Court Opinion

ID: 8751593
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-11-26 11:30:12.462919+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:00:59.707074
License: Public Domain

COXE, Circuit Judge.
The salient facts are carefully stated in the opinion of the district judge.
The third section of the Harter act (Act Feb. 13, 1893, c. 105, 27 Stat. 445 [U. S. Comp. St. 1901, p. 2946]) provides that if the owner of any vessel transporting merchandise or property shall exercise due diligence to make her in all respects seaworthy and properly manned, equipped, and supplied, she shall not be held responsible for damage or loss resulting from faults or errors in navigation or in the management of said vessel or for losses arising from the dangers of the sea or acts of God.
The Hyades was a new steel steamer of the highest class, having been completed in June, 1900, three months prior to the voyage in question. She was exceptionally strong, contained all the latest improvements and was propelled by triple expansion engines of 2,000 indicated horse power. Indeed, it is practically admitted that she was structurally perfect and seaworthy in all respects, save one; the covering of her hatches. The coamings were three feet in height and so constructed that it was impossible for water to stand on the *59hatches. The covers were of white pine, laid fore and aft in tiers. They were made with straight edges, designed to fit tightly without calking. When the wooden covers were in place two canvasses of “hard No. i” cotton duck were spread over them and securely battened down. One set of these canvas covers was absolutely new, being used for the first time, and the other set was substantially new, having been supplied in June. The testimony fully sustains the finding that this material is the best known hatch covering in use and that it is not customary to employ oil,' tar or any other preparation, in connection with it. It was also proved that it was customary to use but two covers of this hard, heavy, closely woven canvas-, although frequently a third covering of old material, called a “chafer,” is used to protect the other two. The surveyor of the underwriters, under whose inspection the vessel was loaded, testified: “I considered her as safe when she left Galveston, to go to any part of the world, as any ship I ever saw.” In short, we are unable to specify any additional protection which could have been adopted to make the vessel more seaworthy.
Two days after leaving port the Hyades was caught in the very center of the unprecedented hurricane which swept over Galveston with such appalling results-. For three days she was buffeted by wind and waves, tremendous seas breaking over her, which dismantled her steering gear, carried away everything movable and produced a general straining and leakage of the ship. It is enough to say she was so severely injured that it cost $14,000 to repair her. The wonder is not that the cargo was damaged but that the ship survived at all.
We have, then, the case of a strong, new, modern steel ship, seaworthy in every respect and properly manned and equipped, encountering a cyclone of unprecedented fury, which for three days held her in its grasp. That the damage to the cargo was due to the storm cannot be doubted. Indeed, a better illustration of loss by perils of the sea can hardly be imagined.
The decree is affirmed with interest and costs.