Court Opinion

ID: 8123956
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-09 15:03:45.068117+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:39:08.417965
License: Public Domain

Butler, J.
The libel must be dismissed. Whether the barge was sufficiently manned, and, if not, whether this had anything to do with the result, need not be considered. Her position in the creek, barring the channel, was improper and inexcusable. Her bow appears to have been interfered with by rubbish at the side of the stream, and her stern swung around, under the influence of the tide. I do not think the wind had anything to do with it. Whether it had or not does not seem, however, material. Her stern would have gone completely around if her master had not prevented it. Desiring to right his boat, he held her stern against the tide with his pole. This was proper at the time he commenced it, and doubtless would soon have relieved the how and turned it up stream. His mistake, however, was in continuing it after the sloop came into view. Had he reversed his pole and added his strength to the force of the tide, he would have opened the channel before the sloop reached him. As it was his duty *336to do this, the sloop was justified in supposing he would, and going forward. Seeing that he still held his boat across the stream he was cautioned to let her stern go, and every proper effort made to arrest the sloop’s headway. He persisted, however, in his folly, and was struct. That the accident occurred in this way, and from this cause, seems very clear from the evidence on both sides. Directly after, the master of the barge repeatedly admitted his fault, and exonerated the sloop.
A decree must be entered dismissing the libel, with costs.