DALBEATTIESTEAMSHIP CO· .". CARD.
159
not at all sure that.the lifting mechanism shown in the fifth claim of No. 486,200, by means of which the beam and furrow opener are raised and lowered, discloses patentable novelty. But confining the claim strictly to the parts described, I am inclined to think that it can be upheld. The is most conveniently located with reference to the seats of the operators, and is admirably designed for prompt manipulation by them. As to the remaining claims, they are not anticipated, and the combinations covered thereby perform some functions which are not shown by any of the references introduced by the defendants. It is not necessary to broaden these claims as the defendants concededly use the precise combinations shown. When limited to these elements the claims are valid and are infringed. The complainants are entitled to a decree for an injunction and an accounting upon the first eight claims of the Starks & Felland \latent, but without costs. DALBEATTIE STEAMSHIP CO., LImIted, v. CARD. (District Court, E. D. South Carolina. December 27, 1893.) DAMAGES-BnEAcH OF CHARTER PARTy-OTHER EMPLOYMENT OF VESSEL.
In awarding damages agaInst a charterer for refusing a vessel, the net freight earned by obtaining another-less valuable-cargo Is to be deducted from the sum which would have been earned under the charter. Watts v. Camors, 6 Sup. Ct. 91, 115 U. S. 353, followed.
In Admiralty. Libel by the Dalbeattie Steamship Company, Limited, against H. St. Julian Card, doing business as Henry Card, for breach of charter party. Decree for libelant. Hearing on master's report as to damages. Report recommitted. Bryan & Bryan, for libelant J. N. Nathans, for respondent. SIMONTON, District Judge. In this case, after full hearing, it was held that the charterer was responsible for a breach of the charter party. A master, having been instructed to inquire as to the damages incurred by the vessel, has made his report, awarding the net sum which the vessel would have earned if the contract of the charter party had been carried out. There can be no doubt that the general rule is that a shipowner who is prevented from performing the yoyage by a wrongful act of the charterer is prima facie entitled to the freight that he would have eaTned, less what it would have cost him to earn it. The Gazelle and Cargo, 128 U. S. 487, 9 Sup. Ct. 139. In that case a charter party had been entered into for the carriage of a cargo to a port in Norway. After the cargo was aboard, the master and the charterer differed as to the particular port to which the vessel should go. After much negotiation and discussion, an agreement became impossible, the cargo was discharged at the port of loading, and the voyage was broken up. The time spent in the discussion and negotiation was about the same as the voyage would have con·
'160 ':l!ntmedj:8Jld of, vesselbt the port of.loading were abpv,tthe Same as they wdUId have been on the voyage. The circuit ';courfheld the ,charterer in fault, and, nothing being shown to take the case qut Of the general rule, it was enforced. We must inquire, therefore, whether any circumstances exist in this case which overcome this prima facies, and take it out of the general rule. When a party is entitled to the benefit of a contract, and can £lave himself from a loss arising from a breach of at a trifling expense, or with. reasonable exertions, it is his duty to do it; and he can charge the delinquent )\'ith such damage only as, with reasonable endeavors and expense, he could not prevent. Warren v. Stoddart, 105 U. S. 229. The rule ot damages prevailing in this court is the actual loss sustained in the particular case, regard being had to all the circumstances attending it. The question we are discussing came before Judge Pardee in Watts v. Camors, 10 Fed. 148. In that case the action was for breach of charter party, one of whose covenants bound the parties fu the performance thereof in the penal sum of the estimated amount of freight. After the breach of the charter party the vessel procured another cargo. The owners of the vessel demanded the stipulated sum fixed, or capable of being fixed, by the charter party. The charterers claimed the benefit of the profit received upon the cargo subsequently obtained by the ship, and the learned judge so held for respondents. The case went into the supreme court. WaUs v. Camors, 115 U. S. 362, 6 Sup. at. 91. That court entered at large into the question. They assert the practice of the courts of the United States sitting in admiralty to award the damages actually suffered, whether they exceed or fall short of the amount of the penalty; and, applying their reasoning to the circumstances of that case, they decide that the circuit judge 'rightly held that the charterers were liable only for the amount of damages which their breach of the contract had actually caused to the owners of the ship. This conclusion is further emphasized. The charterers contended that as the ship was tendered on 11th September, and was refused the next day, it was the duty of the master at once to seek another cargo, and thus prevent any damage that might foll9W. Instead of this, she remained idle during the lay days. The supreme court, however, excused this delay because various negotiations were pending between the parties after the first refusal, during the whole period of the negotiations, and held the charterer liable. This decision controls this case. The charterer refused the vessel on 15th February. In a day or two after· wards she got another charter, but less valuable. She sailed from this port, earning the freight. Let the report be recommitted to the special master, who will ascertJain what was the net result of the freight earned by the Bal· beattie on the clU'go carried. Let this be deducted from the sum of £773. 2£1. 4d., which would have been the net result of the charter party, had it been carried out, and let judgment be entered in favor of libelant for this difference and costs.
THE ROANOKE.
161
THE ROANOKE; BOTSFORD et al. v. UNION MARINE INS. CO. et al. (Circuit Court ot Appeals. Seventh Circuit. No. 97. December 1. 1893.)
1.
I::3HIPPING-GENERAL AVERAGE-DAMAGE IN EXTINGIDSHING FmE.
Damage by water poured on cargo to extinguish fire, by request or direction of the officers of the vessel, is a proper subject of general average. 46 ]'ed. 297, affirmed. Rev. St. § 4282, which exempts the owner of a vessel from llabllity for damage to cargo by fire happening without his design or neglect. does not release him from liability to contribute towards general average. 46 Fed. 297, affirmed.
2.
SAME-STATUTORY EXEMPTION.
8.
SAME-EXCEPTIONS IN BILL OF LADIKG.
Clauses in a bill of lading,. exempting the carrier trom liability for any loss or damage arising from fire and wet, and giving him the benefit of the insurance. do not exempt the vessel from a general average claim by the underwriters for damage caused in extinguishing fire, since the bill of lading only affects rights and liabilities incident to the contract of carriage. 53 Fed. 270, affirmed.
Appeal from the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. In Admiralty. Libel by the Union Marine Insurance Company of Liverpool, England, the Insurance Company of North America, and the Atlantic Mutual Insurance Oompany of New York against the steamer Roanoke, W. F. Botsford, O. D. Thompson, and James W. Martin, claimants for contribution in general average. Exceptions to the libel were overruled, (46 Fed. 297,) and a decree rendered for libelants, (53 Fed. 270.) Claimants appeal. Affirmed. Statement by SEAMAN, District Judge: Libel was filed against the steamer Roanoke, by the appellees, as underwriters upon her cargo, claiming general average contribution for sacrifice of cargo under the following circumstances: On the evening! of May 17. 1890, while the steamer Roanoke was lying at her dock at Buffalo, and taking on a cargo of merchandise, including a quantity of jute, bound for Toledo, fire was discovered in the midship hold. in some bales of jute. The officers of the vessel gave alarm, which brought the fire department and tire tug to their assistance. The lines were cut. and the vessel removed from bel' dock, and water poured upon her and 'into the hold. The fire WllS apparently quenched about 10:30 P. M., the damage to the steamer being confined to the upper works and main deck; but water was necessarily poured Into the hold throughout the night, because of smoldering fire in the :Jute. On the morning of May 19th, fire again appeared in the jute, and was extinguished by throwing in water for an hour. The steamer departed for Toledo at 3 P. M., the 19th. At intervals on the voyage, and after arrival, during the unloading, up to completion, May 22d, fire was breaking out fn the jute, and only kept down, and finally extinguished, by streams of water thrown in, through the steamer's hose, at each outbreak. The damage to the cargo by the water thus employed is undisputed. There was a general average statement, and the libelants paid thereupon, to the cargo owp.ers, respectively. the amounts so adjusted for damages by water, in addition to fire damage. Decree was for libelants thereupon. for the damage by water, $2,505.62, and the owners of the steamer appeal. The bills of lading for the sh'ipments in question contain provisions as follows: That any carrier or vessel receiving the goods shall not be liable