THE CHARLES H. SENFF.
GG9
is abundant that both red lights were. set and were visible. To the claim that the Wright was mistaken for some light-draft sailing W8sel in that locality, I attach no weight.. The signals of the Wright were sufficient; they were visible at a long distance; and the Easton was bound to avoid the danger indicated by going in the proper channel to the northward a reasonably safe distance away. The cause of the collision was that the Easton did not heed the two red lights of the Wright in time. and because her pilot, being ignorant of the true location of the channel, took the unjustifiable course to the southward. Decree for the libelant against the Nichols and the Easton, and exempting the Ceres and the Wright.
THE CHARLES
a
SENFF.
FOX v. THE CHARLES H. SENFF.
(District Court, S. D. New York.
November 23, 1892.)
COLLISION-TuGS AND ToWS-INSPECTOR'S RULES.
The tug D., while swinging off and around from the end of pier 7, East river. to go down the river, collided with a float in tow of the tug S., which was coming up against the ebb tide, about 100 or 125 yards outside the pier, preceded by another tug, a little on the inside of her; both navigating thus near the shore in violation of the statute, and preventing the D. and the S. from having timely view of each other, and giving the signals required by the inspector's rules. 'rhe D. had no lookout, except the pilot; and the court found that a careful lookout would have discovered the S., notwithstanding her closeness to the shore, and the intervening boats. Held, that both tugs were in fault, and that the owner of the D. should recover one half his damages.
In Admiralty. Libel by Charles A. Fox, as owner of the steam tug F. W. Devoe, against the steam tug Charles H. Senff, to recover damages for collision. Decree for libelant for one half his damages. Carpenter & Mosher, fO[' Fox. Benedict & Benedict, for The Senff. BROWN, District Judge. The F. W. Devoe, while swinging off and around from the end of pier 7 to go down river, came in contact with the port quarter of the float alongside the Charles H. Senff, going up against the ebb tide. I find that the place of collision was not more than from 100 to 125 yards outside of the end of pier 7; that the tug Sisson was previously coming up a little ahead and inside of the Senff and passed pier 7 about the time the Devoe swung out; that the navigation of both the Senff and the Sisson was near the shore in violation of the- statute and without justifiable cause, and caused an obstruction to a considerable extent in the proper and timely view of the Devoe and the Senff to each other, and the giving of timely signals as required by the inspector's rules. This fault of the Senff was for the above reasons material, and also because it left but very short time and space for consideration to the Devoe after the latter saw the Senff; and these faults are not made remote
670
FEDERAL REPORTER,
vol. 53.
and itnn,latel'ial by the fact that it was still possible for the Devoe, as I find· was the case. to have avoided the collision, had she made no miscalculation concerning the course of the Senff and her tow, arising from the sloping position. of the float and the grooter projection of the stern, which was probably the ultimate cause of the collision. There was no lookout on the Devoe, except the pilot, and his lookout on swinging around on the ebb tide was insufficient. I think a careful lookout would have discovered the position and course of the Senff, notwithstanding her closeness to the shore and the intervening boats. And the ability to handle a small tug like the Devoe within a narrow space was 'such that the Devoe might also have avoided the float by sufficient backing. Her temporary stopping to back was, no doubt, the result of miscalculation at the moment; but the time and space for observation were so short in consequence ad' the closeness of the Senff to the shore, that both vessels seem to me plainly responsible for the collision, and the libelant can recover, therefore, but one hltlf his damages.
TRANSFER NO.8.' NEW YORK CENTRAL LIGHTERAGE NO.2. REDDY v. NEW YORK CENTRAL LIGHTERAGE NO.2 and TRANSFER NO.8. (District Court, S. D. New York. December 21, 1892.) COLLISION-TuGS AND Tows-EAST RIVER-NAVIGATiON NEAR PIERS.
Steam tug No.2, with a heavy tow alongside, having just left the e,,' of pier 5, East river, heading up, walJ lJwinglng out Plthe ebb tide to gi) down the river. Steam tug No.8, with a car tloat in tow alongside, was coming up the river at the rate of about 6 or 8 knots, and' so near the pier that she could not be seen by No.2 until the latter had left her pier, and 'when the two were about 750 feet apart. No.2 thereupon whistled twice, and hooked up, in an attempt to pass ahead of No.8, and out into the river; but the tow on her starboard side was struck and sunk by the car float alongside of No.8. Held, that the cause of the collision was the fault of No.8, in going at such speed, so close to the shore, around the bend, and that, the situation being critical from the moment the vessels discovered each other, the ordinary rule of the starboard hand did not apply, and that the nMigation of No. 2 wiJ,s not, under the circumstances, negligent, but, if erroneous, was so by an error of judgment in extremis, and by the other's fault.
In Admiralty. Libel by Philip Reddy against the New York Central Lighterage No.2 and Transfer No.8 to recover damages for a collision. Decree for libelant against No.8, and exempting No.2. Stewart & Macklin, for libelant. . Carpenter & Mosher, for the New York Central Lighterage No.2. Page & Taft, for the Transfer No.8. BROWN, District Judge. A little after 2 o'clock in the afternoon of September 6, 1892, as the steam tug No.2, having just left the 1
Reported by E. G. Benedict, Esq;, of the New York bar.