i20
FEDERAL REPORTER,
vol. 56.
be put in great jeopardy, and the complainant can be compensated in damages. Without passing any opinion upon the complainant's right, or the defendant's infringement, it suffices to say that upon the proofs in the record we cannot declare that the right or the infringement is so clear from doubt as to warrant the issuance of a preliminary injunction. The evidence as to construction of claims and infringement, upon which the court below was called to pass, was largely and necessarily ex parte. There was no opportunity of probing the witnesses. Scientific expert evidence is not wholly reliable when not subjected to the search light of intelligent cross-examination. It would, we think, be most unsafe to determine this controversy without full and orderly proof. It would be most unwise to imperil, and presumably wholly ruin, the large capital and interests involved in the business of the appellants, by arresting the enterprise in advance of a final decree, when the damages which the appellee may sustain can be compensated in money. The financial ability of the appellants to so respond has not, in our judgment, been successfully attacked. The order appealed from will be reversed. THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS. DAVIDSON v. THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS. (District Court, E. D. Louisiana. June 16, 1893.) No. 12,967 1. SHTPPING-SEAMEN-INJURIES-CONTRTBUTORY NEGLIGENCE.
A deck hand on a steamer, on the day after his employment as such began, was ordered to paint th'l smokestack, and, misundemtanding the directions given hIm, he placed a ladder weIghing about 80 pounds against the smokestack. When he ascended it, the stack fell, and he received seriou.'1 injm·ies. Helw, that the accident was due to his own ignorance, and he can recover no damages. His fault was not, however, of such a chamctcr as to debar him from recovering his expenses while he was disabled, :llld a sum equal to his wages for a like ]Jeriod will be allowed as what the ship should contribut6 to the expense of his cure. But where the this much by the and the expense the costs will be conrt is of opinion that he would have been conceded ship but for the demand for damages in addition thereto, of taking testimony, etc., would thus have been saved, divided.
2.
SAME-ExPENSES-MEDICAL ATTENDANCE.
3.
SAME-COS'fS-DTvrSION.
In Admiralty. Libel by John Davidson against the steamboat City of St. Louis for personal injuries received by libelant while in the steamboat's employ. Decree for libelant. T. M. Gill, for libelant. Brown & Choate, for claimant. BILLINGS, District Judge. The libelant was employed as a deck hand. On the day after his employment he was directed to paint the smokestack. He misunderstood the directions that were
THE ALERT.
721
given him; used improper appliances, put a ladder weighing in the vicinity of 81 pounds against the smokestack, broke it off, and he and it fell down, whereby the libelant was seriously injured. There can be no doubt of the serious and .permanent injury of the libelant, but I think that his own ignorance of methods on board of a boat is so evident that he cannot recover damages. The question is whether he ought not to be allowed what must have been his expense during his attempt at cure. He was injured when on board, and while in the employ of the ship. True, his own ignorance of the methods of the boat contributed to the injury. After all, I do not think that that constitutes a fault of such character as ought to debar him from recovering his expenses while he was disabled. The testimony shows that he was in the 8t. Louis hospital two weeks, and in the hospital at New Orleans two months and a half, making in all three months. He has not been well since, and, from his testimony, has earned only $10. It seems to me, under all the circumstances, he ought to be allowed an amount which would be equal to the amount of his wages during the three months as his expense in being cured so far as a cure in his case is possible. His wages were probably $30 a month. Let there be judgment in his favor, therefore, for the sum of $90 as the expense which the ship ought to contribute in the effort to cure the libelant. As to the costs, the testimony has been most voluminous, and I am by no means certain if the libelant had demanded in his libel simply what the court thinks he is entitled to, it would not have been at once conceded by the vessel, and the great expense of the voluminous testimony saved. I think, therefore, that the costs should be divided THE ALERT.l DAVIS COAST WRECKING CO. v. THE ALElRT. SAME v. BERG et at . (District Court, S. D. New York. June 10, 1893.)
1.
SALVAGE-CONTRACT- PROVINCE OF ADMIRALTY COURT-MUTUAL MISTAKE.
n is the right and duty of a court of admiralty to inqulre into the circumstances of a salvage contract, with a view of ascertaining its reasonableness and fairness; and in so doing it may take note of a mutual mistake and award ouly such compensation as justice and equlty may permit. '
SAME-CONTRAc'rs MADE UNDER STRESS OF CmCUMSTANCES-CONTRACTS ENTERED INTO DELIBEHATEI,Y.
In contracts made at sea, under the stress of immediate necessity, the element of reward to the salvor enters beyond any quantum meruit for the work done. But where a salvage contract is made on land, between parties dealing upon equal terms, with full opportunity for deliberation, and equal knowledge of the facts, such contract should be treated IlkI' any other voluntary, deliberate contract for a specific service.
8.
SAME-STHANDING-CONTHACT TO FLOAT-LIABILITY OF CARGO.
The steamship A. went ashore on the coast of South America, and her agents there, being unable to procure local assistance, telegraphed to her
'Reported by E. G. Benedict, Esq., of the New York bar.
v.56F.no.9-46