J'EDElUL . REI'ORTER,
vol. 50.
should be) between the shipping and delivery weightS, and secure the ship-owner freight calculated on tbe intake weight at Hamburg, seems to me to rest upon a conjecture which is wholly unsupported by any fact. Clearly, that purpose did not retIuire the erasure of the word" delivered." The great difficulty in the way of accepting the construction ihsistedupon by the respondent is that the court is virtually asked to restore to the chnrter-party a material word which the contracting parties expunged, it must be presumed, intentionally and deliberately. But this we are not at liberty to do; and, giving to the act of the parties its legitimate effect. we must conclude that the clause, as it now stands, was meant to provide for the payment of full freight on the inof the cargo. Nor does the provision that the freight is "to be paid on unloading and right delivery of the cargo" create any obstacle toa dt'Cree in the Javor of the libelanti for. in .the analogous casE'S of "luTQp-sum" freightf', the principle has ·long been established that the cargo is rightly dt>livered if all of it not covered by any exception in the contract is delivered. Shipping Ql. v. Armitage, L. R. 9 Q. B. 99. The decree of the district court must be affirmed; but in the decree to be entered in this court credit must be given for any dividend which may have been received by the libelant since the dE'cree of the district court in the proceedings to limit the liability of the owners of the steamer Sultan.
THE B. F. BRUCE. MIN. Co. fl.
GILCHRIST
et ale
(Otreuit Oourt. N. D. Ohf,o, E. D. December 80, 1891.) 1. CuARTBR-PARTY:-UNQUALIFTED OBLIGATION-EFFECT.
Unqualified charter-parties are to bl' construed liberally as mercantile contracts, and a party who has by charter charged himself with an obligation must make it good, prevented by the act of God, the law, or the other party to the charter.
2.
SAMR.
RespOndents, ship-owners, entered into an absolute ae:reement with libelant, by charter. that they WOUld, during a sElTlson of lake carry eight cargoes of libelant'll iron ore from one port to another in a speCified vessel, to be towed by another specified vessel. Two of the eight trips were not performed, and libelant employed other vessels at an advanced freight, and brllught this suit to recover the dilTerence of freight between the charter rate and the rate they were obliged to pay. Respondents averred that, after it appeared that the designated vessel could not make the eight trips, they had olTered to supply other towage, which oll'er libelant refused, Also. that during the existence of the charter, one of the specified vessels was at times detained by other business... Held, that respondents, having by their charter entered into an unqualified undertaking possiLJle to be performed, must make it good, unless performance was rendered impossible by the act of God. the or by the libelant, and hence that libelant was entitled to recover.
In Admiralty. Suit to recover damages for breach of charter. appeal from district court. Affirmed. Hurvey D. Goulder, for appellants. Henry S. Sherman, for appellee.
On
.B. F. BRUCE.
119
JACKSON, CirouitJurlge. The libel in thi!! case 'tas filed to recover the damages which' libelant claims to have sustained by reason of re-spondents' breach of a certain contract of a.ffreightment made and tered into between the pa.rties in February, 1886. The district court found that respondents had failed to perform their contract, and, after a reference to and report by' a special master as to the damages thence resulting, gave a decree in favor of libelant against respondents for the sum of $2,203.20 and costs. From eaid decree respondents prosecute the present appeal. It appears from the pleadings and proofs that on February 4, 1886, respondents addressed to J. H. Outhwaite & Co., agents of libelant, the following proposition: "We will transport for you 30,000 tons of iron ore from the port of Escanaba, Michigan, to Lake Erie ports, (not east of Erie,) in equal monthly quan. tUy. during the season of navigation of 1886, at the rate of ($1.00) one dol. lar per gross ton, steam tonnage." Libelant, through its said agents, accepted the proposition February 9, 1886; its written acceptance being accompanied with a designation of the boats which were to be employed by respondents, as follows: "We accept charter of schooner B. F. Bruce dated February 4 to apply on ·above [contract;] also charter February 4 with schooner Teu· tonia; also charter Mch. 23 with schooner S. H. Foster. 1I Thereupon, and in conformity with said accepted proposition, the following formal written agreement was made and entered into between the parties, viz.: "Vessel charter. between J. C. Gilchrist, of Vermillion, Ohio, as owner of the vessel called the B. F. Bruce, and J. H. Outhwaite &; Co., of Cleveland, Ohio, as agents for Lumbl"rmen's Mining Company, made at Cleveland, 0., this 4th day of February, 1886: Witnesseth, t.hat the said J. C. Gilchrist, for the considerations hereinafter named, hereby agrees that said vessel shall carry eight (8) cargoes of iron ore for the said J. H. Outh. waite & Co., agents, during the season of 1886, from Escanaba. Mich., to Lake Erie ports, (not east of Erie,) at a rate of freight of one dollar ($1.00) per ton of 2,240 pounds. It is understood that the above number of trips shall be distributed through the season of navigation 1886 as equally as posBible in regard to time. It is also understood that the said vessel shall be constantly towed by the prop. N. K. Fairbanks during the life of this contract. There shall be allOWed an average of four days' tLlle for loading said vessel, and for furnishing a dock at which to discharge; the tilile to be reckoned from the hour when said vessel reported and was ready to load until loaded, and from the time when reported at port of destination and was ready to un. load until a dock was furnished; the time of such reporting, in both cases, not to date from an hour earlier than eight o'clock A. M., or later than five o'clock P. :M;., Sundays. public holidays, and time lost in consequence of heavy seas, strikes, or any other cause beyond the control of Lumbermen's Mining Co.· excepted. When each cargo contracted by this vessel is dellv· ered, if it shall be found that the time of detention exceeds four davs for each trip, as above stipulated for, the Said vessel shall be allowed a compensation for further detention, except for causes above stated, at the rate of live cents per gross ton of one average cargo for each day (of 24 hours) of such excess. '£he tiO,1e of reporting, ready to load, and when loaded, with causes of detention, jf any. shall bf! noted on the bill of lading in every instance. A special order for each cargQ shall be obtained from the agents of said Lumbermen's
120
FEDERAL REPORTER,
Mining Company at Cleveland. Said J. H. Outhwaite & Co., agents, in con. sideration of above, hereby agree to employ said vessel, ,and agree to pay the frElight, as above,mentioned. "J. C. GILCHRIsT,¥anag. Owner. "LUMBERMEN'S MINING Co., "By J. H. OUTHWAITE & Co., Agts. " The schooner Bruce, mentioned in said contract, belonged to respondents, and J. C. Gilchrist was her managing owner. The steamer Fairbanks was under the control of respondents, as or owner, for the season of 1886. Said Gilchrist and J. H. Outhwaite & Co., f;tgents of libelant, both have offices at Cleveland, Ohio, where said contract was made. The average cargo of the schooner Bruce was 1,360 tons. She carried during the l;leasonof navigation of 1886 six cargoes oOron ore for libelant from Escanaba; Mich., to Lake Erk ports, (not east of Erie,) for:whieh the stipulated price'of onedoHarper ton was paid ,as each trip was made. She failed to make two of the eight trips which respondents umlertook and agreed she should make during said season. When it became evident that she would fall short in, making the eight trips stipulated to be performed, during the month of November, 1886, while navigation for the season was still, open, employed other tonnage,to the amount of about 2,700 tons, in place of the Bruce, to transport its iron ore from Escanaba, Mich., to Lake Erie ports, (not east of Erie,) for which it was required and compelled to pay at the average rate of $1.81 ,per ton of 2,240 pounds. The failure of the schooner Bruce to carry two of the eight cargoes of iron ore agreed to be carried is the :breach of contract set up by libelant, and the damage which it claims'as resulting therefrom is the difference between the contract price of $1 per ton, to be paid respondents, and $1.8,1 per ton, which libelant had to pay for other tonnage to supply the place of the Bruce. This difference, amounting to $2,203.20, waE' awarded, and decreed to libelant by the district court. Respondents admit tbat the Bruce failed to carry ,two of the stipulated cargoes before the close of navigation in 1886, but set up by way of avoidance several matters of excuse or defense. They aver that during said season the Bruce was subjected to great and unwarranted delays in obtaining libelant's at Escanaba, and in discharging tbe same at destination or ports of delivery, contrary to the understanding of all parties that said vessel was to receive from libelant good dispatch in loading and discharging its cargoes, in order that she migbt accomplish the eight trips agreed to be made. The proof wholly fails to sustain this defense, whicb was not seriously insisted upon at the bearing, and need not be further noticed. The next special matter of avoidance is thus stated in the answer: "Respondents further aver that, after the Bruce had accomplished several trips, it became apparent that, OWing to the great delay to which the vessels were subjected in handling cargoes, she would probably be unable to per. form eight trips; that up to about September 1st freights on ore were low. and during July, August, and September both libelant and respondents could have obtained other tonnage at or below the charter rate of freight; that fre-
THE B. F. BRUCE.
121
quently during these months respondents pointed out to libelant the evident inability oithe :aruce to perform eight trips, and offered to put in other tonnage to Inake good .'the deficiency; and they also called the attention to the requirement in the charter that trips be equally distributed throughout the seaSon, and that the Bruce, OWing to delays, was falling behind; that respond: ents then had other tonnage, which they were ready and willing and offered to put in to equalize the number of trips. but libelant refused to employ other tonnage itself. or .to permit respondents to put in other tonnage, although between July 13th and October 2d the Bruce, without fault on her part, was able to deliver but one cargo: that, had the libelant permitted the rt>spond· ents to furnish other tonnage. as they were ready and willing and offered to do, there would have been no loss to either libelant or these respondents."
It is shown by the proofs that some time in August, 1886, respondent Gilchrist had some conversation with Mr. Pollock, of the firm of J. H. Outhwaite & Co., agents for libelant, about putting in other tonnage in place of, or in addition to, the Bruce. Mr. Gilchrist fixes the date of said conversation "in the fore part of August." Mr. Pollock does not remember the time in August at which the interview took place. The offer or suggestion to.put in other or substitute tonnage in place of or to the Bruce was declined by Mr. Pollock, on the ground that the said schooner had carried her full quota or proportion of cargoes up to that time, and respondents were not entitled to put in, nor libelant under any obligation to accept, extra tonnage, for which it might not be ready. or which might have conflicted with its engagements. -Gilchrist appears to have thought that the Bruce was falling behind, if, .as he assumed, the season of navigation was counted from April 1 to November 30, 1886. Pollock, however, reached the conclusion that the Bruce was not behind in her trips by taking the season at seven months, and figuring on the 30,000 tons which the three schooners were to transport; it being the understanding of the parties, as admitted in the answer of the respondents, that the Brlice was put in to apply on ilaid contract, by the tenus of which said 30,000 tons of ore were to be -carried, "in equal monthly quantity, during the season of navigation of 1886." When the season of navigation actually opened in 1886 does not distinctly appear from the proof, but it does appear that the Bruce loaded her first cargo of ore, under the contract, on May 8,1886, which we may assume was the opening of navigation for her; and, estimating her trips from May 6, 1886, when she first reported at Escanaba for loading, her season of navigation, running to November 30th, covered a period of seven months, on the basis of which Pollock figured, to show that the Bruce was not behind in August, when the request or offer to put in extra tonnage was made by Gilchrist. If this was not so, still repondents could not avail themselves of the failure of the Bruce to carry ·one cargo in April, on the theory that the season of navigation opened April 1, 1886, and require libelant to accept other or extra tonnage in August, 1886. But, aside fran, this, the request or offer to put in additional tonnage was not insisted upon by Gilchrist, and the Bruce proceeded with her tripsl and with such slow dispatch that she failed to make two of the stipulated eight trips.
122
FEDERAL REroRTER,' vol.
50.
urge,the offer ofothet as tnat sued on, when rettd :llgnt of,tbQ;,accep'ted 4,1886, to 'transport 30,OOOtons"llinequal monthly quantity, during the season ofnavigation of 1886, II should be regarded or construed as a severable contract for eight monthly tnps.Thecontract does not admit ·o( with()ut totally disregtirding Hs terms; but, if it did, iti8not, orin wbatway.", it co,l;lld operEl-te to make the offer of other tQnt;lage in August a defense ,f()r the Bruce's failure to carry the two cargoes as agreed. It is next urged that, inasmuch as the steamer Fairbanks was mutu· ally sele.cted by the the means or instrument for towing the schooner Brq.ce to' en'able her to lllake the eight trips, arid inasmuch as the reasoli of other engagements; and' on account of de. tentions by other parlies at the ports of ,Ashland and Chicago; was unable to make the eight trips to Escanaba, the respondents are therefore excused or relieved froin liability; This 'position cannot be sustained. :By the onj:!;inal proposition to transport 30,000 tons of ore, respondents offered steam tonnage fortha vessels which Were to carry the ore. By the charter-party sued on, they mime or designate the schooner Bruce as the vessel which is to carry eight cargoes during the season of navigation, and expressly stipulated that she shall be constantly towed by the propeller Fairbahks, (respol)dents controlled both the Fairbanks and the Bruce,) and they put both into the service they agreed to perform for the price of one dollur'per ton, to be paid by libelant. It is shown by the proof that libelant required that the respondents should provide steam tODlisge. and this respondents agreed to furnish, In accepting the Bruce and Fairbanks as the veSsels 'thUs to be furnished and pro. vided by respondents, it cannot be properly said that they, or either of them, were sO mutually selecte4 by the parties as that libelant should in .any way be chargeable or responsible for the acts, .defaults, or fail· ures of both to perform the stipUlated trips. The terms and provisions of the admit of no such construction. The 'libelant was a mere cOlHl:'actor for a designated service, which respondents undertook and agreed should be performed by the designated vessels, whose use and navigation they controlled.. In permitting respondents to put iIi .the Bruce and Fairbanks to apply on the contract to transport the 30,000 tons of ore, libelant incurred no'responsibility for the failure of either of said vessels; and it would be an entire perversion of the true inteIit and meaning of the contract to say that libelant should, equally with respondents, bear the consequence of the Fairbanks' neglect, refusal, or failure t6 perform the stipulated service· . In connection with this defense, counsel for respondents contend that libelant or its knew that respondents to employ both the Fairbanks and the Bruce in the carrying trade during the season between Ashland and Chicago, and from the latter place to Escanaba, and thence to Lake Erie ports, (east of Erie.) and that libelant should be held to have taken the chances and consequences of detentions at Chi.
THE B.
]1'.
BRUCE.
123
cago and Ashland in making such triangular trips. It does not appear that libelant or its agents, when the ofter to transport 30,000 tons of ore was made and had knowledge or notice that the steamer or propeller which might be employed by respondents to tow the ]3ruce was to have any other engagement. About the time of· designating the Fairbanks as the propeller to tow the Bruce, the agents of libelant were informed that respondents intended to employ said propeller in making said triangular trips; but it was intimated. when she was named in the charter-party to apply on the original contract, that she could make with the Bruce the eight trips which the respondents agreed to perform during the season of navigation, and on the basis of that estimate respondents entered into an absolute and unconditional agreement that the Bruce should carry eight cargoes of ore for libelant. Upon what principle of law or rule of construction is respondents' unqualified undertaking to perform a specific and designated service for libelant with two named vessels, within a given time, subject to the contingency of said vessels performing other engagements which respondents mayor might enter into with other parties? . The proposition asserted is substantially this: that libelant should be held to have taken the risk of the Fairbanks' performing the triangular service or engagements which respondents had or might enterinto for ber, and if sbe was unable, by reason of detentions at Ashland and Chicago, occasioned by accident or the fault of the other parties, to make the eight stfpulated trips, that libelant must bear the consequence of her failure. This is radically unsound, and wholly ullsupported by authority. Charter-parties like the present are to be construed liberally, as mercantile contracts usually are, in furtherance of the real intention of the parties; and the respondents, having by this undertaking charged themselves with an obligation or service possible to be performed, must make it good, unless performance was rendered impossibl£' by the act of God, the law, or by the libelant. Unforeseen difficulties or obstacles, however great, will not excuse them. They should have been guarded against by express conditions or qualifications in the contract. In the case of Antola v. Gill, 7 Fed. Rep. 489, Chief Justice WAITE held that a vessel delayed in the performance of a new contract, because she was bound by and engap;ed in fulfilling an old one, furnished no excuse. Time was of the essence of the charter-party sued upon. Lowber v. Bangs. 2 Wall. 728; Norrington v. Wright, 115 U. S. 203, 6 Sup. Ct. Rep. 12; arid Filley v. Pope, 115 U. S. 213, 6 Sup. Ct. Rep. 19, and cases therein cited. For this failure to carry two cargoes of ore respondents are responsible to libelant. The damages sustained have been correctly ascertained and fixed at the SU.Ql of $2,203.20. The decree below is affirmed, without interest, but with costs of suit in this court and the court below, to be taxed against respondents. Let judgment be entered accordingly.
124
THE
S. H. FOSTER.
LUMBERMEN'S MIN. CO. tl. GILOltRIBT
et al. On appeal
(Oircuit Oourt, N. D. Ohio, E. D. December 30, 1891.)
In Adiniralty'. Suit to recover damages for breach of charter. trom district <lourt. Modified. Harvey D. (Joulder, for appellants. Henry B. Sherman, for appellee.
JAOKSON, Circuit JUdge. The libel in this case is filed to recover damages which libelant sustained by reason of the failure of the schooner S. H. Foster to carry one cargo of iron ore from Escanaba, Mich., to some Lake Erie port, (not east of Erie,) during the season of navigation of 1886. Libelant's contract or charter.party with respondents in respect to the schooner Foster is substantially the same as that made in. respect to the Bruce, considered and deterUJined in case No. 1,912, between the same parties. 50 Fed. Rep. 118. The Foster was to be towed by the propeller Tuttle. She fell short one trip. and for her failure to make that one trip, the court. under the report' of the special master, awarded the libelant as damages the sum of $477.70, with costs of suit. The Foster reached Escanaba on her last trip on the morning of November 26,1886, which·was Thanksgiving day. By the terms of the charter-party, libelant was under no obligation to commence loading her upon that "public holiday;" but commenced loading her at 2 P. M. on the 28th day of November. as soon as she could be gotten up to the docks. The ore was frozen bard. and could not be loaded on the boat to any extent. After making the attempt to load her until 12 M. on the 29th day of November. when abont 200 tons of the ore were placed on board. the loading was suspended. and the Foster was the next day laid up at Escanaba for the. winter. If she could have been loaded before laying up for tile winter. she could not have mllde the trip, as the season for naVigation had in fact closed before she commenced taking on the 200 tons. When naVigation opened in the spring of 1887. she resumed her loading. and finished taking on her cargo of ore May 3.1887. The bill of lading given for this cargo recited: "Freight at $--' per gross ton." 'But the freight actually paid by libelant wa.s $1.35 on the 1,164 tons carried, being tQe sum of $407.40 above the contract price, The claim mllde by the libelant, and found by the special master,. that other tonnage had been obtained prior to November 22.1886. in placeof this last trip by the Foster, is not sustained. Libelant obtained other tonnage between tbe 1st and 16th of November, but it cannot properly be said to have been secured in consequence of the Foster's default, for libelant requested tbe Foster to go to Escanaba for her last load at or abOut the time of procuring such other tonnage, and when tbe Foster reached Escanaba, though late in the season, libelant commenced loading her under the contract. and finished· loading her the follOWing spring. Libelant thereby waived ber previous delay. and can only claim as its damage the difference between $1 per ton under the contract and $1.35 actually paid. Respondents offered to let this cargo go un,der the contract. This was all that libelant could demand under the circumstances. 'rhe matters of defense set upin the al}-swer and the relief sought by the cross-libel are wholly unsustained, The decree of the court below will be modified, so as tol'imit libelant's recoveryagainst respondents to the sum of $407.40. A judgment for that amount. without interest, will be entered in favor of libelant against respondents, together with the costs of this court and of the court.below to be taxed.