Court Opinion

ID: 6834963
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-23 20:02:46.483507+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:04:40.254671
License: Public Domain

FOSTER, Circuit Judge.
This is a case of salvage. The material facts, which are practically undisputed, are these:
The steamship Niearao, owned by appellant, was discharged from the Jahneke dry dock at New Orleans at about 5 p. m., after undergoing certain repairs. She had no steam up and no crew on board, except the fourth, engineer, a boatswain, and one or two others. About 8:30 p. m. the engineer found that the ship was leaking and called upon the superintendent of the dock for aid. It was then discovered that the main circulator discharge, the outside openifig of which was 7 inches in diameter, was open, and water was entering through it. It was found impossible to stop the leak with the means at hand, and a telephone call was sent about 9:50 p. m. to W. G. Coyle & Co., owners and operators of harbor tugboats, for a boat to pump out the ship. Coyle & Co. habitually maintain steam on their tugs overnight, and have sufficient crew handy in order to render prompt aid in emergencies. They sent their tug Sipsey, which arrived about 10:15 p. m., say within 25 minutes. She put a steam siphon into the ship, but was unable to make headway against 'the water. It is contended by appellants that the siphon was defective. On the other hand, the Coyle Company say that the lift was too high to permit any siphon to work, and that they asked -that a barrel be rigged up-about half way of the lift, so that the water could be re*11layed, but that this was not done. Another telephone call was sent to Coyle & Go., and the tug Adler responded promptly, but she was not able to assist in pumping the water. By this time the ship was badly listed to port and in danger of sinking.
As the tugs found they were unable to reduce the water, they decided to take the Ni-earao across the river and beach her. The Sipsey and the Adler towed the Nicarao across the river and pushed her up on a sloping bank, where she was run head on to the ground in about 6 feet of water at her bow. Her stern was then pushed over towards the shore as much as possible, where there was about 30 feet of water under her stern. These tugs stood by, holding her in place by putting their bows against her and having their engines go full speed ahead. Later on, but after the salvaging of the ship had been practically accomplished, except for the pumping out of her hold, six other tugs came up and assisted in holding her against the bank. Those six tugs are not parties to this appeal, having been settled with in some way. About 3 o’clock in the morning the Coyle Company .sent a pump boat. She began pumping, and perhaps rendered some service at that time.
When the ship arrived on the west bank, where she was beached, four men on shore, Bostrom, Lawson, Saucer, and Young, assisted in making her fast. Bostrom had assumed charge of this duty, and he also took it upon himself to telephone for a diver, Fritz John. John arrived between 3 and 4 in the morning without his equipment, returned for it, and reported back to duty about 6 o’clock. Before this time a number of employees of the Jahneke dry dock had arrived in charge of a foreman, and they assisted in subsequent operations. Another diver, Rief-fel, was also employed, and John and Rieffel went down and eventually succeeded in closing the opening by stuffing in with a bag of okum, after they had vainly tried to stop it with a wooden plug. After the opening was closed, the ship was pumped out and floated. In addition to helping in making fast the lines, Bostrom furnished a small barge for the use of the divers, and it suffered some damage. He and Lawson also assisted the divers. The value of the Nicarao was fixed by the District Court at $237,700, which is not seriously disputed. The value of the Sipsey was estimated at $70,000, the Adler at $100,-000, and the pump boat at $8,500 by the District Court.
The District Court entered a decree awarding salvage as follows: Bostrom, $750; Lawson, $150; Young, $100; Saucer, $100; Coyle & Co., on behalf of their tugs and pump boat, $9,250. The officers and crew of the Adler and Sipsey, $2,750, to be divided among them in certain proportions, making a total award to the tugs and their crews, together with the pump boat, of $12,000. He also awarded Rieffel $4,000 and John $3,000 for their services as divers. Appellants admit that all of the appellees rendered some services in the nature of salvage, but contend that the amounts awarded are excessive, and seek a reversal on that ground.
There is no doubt that the services of the tugs Sipsey and Adler were very valuable, even though it be conceded they were unable to render the pumping service for which they were originally called. As the vessel was badly listed and making water rapidly, the danger of her sinking was imminent. It is apparent that no other tugs in the harbor of New Orleans were available at the time, and, had there been further delay in moving the Nicarao from the Jahneke dock to where she was beached, she would have become, a total loss. There was considerable danger to the tugs, as the Nicarao might have suddenly capsized. Had she done so, she might also have capsized one or both the tugs before the lines could have been cast off or cut. Furthermore, the fact that Coyle & Co. kept steam constantly on their tugs, and the crew within easy call, for the purpose of rendering just such services as they performed, is worthy of consideration. Under the circumstances, we are not disposed to amend the award made to Coyle & Co. and the crews of the tugs.
Under the circumstances disclosed, we think the award made- to the divers is grossly excessive. No doubt the occupation of a marine diver is very dangerous under the best of conditions, and for that reason a diver is well paid when his services are engaged by contract. It is shown that the ordinary charge for divers is $50 a day. The divers were under water two hours at the most, and their total efforts did not exceed one day’s time. There is evidence in the record to the effect that the services performed to the Nicarao were exceedingly dangerous, in that she might have turned over on them and crushed them at any moment. On the other hand, it was shown that there was little danger of this occurring, as she was on a sloping bank and being held firmly in place by a number of tugs. Considering all the evidence in the case, and the fact that the divers responded promptly, and that without their services it would have been impossible to complete the. *12salvaging of the ship, we think they should be awarded the sum of $500 each.
The award to Bostrom, Lawson, Young, and Saucer is also excessive. Their presence was accidental, and their services were very slight. Bostrom displayed considerable enterprise in calling a diver, although there is no doubt that his efforts in this were somewhat officious, and were also unnecessary. We think a fair award to these men should be proportioned as follows: Bostrom to receive $100 and the amount awarded him by the District Court for the use of his barge and damages sustained by it, in the sum of $300, making a total of $400. Lawson assisted the divers to some slight extent. His award should be reduced to $75. Young and Saucer will be well paid with an award of $50 each.
Appellants contend that appellees Bostrom, Young, Lawson and Saucer, John, and Rieffel should be taxed with the premiums on the release bonds exacted by them. It appears that the first four named filed an original libel. John and Rieffel also filed an original libel. Coyle & Co. and the crews on the tugs Sipsey and Adler filed an intervening libel in the Bostrom Case. All the libels were consolidated for trial, and the ease is before us on a single record. Bostrom et al. demanded a release bond of $10,000. John and Rieffel demanded a release bond of $18,000. There is no doubt that these bonds are excessive, but that was a matter within the discretion of the District Court. As the District Court did not see fit to reduce the amount of the bonds, the premiums could hardly be attributed to the action of the libelants.
Costs in. the admiralty are largely within in the discretion of the court, and may be awarded or withheld as justice may require. On the appeal, the general rule would be that, as the judgment in favor of Coyle & Co. has not been amended, costs of appeal would fall upon appellant, so far as that claim is concerned, while costs of appeal would fall upon the other appellees. Considering the very material reductions made in the awards to the appellees whose claims have been reduced, and. the fact that it is practically impossible to say what portion of the costs should he borne -by them, we think that justice will he best served by requiring the entire costs of appeal to he paid by'appellant, and we may say that we have taken this into consideration in amending the judgment.
The judgment of the District Court will be amended in accordance with this opinion, and, as amended, it is affirmed.