, or mark the wreck. There is no such charge of fault in the pleadings, and evidently none of the testimony was directed to any such issue. In consequence, the record is barren of information which might be helpful towards a conclusion. The point need not be considered here. The decree of the district court, is affirmed, with interest, and a single bill of costs against appellant, to be divided between appellees.