Court Opinion

ID: 8125272
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-09 15:05:28.717031+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:39:11.896618
License: Public Domain

Nelson, J.
This case was a libel for collision by the owner of the pilot-boat Sprite, of Boston, against the English steam-ship Columbia. The collision occurred in Massachusetts bay, 10 miles east of Boston light, at 15 minutes after 12 o’clock, on the morning of July 4, 1881. The Sprite was returning to Boston from a cruise for vessels invthe bay. She had her side lights set and burning, and was lying becalmed on the port tack, her mainsail, foresail, and jib set, heading nearly due west, with one man on deck as lookout and keeper. Her master was below in the cabin, and the rest of the men were asleep. The night was fine and clear; lights could be seen at a great distance. The Columbia was on a voyage from Liverpool to Boston, and had taken a pilot. She was running at a speed of eight *239knots, and was steering a course due west for Boston light. The pilot and second officer were on the bridge. A lookout was stationed forward. Her master was also on deck. As the steamer was coming up directly astern of the pilot-boat, the side lights of the latter were of course invisible to those in charge of the steamer. The port bow of the steamer struck the pilot-boat’s main boom, and carried away her mainmast and main-boom, and split her mainsail and foresail.
To exempt herself from responsibility, it is necessary for the pilot-boat to prove that she seasonably exhibited a lighted torch over her stern. Her lookout states that he first saw the lights of the steamer three or four miles off, and showed a flare-up light. He then went below and called the master. The master came on deck, looked at the steamer, and went below again. The lookout called him a second time. Both agree that no flare-up was shown after the first one, until the master came on deck the second time. I am not convinced that the lookout’s statement as to the first flare-up is true. It was not seen on the steamer. The sailing master of a yacht in the vicinity, who w'as watching the pilot-boat and steamer, saw the second flash, but did not see the first one. This man was called as a witness by the pilot-boat. There was also evidence that the master of the pilot-boat complained of 'the conduct of the lookout. Nor do 1 think it is sufficiently proved that a second flare-up was shown until the pilot-boat was so close under the bows of the steamer that the light could not be seen from the deck and bridge of the latter. The statements of the master and lookout, and the other evidence in the case, are not sufficient, in my judgment, to overcome the strong presumption that, in the clear atmosphere, a flare-up light on the pilot-boat would not have escaped the observation of the pilot, second officer, and lookout on the steamer, who wore all looking ahead for lights. It is certain they saw no flash-light before the collision. A man on the steamer, not in the watch on deck, called by the libelant, says he saw a flash-light on the pilot-boat when a ship’s length off. He was not in as good a position to see ahead as those engaged in the management of the ship, and I doubt his story.
As to what occurred on board of the steamer, the evidence, taken in its most favorable light for her, shows this: The lookout reported “a vessel right ahead.” The second officer, who was in charge, says that on the report of the lookout he looked and saw nothing. He then took his glasses, and looked, and saw a dark object ahead, and he then gave the order hard aport. The lookout states that the pilot-boat, when first reported, was three or four lengths off. It also appears from his testimony, as well as from that of the pilot, that the ship was stopped, after the collision, in going twice her length. The report of the lookout of “a vessel right ahead” was a clear indication that a collision was imminent. The order “hard aport” was therefore not sufficient under the circumstances. The order should have been to stop and reverse. Upon the steamer’s own evidence, this *240would have prevented the accident. This was required by the sailing rules of both nations, and was the plain duty of the steamer.
Having held the pilot-boat at fault upon another ground, I have not found it necessary to consider the defense made by the steamer that the pilot-boat was sailing with side lights, and not under a masthead pilot light.
Doth vessels being at fault, a decree is to be entered for the libel-ant for one-half the damages. Ordered accordingly.