Court Opinion

ID: 8839462
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-11-26 16:35:41.605082+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:05:09.747269
License: Public Domain

Benedict, J.
Considering that the collision out of whicli these actions arose occurred in the day-time, between the steam-ship Waverly, a loaded steam-ship bound to sea under her own steam, with a pilot on board, and the steam-ship Anglia, a steam-ship without steam, and without cargo, at the time showing the signal of the Anchor Line, and being towed by three tugs, one on each quarter along-side, and the third on a hawser, from the North river to the Anchor Line piers, just south of Wall-Street ferry, in the East river, (which is a broad expanse of water, narrowed ata single point, by Diamond reef, to the width of some 800 feet;) and the evidence warranting the conclusion that, if those on the Waverly had observed the Anglia as soon as she might have been seen, the Waverly Avould have passed between the Anglia and the New York shore without the possibility of collision; and it appearing that- there was no stationed lookout on board the Waverly, and that the Anglia was not seen by the pilot or the master on the bridge until a man on a tug alongside the Waverly called their attention to the whistling of the Anglia’s tugs, at AA’hich time the Waverly was so near the Anglia that, although the engine of the Waverly was at once ordered to stop, and full speed astern, she struck the Anglia on her port side, — it must be held that the neglect of the Waverly to keep a look-out was the cause of the collision that ensued.
As to the Anglia, the charge that she was in fault for not starboarding cannot be sustained. The vessels were on crossing courses; and, as the Waverly had the Anglia on her starboard side, by the rules it was the duty of the Waverly to atmid the Anglia, and the duty of the Anglia to keep her course, as she did. The other charge, that the Anglia was in fault for not keeping up her speed, must, in view of the fact that the AAdiistling of her tugs had not been answered, be held no fault, especially as the Waverly was seen to be swinging towards Brooklyn. In the case of The Columbia, 25 Fed. Rep. 844, the circuit court, reversing the decision of this court, held it to be the duty of a privileged vessel, seeing the other vessel to be persistent in going on, and not responding to Avhistles from the privileged vessel, to slacken speed, and, if necessary, to stop and' reverse. The rule applied in the case of The Columbia by the circuit court is applicable here, and compels a decision in this case adverse to the claim of the Waverly that it was fault in the Anglia’s tugs to step and reverse. Let a, decree be entered in the case of Williamson dismissing the libel, with costs; and, in the case of Henderson, let a decree be entered in favor of the libelant, Avith a reference to ascertain the damages.