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78 FEDERAL REPORTER.
account allowed can be classed as unliquidated, and that is for detention or demurrage of the steamboat Arkansas City for two days, the allowance of which is made the ground of the sixth and last assignment of error. The claim in the libel is for three days' detention on the up-trip, $263 per day. This damage was specifically and sufficiently proved, and, from the view the district court evidently took of the case, was pronerly allowed, and interest thereon is in the nature of, and was intended as, damages. On the whole record, we find no reversible error, and therefore the decree of the district court is affirmed.
---------THE CITY OF CHESTER. THOM et al, v. NORFOLK & C. R. CO. (Circuit Court of Appeals, lj'ourth Circuit. February 2, 1897.) No. 149. 1. COI.LISION-IGNORING
It is no excuse for failure to answer a signal that the vessel for which it was intended heard it, but did not understand that it was for her, other vessels being in the vicinity. It is her duty to understand and heed such signals, especially when the vessel giving them is on converging courses with her, on her starboard bow, and has the right of way. SAlIm-DUTY TO AVOID DANGER.
2.
A vessel which fails to get an answer to her signals is not justified, though she have the right of way, in continuing onward until the danger point is reached. Her duty, especiaily in a crowded harbor, and when approaching a tug incumbered with a tow, is to take every care to avoid a course involving risk of collision. SAME-'l'UG WITH STEAMEH AND 'rOW-SWNALS-MuTUAL FAULT.
S.
A steamboat with a tow projecting in front was proceeding up Norfolk Harbor, near the Norfolk side, and was under engagement, by signal, with a tug and tow coming down outside of her. Another tug, crossing from the Portsmouth side to reach a wharf, blew two signals of one blast each, which were heard by the steamboat, but not answered, because supposed to be for another vessel. The tug, nevertheless, continued her course, crossed in front of the descending tug, and struck the steamboat's tow. Held, that both steamboat and tug were in fault, the former for failing to understand and heed the signal, and the latter for proceeding after failing to get an answer.
Appeal from the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of Virginia. This was a libel in rem by the Norfolk & Carolina Railroad Company against the steamboat City of Chester (Alfred P. Thorn, receiver of the Atlantic & Danville Railway Company, claimant), to recover damages resulting from a collision in Norfolk Harbor. The district court found that the City of Chester was alone in fault, and entered a decree for libelant. 68 Fed. 574. The claimant has appealed. Richard Walke and Alfred P. Thom, for appellant. Robert M. Hughes, of Sharp & Hughes, for appellee.
THE CITY OF CHESTER.
18'7
Before GOFF and SIMONTON, Circuit Judges, and MOUIUS, District Judge. SIMONTON, Circuit Judge. This case comes up by appeal from the district court of the United States for the Eastern district of Virginia, sitting in admiralty. It is a case of collision, occurring in the harbor of Norfolk, between the Pinner's Point, a steam tug of the Norfolk & Carolina Railroad Company, and the steam tug City of Chester. The collision took place at 8 a. m., on a clear and brigbt day.- The City of Chester had in tow on her port side a large barge, loaded with railroad cars, wbich projected 40 feet beyond bel' bow. Sbe was proceeding south, up the harbor. The Pinner's Point, witbout any tow, had left Trugien's Wharf, on the Portsmouth side of the harbor, and was making across the harbor, and across the course of the City of Chester, for the wharf of the Xorfolk & Carolina Railroad Company, on the Norfolk side of the harbor. At the same time the steam tug Martha Helen was proceeding nortb, down the harbor, with two brigs in tow astern on a hawser, the tow being in all 400 feet long. The Pinner's Point had gone into the stream, and, when she was abreast of the Ferry Slip on the Norfolk side of the harbor, she straightened on her course for the Norfolk & Carolina Railroad wharf. To the north of this wharf are the wharves of the Bay Line steamers of the BO$ton steamers. To the south of it are the wharves of the Compress Company, of the Norfolk & Southern Company, of Jones, of Lee, and of Campbell; and next to Campbell's wharf, south, is the Ferry Slip. The Pinner's Point was abreast of the Ferry Slip, and the ::\Iartha Helen had not quite reached it. The City of Chester was then abreast of the wharf of the Bay Line steamers. The distance between the Ferry Slip and the wharf of the Bay Line steamers is 2,250 feet, or 750 yards. So this was the distance between the City of Chester and the Martha Helen. The Pinner's Point was about the same distance from the City of Chester, and was four or five points off her starboard bow. 'rhe Martha Helen approaching the City of Chester had signaled her with two whistles, indicating that she would put her helm to starboard. The City of Ohester had reo plied with two whistles accepting the signal. After this, when the Pinner's Point was in the position, and at the distance above stated, she blew one whistle to the City of Chester. 'fhis signal was not answered by the latter vessel, as she did not recognize that it was intended for her, but supposed it was for one of two steam vessels coming up astern of her. The Pinner's Point then blew a second signal of one whistle, with the same result. The Pinner's Point, no answer having been received to either signal, went on, passed in front of the Martha Helen, and blew another sigurtl of one blast, which was responded to with one blast by the City of Chester. The latter then ported, and reversed her engines, but too late to avoid a collision. 'Phe Pinner's Point collided with the barge which was on the port side of the City of Ohester, overlapping her bow some
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78
FEDERAL REPORTER.
40 feet, striking the barge on the port bow, at her own forward port bitts. The course of the Oity of Ohester was 40 \)1' 50 yards distant from the Norfolk line of wharves. The Martha Helen was on a course about parallel to hers, somewhat further off, about 125 yards out from the line of the wharves. The course of the Pinner's Point crossed the courses of both the other tugs. To recapitulate a little: The Pinner's Point being distant from the City of Chester, on her starboard bow, about 750 yards, blew one blast to her, and got no answer, and blew another, with the same result. She kept right on across the bow of the Martha Helen, brew another blast to the City of Chester, and in a moment came in collision with her, the Martha Helen's bow being then off the Oity of Ohester's stern. 'l.'he district court held that the Pinner's Point had the right of way, and that it was the duty of the Oity of Ohester, having the Pinner's Point on her starboard side, to keep out of her way; that not having done so, she violated old rule 19 (new 16), and is solely liable for the collision. We are of opinion that this is too harsh liI. judgment of the Oity of Ohester. In the first place, she was incumbered with a heavy tow, and her movements more or less hampered. She was under engagement by exchange of signals with the Martha Helen to starboard her helm before the first signal from the Pinner's Point. She was 40 or 50 yards from the line of wharves on her port side, and had the Martha Helen a point and a half on her starboard bow, approaching on a line parallel to her course, the courses of the two being at a distance of 50 to 75 yards from each other. She eould not, under these circumstances, have assented to the one blast of the Pinner's Point. If she had done so, she would have broken her engagement with the Martha Helen, and, by porting instead of starboarding her helm, would have run serious risk of collision with her. She did commit a grave fault in not responding to either the first or second signals of the Pinner's Point, and thus advising the Pinner's Point of her dilemma. She thus contributed to the accident. The Lowell M. Palmer, 58 Fed. 701; The New York, 53 Fed. 555. It is no excuse to say that she heard the signal, but did not understand that it was for her. It was the duty of the Oity of Ohester to understand and heed the signal; especially was this the case as she knew that the Pinner's Point was off her starboard bow on a converging course with hers, and, under ordinary eircumstances, entitled to the right of way. The Great Republic, 23 Wall. 31. But the Pinner's Point was not free from fault. The paramount duty of every vessel in proximity to another vessel is to avoid the risk of collision, and to take every precaution to this end; and in harbors this duty is intensified, the utmost care and vigilance being imperatively required from all vessels. The rules of navigation are prescribed for the purpose of governing the action of approaching vessels in all ordinary cases. But notwithstanding the minute provisions of these rules) in construing and obeying them, due re-
189
gard must be had to all dangers of navigation, and to any special circumstances existing in any particular case, which may render a departure from them necessary in order to avoid immediate danger. Rule 24; The America, 92 U. S. 432. In the present case the Pin· ner's Point, under rule 19 (now 16), had the right of way, and under normal circumstances should have proceeded on her course. But this did not free her from obligation to take every care, and so to conduct herself as to avoid a course involving risk of collision. Even the fault of the other vessel could not free her from this. The Maria Martin, 12 Wall. 47. In The Catskill, 38 Fed. 367, a collision had occurred between the steamer Catskill and a ferryboat, the Baltimore, the latter having the right of way. The Baltimore signaled the Catskill, and got no response. Nevertheless, she kept on her course, and did not stop and reverse until she was within 200 yards of the Catskill. Set: same 34 Fed. 660. The court, affirming Judge Brown, says: "Under such a state of facts, the Baltimore is clearly in fault. Her navigator was not surprised by any sudden indication that another craft, which he supposed intended to obey the rules, meant to violate them. On the contrary, with a very plain intimation that the other vessel was willfully or needlessly continuing on a course which made collision imminent, he kept on in the hope that at the last moment she would discover her error, and seek to rectify it. For thus keeping on until the safety limit was reached and passed, the district judge held the navigator of the Baltimore in fault, and his decision is affirmed."
In The Non Pareille, 33 Fed. 524, Brown, J., says: "'fhere is no such thmg as a right of way to run into unnecessary collision. The rules of navigation are for the purpose of a voiding collision, not to justify either vessel incurring a collision unnecessarily. The suprE'me duty is to keep out of collision. The duties of each vessel are defined with reference to that object, and, in the presence of immediate danger, both, under rule 2,1, are bound to give way, and to depart from the usual rule, when adherence to that rule would inevitably bring on collision, which a from the rules would plainly avoid."
See, also, The Sunnyside, 91 U. S. 222, 223. So, in The Aurania, 29 Fed., at page 123, the court quotes as follows: "Risk of collision means not merely certainty of collision if no efforts be made to avert it, but danger of collision; and there is danger or risk of collision when it is clearly not safe to go on. The John \.) Prob. Div. 135. 'l'he distinction between the risk and the certainty of collision is fully commented on by Brett, L. J., in The Beryl, ld. 137, where it was held that the rules required effort to a void not merely the certainty of a collision, but the risk of it, and that the obligation of the vessel that had thE' right of way to slackeu or stop in order to avoid collision arose with the risk of colliSion, and not merely when it would otherwise be certain."
See, also, The Khedive, 5 App. Cas. 876. In The E. A. Packer, 140 U. S. 369, 11 Sup. Ct. 794, a ruling by the house of lords in The M:emnon, 62 Law T. (N. S.) 84, 6 Asp. 488, was approved, wherein it was declared that it is the duty of the vessel entitled to keep her course to comply with the rule as to slacken· ing speed, or stopping and reversing, if necessary, and, if she fail to do so, the burden is on her to show that to continue her speed was the best and most seamanlike maneuver.
190
Apply these principles to the case at bar. The Pinner's Point saw the City of Chester with her tow, and the Martha Helen with her tow, approaching each other on parallel courses. They were between her and the wharf to which she wanted to go. Her movements in the harbor were unobstructed. She was approaching the course of a tug incumbered with a tow, and should have taken her incumbered condition into consideration. Mars. Mar. ColI. 378, and cases quoted. She blew her first blast to the City of Chester, got no response; blew again, with like result. This should have put her on her guard, and have indicated that something was out of the usual course,-something which required exphtnation. She should have obeyed the requirement of the third pilot rule: "Rule 3. If, when steamers are approaching each other, the pilot of either vessel fails to understand the course 01' intention of the other, whether from signals being given or answered erroneously, or from other causes, the pilot so in doubt shall immediately signify the same by giving several short and rapid blasts of the steam-whistle; and if the vessels shall have approached within half a mile of each other, both shall be immediately slowed to a speed barely sufficient for steerage-way until the proper signals are given, answered, and understood, or until the vessels shall have passed each other."
Instead of doing this, the Pinner's Point went on her course, perhaps reducing speed a little, and, getting near to these two approaching steamers, put on full speed. She just cleared the Martha Helen. blew another blast when certainly not more than 75 yards from the City of Chester, and collided with her; she by that time having gotten abreast of the Martha Helen. It would appear that the protest of the acting master of the Pinner's Point, made a few days after the collision, indicated the situation which the neglect of the foregoing rule by the Pinner's Point, and her stubborn adherence to her right of way without an exchange of signals, had produced, when he declares that "the Pinner's Point increased her speed when near the City of Chester on the one hand, and the Martha Helen, on the other, to prevent being jammed between those vessels." We are of the opinion that the fault was mutual, and that the damages should be divided: The decree complained of will be reo versed, and the case remanded, with directions that a decree be entered as herein indicated.
THE WAVERLY.
191
THE WAVERLY. (District Court, E. D. Wisconsin. JanURl'3" 11, 1897.)
1.
SALVAGE-EXTENT OF RISK-STATE OF WEATHER.
The extent of the risk assumed in undertaking to tow R disabled vessel is not to be gauged by the results alone; and the fact that the towing line was speedily taken, and that no mishap occurred, is entitled to consideration only so far as it tends to show the state of the wind and sea. S.uIE-COll1PENSATION.
Fifteen hundred dollars allowed, upon a valuation or $67,000, to a steamer and cargo, worth $75,000, which, in threatening weather, at some risk, took in tow and brought to port a disabled propeller found in Lake ;\'[ichigan, some 20 miles from the west shore, off the port of Milwaukee.
'J'his was a libel by the North Michigan Transportation Company, owners of the propeller Charlevoix, against the propeller Waverly, to recover salvage for the services of the Charlevoix in taking in tow and .conveying into port the Waverly, which was found disabled in Lake Michigan. Markham, Nickerson & Harper, for libelant. Schuyler & Kremer, for claimant. SEAMAN, District Judge. There is no material conflict upon the determining facts in this case, aside from the allegation of the distance of the Waverly from Chicago, and from the west shore, when picked up by the Charlevoix; and in that regard I find no practical difficulty, as both the course of the Waverly prior to the accident, and the time occupied by the tow in approaching the west shore, concur in placing the location approximately 20 off that shore; and, from the course taken and the lights sighted after the tow commenced, it is apparent that the start was from a point about east of the port of Milwaukee. The Waverly was a freight steamer, and left Chicago on the morning of September 17, 1893, bound for Buffalo, with a cargo of 47,000 bushels of corn, and two schooners in tow. At about 7 p. m. a break occurred in the machinery of the steamer, by which, as described by the engineer, "the engine went through herself," and was completely disabled. The schooners were then released, proceeding under sail, and the steamer blew her signals of distress while the engineer was engaged in disconnecting the shaft. The steamer Charlevoix, carrying 60 passengers and a cargo of general merchandise and fruit, was on her trip from Northport to Chicago; and the signals being heard on their starboard bow, about a mile and a half away, answering signals were given, and she came up promptly within hailing distance. Although there are minor differences in the testimony of what was then said by the masters, respectively, all agree that assistance was called for, and that the matter of compensation was to be left to the owners for settlement. The Waverly rolled somewhat in the troughs or!' the sea, which was running from the southward. There was no storm, according to seamen's parlance. The libel avers only "a lump of a sea," and the
192
mate of the Charlevoix says a 10-mile breeze was blowing from the south. The master of the "Waverly says "the wind was about southea:st, a nice breeze," but that it was what "sailors would call threatening weather." The disabled steamer was not, perhaps, in imminent peril from the present state of the weather; but it is asserted that an unfavorable change of the weather, with the wind west or northwest, was indicated by the barometer, and' in that event the sole dependenoe of this steamer for making a port of shelter or anchorage was upon a smalL foresail and mainsail,-conditions in which disaster might well be apprehended. On the other hand, there was sufficient sea to require care and skill, and involve some extent of risk to the Oharlevoix in maneuvering to take the line, and in towing with the short line improvised for the purpose, the wind having inand hauled to the west,-certainly more risk than would be incurred in her regular voyage. The extent of the risk which was assumed by the salvor is not to be gauged by the results alone, and the argument of the respondent to that end, upon the fact that the line was speedily taken, and that no mishap occurred, is entitled to consideration only so far as it tends to show the state of wind and sea. This service was rendered by a passenger steamer upon the urgent call of a disabled steamer. It was voluntary, prompt, and effective, and under circumstances which constitute salvage of the minor order, but not mere towage. The rules stated in the case of The Spokane, 67 Fed. 254, are clearly applicable here, the only differences being of degree,-the salved property here being about one-fifth the value there, and the service there being at the close of the season of navigation, and with greater distance and difficulties. The value of the 'Waverly and cargo is stipulated at $67,000, and of the Oharlevoix and cargo at $75,000. The claimants tendered $500. and it is urged in their behalf that such amount would be liberal compensation, and the allowance should be no larger; but the purposes of the rule of salvage which grants compensation in the nature of a reward would not be fulfilled by narrowing the allowance so closely to the rate of mere towage, and I am satisfied that $1,500 may justly be awarded, under the circumstances shown. Let the libelant have decree for that amount and costs.
CHIATOVICH V. HANCHE'rl'.
193
OHIATOVICH v. HANCHE'.rT et al. (Olrcuit Court, D. Nevada. January 25, 1897.)
L
REMOVAL 011' C.A.USES-PJUCTICII-NoTICE OF PETITION.
No statute or rule of practice requires a defendant to give notice to a plaintilf of the filing of a petition for the removal of a cause from a state to a federal court. Failure to give notice of the" filing in the federal court of a transcript of the record of a case removed from a state court, as required by rule 79 of the circuit court for the district of Nevada, constitutes no ground for remanding the cause.
I.
Bum-FILING 011' TRANSOKIPT-:NOTlCE-REMAND.
II.
SAME-TIME OF' REMOvAL-S'rlPCLATlON EXTENDING TIME FOR ANSWER.
Where a stipulation, signed by a party or his attorney or counsel, is of binding force, a cause may be removed from a state to a federal court within the period to which the defendant's time to answer is extended by a written stipulation, though no order of court is entered thereon. A defendant, who is a citizen and resident of another state than that of the plaintiff, is entitled, under the act of 1887-88, to remove to the federal court a suit brought against him in the state court, although, at the time the suit was commenced, and the petition for removal filed, he Wall temporarily residing in t1Je state where suit was brought,
.. S.A.ME-CITIZENSHIP.
Motion to Remand. M. A. Murphy, for plaintiff. Torreyson & Summerfield, for defendants. HAWLEY, District .:fudge (orally). T'his is an action of libel, and was brought in the district oourt of Esmeralda county, Nev. The complaint was filed August 29, 1896. Summons was served on L. E. Hanchett August 31, 1896. On September 5, 1896, the district judge, for good cause shown, extended the time "to plead in the above-entitled action" to September 30, 1896. On September 26, 1896, Messrs. Torreyson & Summerfield entered their appearance in said action on behalf of the defendant L. J. Hanchett, and accepted "the time specified in the stipulation herein on file in which to plead to the complaint in said action." The terms of the stipulation referred to were "that the above-named defendants L. J. Hanchett and L. E. Hanchett shall have to and including the 15th day of October, 1896, in which to plead to plaintiff's complaint in the above-entitled action." On October 14, 1896, the defendants, by their attorneys, appeared in the district court solely for the purpose of applying to the court for an order removing the cause to the circuit court of the United States. The petition for removal was made upon the ground that the plaintiff was at the time of the commencement of the action, and still is, a citizen and resident of the state of Nevada, and that the defendants were at that time, and still are, citizens and residents of the state of California. The district court, upon the facts set out in the petition, the giving of a proper bond, etc., made an order removing said cause to this court. The plaintiff moves to remand the cause upon several grounds: (1) That this court has no jurisdiction; (2) that the action was imfacts stated in the petition are not properly removed; (3) that 78F.-lS