THE ELLA B.
793
solutely unobstructed. Diagonally opposite the Sage, and between 200 and 300 feet further up the stream, three boats, aggregating 63 feet in width, were lying abreast at French.'s dock. In these circumstances the Ella. B., a small tug, 35 feet in length and 10 8.10 feet beam, having the canal·boat Henry L. Schutt in tow, started from a slip on the north side of the river, about a thousand feet above the point where the Sage was lying, and proceeded down the river, keeping very near the center. When the tug was 100 or 150 feet from the propeller the latter cast off her head lines and swung her bow into the stream. The tug put her wheel to starboard and opened her throttle-valve hoping to pass in safety. In this she was unsuccessful, for the propeller's stem struck the starboard bow of the canalboat causing the damage for which this action is brought. The river t the point where the collision occurred is 221 feet wide. The wit. esses, with great unanimity, agree that at the time of the accident the tug and tow were about in the center of the river, rather nearer the south than the north side. It follows, therefore, that the propeller in order to have reached the canal·boat must have swung out no feet or more. The proof shows no fault on the part of the canalboat. Indeed, it was virtually conceded on the argument that the libelants are entitled to recover, but each of the libeled vessels con· tended that the accident occurred solely by reason of the negligence of the other. The controversy is, then, between the Russell Sage and the Ella B., and the court is called upon to decide, if it is found that the accident was not the result of their joint negligence, which of the two was responsible therefor. There can be no doubt as to the negligence of the Russell Sage. There was no difficulty in seeing the tug the mO:ql.ent she entered the river. The Sage knew, or ought to have known, that the tug, not a powerful one, was coming down the river with a loaded canal.boat, and yet, when they were in close proximity, she swung out so that her stem was nearly, if not quite, in the center of the stream. Had she waited a few moments the tug and tow would have passed by and all danger of collision would have been averted. She had no lookout, and the great weight of testimony is to the effect that she gave no signal. In any view it was unnecessary to swing out so far. Her object was to proceed further up the river, and had she adopted the usual course there would have been ample room between her bow and the center of the stream for the tug and tow to pass in safety. Without apparently taking any precaution to guard against danger, with an utter recklessness as to consequences, the Sage suddenly and unexpectedly let go her head·lines and swung herself half way acrOSE a narrow channel directly in the track of an approaching vessel. All this was negligence for which she must be held responsible. Regarding the Ella B. there is more doubt. The impression entertained at the trial was that her conduct contributed to the accident, but upon a more deliberate and careful examination a different cop-
794
FEDERAu REPORTER.
elusion is reached. In determining this question the previous habits of her master should not be considered, in the absence of proof con· necting them with the collision or with some dereliction of duty on that occasion. The tug was passing down the river ina careful and prudent manner. No fault as to her rate of speed, her position in the center of the river, or the management of the tow is suggested until she was within about 150 feet from the propeller. She then found herself confronted with sudden and imminent peril. Three courses were open to ber; she could reverse, and by going along-side, endeavor to stop the canal-boat; she could sheer off and attempt te, haul the canal· boat to the south side of the stream, or sbe. could do as she actually did, make an effort to pass. Each of these courses was attended with danger. The tow-line was about 16 feet or thereabouts in length. In backing with 80 short a line it is not impossible that the boat might have been forced into a position even more hazardous than the OM she actually assumed. So, too, in ing off, the canal· boat might have been so placed that she would have been struck amid-ships or near the stern where the blow would have been attended with far more serious results. The tug attempted to go clear by turning towards the south and accelerating her speed. In deoiding upon this oourse her master had a right to assume that the Sage would swing out only the usual distance, which is 40 or 50 feet. He could not foresee, and was not required to do so, that the Sage would occupy half the channel in executing an ordiul1ry rnaneij" ver. It is not necessary to decide that he took the wisest and safest course, for the real.:lon that he had not time or opportunity to enter into a nice calculation as to whioh of the dangers· whioh confronted him was the least to be apprehended. He was placed in a position of extreme peril by the sudden I1nd extraordinary action of the Sage. If, in such an exigency, attended as it must have been with excite· ment and apprehension, he failed to give the most judioious orders or take the wisest oourse, the fl1ilure cannot be imputed to him, but to the vessel which placed him in this hazardous predioament. The conclusion, therefore, reached is that the Sage is solely responsible for the aocident. There should be a decree for the libelants, with costs, and a reference to a oommissioner to ascertain and report the amount of the damage sustained. As against the Ella B. the libel must be dismissed·. but without (losts.
THill OOL. ADAMS.
'495
THE COL. ADAMS,
etc.
(District Oourt, 8. D. New York. March 22,1884.) 1. RALVAGE-VEBSEL AND CARGO.
Where a vessel and cargo, owned b' different owners, are libeled for the recovery of salvage, and the different owners file separate answers, claims, and bonds and one of them claims an apportionment of the salvage, and a sum in gross is agreed upon between the parties, it is the duty of the court to apportion the amount awarded upon the interests of the different owners; it w0uld be error to award a gross sum which might be collectecl wholly out of the property of either. Where in such a cause all the is::l1es are referred to a commissioner to hear and determine, held, such apportionment is a part of the issues referred; and the commisSIOner's report having been filed without apportionment, it was sent back on exceptions that such apportionment might be made upon the eVldence of the respective values of the vessel and cargo.
"2,
.3.
SAME-AVERAGE BOND.
"
If, as alleged, an average bond has been entered into between the parties, affecting the distribution of the salvage, the apportionment made in thiS action will be without prejudice to the covenants and obligations of the bond.
In Amiralty. " Jas. K. Hill, Wing et Shoudy, for libelant. Butler, Stillman et Hubbard and Wm. MlInderse, for cargo. Owen et Gray, for The Col. Adams. BROWN, J. The libel in this case was filed to recover salvage against the vessel, freight, and cargo, all of which were attached. The vessel and cargo were owned by separate owners, who appeared separately, filed separate claims, and gave separate bonds for their respective interests. The claimants of the cargo, in their answer, demanded that, in the event of the libelant·s recovery, the amount of recovery should be apportioned upon the cargo, vessel, and freight. By consent, the action was referred to a commissioner "to hear and determine the whole issue, subject to exceptions upon his report." At the close of the libelant's proofs, the claimants of the cargo and the claimants of the vessel and freight united in an offer of $8,000, which the libelants accepted, and which the commissioner reports as the whole sal· vage allowed. The claimants of the cargo demanded of the commissioner that he should apportion the amount properly chargeable against the cargo; and to that end they gave evidence of the values of the vessel, freight, and cargo. The claimants oithe vessel objected to such apportionment, and the commissioner ruled it not within the issue referred to him. The former, therefore, gave no evidence of the relative values of vessel and cargo, and the report contains no apportionment of the amount of salvage to be paid by either. Upon the hearing of the exceptions, the claimant of the cargo states that an average bond has been entered into between the owners of the vessel and cargo, and that the apportionment should, therefore, be left to be adjusted under that bond. The bond, however, was not