THE CHAUNCEY M. DEPEW.
791
THE CHAUNCEY M. DEPEW. THE GEORGE W. PRATT. THE LILA M. HARDY. THE ALFRED. CHAPMAN DERRICK & WRECKING CO. v. THREE TUGS. CORNELL STEAMBOAT CO. v. THE ALFRED.' (DistrIct Court, S. D. New York. January 23, 1894.) 1. It Is obllgatory on their owners to raise, when practicable, vessels sunk in collision. Hence, a derrick anchored in the channel of the East river under a permit from the secretary of the treasury, occupied in raising a sunken vessel, and, though a partial obstruction to navigation, not such a complete obstruction as to constitute a nuisance, was heU not unlawfully anchored, though olr the regular anchorage grounds, and not in fault for damage suffered by a vessel whIch collided with her. 2. SAME-DREDGE ANCHORED m NARROW CHANNEL W AY- LIABILITY OF COL· COLLISION-VESSELS AT ANCHOR-CROWDED CHANNEL-DREDGE LAWFULLY MOORED. _
A derrick anchored in the crowded channel way of the East river, engaged in raising a sunken vessel, although not unlawfully in such position, was held not entitled to all the immunities of vessels anchored on anchorage In'ounds; and certain tugs, which collided with her In spite of skill and "(liligence exercIsed by their pIlots, were held not responsible for the damage to the derrIck. 8. SAME-ANCHORAGE GROUNDS - AOT AUTHORIZING SECRETARY OF TREASURY TO ESTABLISH-ApPLICATION TO VESSELS ENGAGED IN RAISING WRECKS.
LIDING VESSELS.
Whether the anchoring of a derrick for the purpose of raising a wreck falls- withIn the purview of the act of May 16, 1888, or the authority of the secretary of tqe treasury thereunder "to define and establish an anchorage ground," etc., quaere.
In Admiralty. Libels and cross libels for collision. Dismissed. Wing, Shoudy & Putnam and Mr. Burlingham, for Chapman, etc., Co. and the Alfred. Carpenter & Mosher, for the Chauncey M. Depew. Benedict & Benedict, for the George W. Pratt and the Lila M. Hardy. BROWN, District Judge. The first three libels above named were filed by the owners of the derrick Alfred to recover damages sustained by the derrick from three separate collisions with the steam tugs above named, all happening in the _ course of about two hours, between half past 7 and half past 9 A. M., on May 17, 1893, while the derrick was at anchor a little way above the Brooklyn bridge, and off pier 40, in the East river, over the sunken wreck Emma, which it was there engaged in raising. The width of the East river in that locality is about 1,350 feet from pier to pier. It is the narrowest part of the river. At times the concourse of vessels there is large, and in passing in opposite directions, great care and skill are needed at such times to avoid collisions, even when there are no fixed obstructions. The derrick was anchored about 500 feet off from the New York pier, and was l
Reported by E. G. Benedict, Esq., ot the New York bar.
792
FEDERI\.L REPORTER,
vol. 59.
fastened. by two anchors at her bow and two at her stern. She had also lines and chains running to the wreck beneath her, which lay on the bottom, in 75 feet of water. The tide was strong flood. Each of the tugs above named was going up river with a tow; the first two with a float, or scows, alongside; the Hardy had two scows astern, on a hawser. The testimony in behalf of each shows that at the time when she passed under the bridge, the river on the Brooklyn side was much incumbered by other vessels. Each claimed that inconsequence of these incumbrances, and by reason of the cross set of the tide, she was forced towards the westerly side of the:i.iver, so as to come in contact with the derrick, notwithstanding the exercise of all reasonable care and skill to avoid it. The first collision was between the Depew's car float and the derrick; it was comparatively slight, rubbing along the eastwardly side of the derrickc;J bUt, as claimed by the libelants, cutting two lines that ran to the wreck beneath, and doing some other slight damage. The collision. of. the Pratt was with the starboard stern corner of the derrick, which was struck by the Pratt's bow, and swung outwards, so as to point nearly across the river towards the Brooklyn shore; considerable damage was thereby done to the derrick, and also to the Pratt, and for the Jatter damage the cross libel was filed by the Cornell The third collision was with one of the Hardy's scows, Which was astern of her, on a hawser. In this collision, the port stern corner of the' derrick was struck and damaged. The cases having so much testimony in common, they were, for convenience, tried together. , ' :For the tugs it is contended that the derrick was an, unlawful obstruction, having no right to be at anchor where she was, except at the risk of all the damages which she might suffer, or might inflict on others. The libelants, in their justification, produce a pei'lDit from the secretary of the treasury, dated January 9, 1893, in the following words: "Referring to your letter of the 6th instant, you are informed that the department has no objection to the mooring of two of your derricks over the barge Emma which was recently'sunk with about five hundred tons of coal in the East river off pier 39 provided it does not interfere with navigation, is at your risk, and that the properl,ights are exhibited."
In a subsequent letter, dated May 3, 1893, in answer to further inquiries of the libelants, the department gave its construction of the meaning of the above as follows: "Referring to your letter pfthe 1st instant, in. relation to mooring your derricks over the sunken barge Emma, and other permits granted in similar cases; you are informed that the department intended by its letter of January 9th last· t6authorize you to moor your derricks over said vessels for the purpose. of raising and removing the same. . "The proviso thILt it interfere with navigation, is understood to. mean that you not completely block up the channel nor seriously interfere with the passage '''The risk that you assume in Buch cases, is for such damage as the courts might award in case of collision between your barges and other vessels. "The department intended/by: its letter dated November 17, 1892, to au-
793
thorlze you to commence work on a wreck as it might occur, without waiting for the permit, but expected that you would apply Immediately for such permission."
It does not appear what was the supposed value of the wreck Emma; but the libelants admit a contract to receive $700 for raising her. The wreck lay so deep that she was no obstruction to navigation. The state act on the subject of removing wrecks has, therefore, no application. Considerable discussion has been had with reference to the permit issued by the secretary of the treasury. I have considerable doubt, however, whether the anchoring of a derrick for the purpose of raising a wreck falls within the purview of the act of May 16, 1888, (1 Supp. Rev. St. 586,) or the authority of the secretary of the treasury thereunder "to define and establish an anchorage ground for vessels * * * in the Hudson and East rivers, and to adopt suitable regulations in relation thereto;" or whether the act applies at all where the anchorage is not of vessels engaged in navigation, but is in the business, and for the purpose of raising wrecks; any more than it would apply to vessels throwing out an anchor in extremity or in distress. In practice, however, it seems to have been customary, when raising wrecks, to obtain a permit to anchor from the secretary of the treasury; and for revenue cutters to visit vessels found at anchor off the prescribed "anchorage ground," to see if such permits have been secured. It is not necessary, however, to consider this point further; for I am satisfied that upon the proper construction of the permit itself, the liability of the ship is neither enlarged nor diminished from that which would exist independently of the statute concerning anchorage. If this anchoring of the derrick fell under the provisions of the act of 1888, the permit was sufficient to absolve the libelants from the penalty prescribed by it; and the conditions of the permit, under the explanations of the letter of !Iay 3d were, I think, simply designed to leave the rights and liabilities of the libelants, and of others, to be determined by the courts, unaffected by the anchorage act. There can be no doubt from the evidence in this case, as well as from daily observation and common knowledge, that the anchorage of a vessel in the narrow, and often crowded, passage where thilll derrick was anchored must of necessity, for the time being, be a serious embarrassment to the navigation of the East river, whenever there is a concourse of vessels or tows meeting or passing in that vicinity. Under certain conditions of tide and weather, such a concourse is very frequent, and almost of daily occurrence. Under such circumstances, and on the flood tide, this derrick was, therefore, a very serious embarrassment, and a partial obstruction to the free and easy navigation of the East river. The question, however, is not whether the derrick was a partial obstruction to navigation, but whether it was an unlawful obstruction. Sailing vessels in that locality are often an obstruction to
79"4
Ji'EDERALREPORTER,
BtcJaIlleri!;tows, an ohstl'11et1on to hoth;and slow an ohstruc'tion'JtO faster ones. .'But none of these are unlawful; and none are liable, except for negligence. Dredges in a channel way are partial obstructibI1S, but lawful ones. Bomeof the witnesses considered that this derrick was more of anobstrnction, and would present greater difficulties, to vessels undertaking to pass her, than asai! vessel in motion at the same spot; because, in case of danger, some help in avoiding collision might be . expected from the sail vessel; other witnesses thought that a stationary object presents less difficulty, because her position is more certain, and therefore the more accurately to be counted on in maneu'Vers. to avoid it. was evidently supposed to be worth raising, or the libelant would not have been employed to undertake that work. The,obligation of the owners of vessels that have been sunk by collisiontoraise their vesse1swhen practicable, bas been repeatedly recognized in litigations on the question of damages, as a duty towards the faulty party. Towboat Co. v. Pettie, 1 U. S. App.62, 1 C. Co .A.314, 49 Fed. 464; The Havilah, 1 U. S. App. 138, 1 C. C. A. 519\ 50 Fed. 333, and cases there cited. The raising of sunken vessels, even when not necessary for the benefit of the public, and the use of the river for raising vessels,are, therefore, legitimate and lawful; and, so far as I can perceive, as much so. as is the navigation of the river by other vessels for other purposes. There may be extreme cases, in which the anchoring of one vessel for the purpose of raising another in a very narrow passage, may so completely obstruct navigation as to amount to a nuisance, which could not be lawfully maintained, even for the rescue of one's own property. But this case is far from being the case of a public nuisance.· Reasonable room still remained for ordinary navigation; much more than is often left in cases of dredging, (The Virginia Ehr- . man, 97 U. S. 309,) and under the permit, which removes any questionupon the statute, I cannot regard the mere anchoring of the derrick in the place where she was anchored for the raising of the wreck,as.nnlawful. The derrick remained there no longer than was necessary for that purpose; a,nd no negligence is shown in the mannetof anchoring, or handling the derrick. The cases of The Scioto, 2,Ware, 367; The Clara, 23 Wall. 1; and Strout v. Foster, 1 How. 89,"":""are therefore inapplicable; and no decree should be given against the derrick. As regards the claims made against the tugs, it is to be observed that the tderrick, on the other hand, not lying upon any authorized anchorage:ground, was not entitled to all the immunities of vessels so anchOre4and lying out of the usual channel way. Her· position, on the contrary, was in the channel way, and though lawful, was in the midst ofa busy traffic, where her presence at times added greatly' to the· difficulties of navigation by other vessels. Those vessels were, doubtless, required to use skill and diligence to avoid
796
the derricK and each other; but they were .not otherwise answerable for the results. And in determining whether skill and diligence have been exercised, the mere fact of collision with the derrick in a place like this, is no such prima facie.· evidence of negligence as in the ordinary case of a collision with a wharf, or with a vessel moored at a wharf, 01' upon ground out of the channel way and set apart for aneb6rage. Considering all the circumstances, and the obstructions by othel' vessels that are so fully detailed by the witnesses for each· tug, I am of the opinion that neither of the tugs was lacking in reasonable diligence and skill, from. the time when the danger of collision beeame appreciable; and that no specific fault is established against either. It was no fault in the tugs to shape their courses originally for the wide channel way on the right, where the rule of the road, the state statute, and custom required them to go; instead of trying the narrower channel way to the lett. There is no doubt that during the two hours in which these collisions. happened, there was an unusually large concourse of vessels coming and going past the derrick. They were going at different speeds, and not far apart; the tugs were incumbered and slow; the tide was strong, setting crosswise, and changing in strength and direction; the derrick was anchored in an unusual place, and in the midst of the cross tide; the pilots were wholly unaccustomed and untrained to avoid an anchored vessel in that location; and no previous experience was likely to be perfectly adequate to suggest at once all that was possible, or all that was needed, to avoid the derrick with certainty. Since the event, no doubt, modes can now be pointed out by which the collisions might have been avoided. But at the time it could not be foreseen just what movements the other vessels would make. The circumstances were extraordinary; and the fact that these three pilots all got into collision so nearly at the same time, though they had previously avoided the derrick when hauling other tows, tends to corroborate their testimony to the extraordinary difficulties of this occasion, and to absolve them from the charge of negligence. The result iI, that all the libels should be diamiSBed. with coats.
FEDE:RAL REPORTER,
THE -v'ANDAL.' THE W. A. LEVERING. MILLIKEN et 0.1. v. THE VANDAL. STANTON v.THE W. A. LEVERING. (District Court, S. D. New York. JanU8.l'3': 18, 18M.) CoLLIBION-STJIlA'J:,TUG AND
A steam tug which attempts a clQse approach to a salllng vessel for the purpose of collecting her towage bill is bound to approach with care and skill, and with due regard to the motion of the sailing vessel; and a tug which, under such circumstances, failed to approach a yacht parallel:W1th the latter's course, and delayed reducing her speed, by reaSOn which collision .ensued, was held liable for the damage.
Al'PROACH-'-CAUTION.
In Admiralty. .Oross libels for collision. Decree for libelant, and dismissing cross libel. WiJ,cox, Adams & Green, for The Vandal. Edwin G. Davis, for The Levering.
District Judge. At about 7 P. M. on May 30, 1892, the tug Levering, having towed the, steam yacht Vandal fromOity tCi» 1;lle junction of the East and North rivers, while endeavoring toc()llect her towage bill, by approaching the ;yacht near enough to rec,eive payment in a package from the end of a pole, came in collision With. the port side of the yacht, which was struck by the tug's bow, andeac,h vessel sustained SOme damage, for which the above libel, and cross libel, were, filed. Some comments have. been made in regard to the efforts at a settlement without trial. These efforts, I am entirely satisfied, were made in good faith on each side. They call for no other observations than the commendation of the court, and the assurance that such efforts can always be made without the least prejudice in this court to either side upon the merits, should such endeavors prove unsuccessful. The mode of collecting payment at the end of the towage service, adopted in tlrllil case, is a very common one, though attended with some risk, through the near approach of the boats. Both, however, evidently concurred in this method; apd the case, therefore, is not to be judged by the ordinary rules of navigation. The tug was , bound, in approaching within a pole's length of the tow, to approach ,with care and skill, so as to avoid any injurious contacts. Upon her first approach, the tug missed, by keeping too far away; whereupon she dropped astern a second time. In coming up agaip. on the port side of the yacht, her stem came in contact with the yacht amidships. For the tug it is contended, that the yacht, at the moment of her approach, took a l;jheer to port, thereby causing her port side to come across the tug's bow. The wind was light, and the yacht moved very slowly through the water. A couple of the yacht's I
Reported by E. G. Benedict, Ellq., of the New York bar.