1000
84 FEDERAL REPORTER.
tunity for inquiries, and the libelants' rights must be determined oy the facts as they existed. In The Ludgate Hill, 21 Fed. 431, cited by libelants, the fact of a general agency for the owners was proved. See The Buliote, 23 Fed. 919--:926. In the present case it is not established that Lord was the general agent of the owners, or that in the transaction he assumed to act for the owners rather than for the charterers. To support their libel, the burden is upon the libelants to show that the person with whom they dealt was acting for the owners, and with actual or ostensible authority from them, and that it was intended to pledge the credit of the vessel. The Valencia, 165 U. S. 264, 271, 17 Sup. Ot. 323; The St. Jago de Cuba, 9 Wheat. 409,416, 417. This, in my opinion, they have failed to do. I see no reason for distinguishing between the claim for wharfage and that for sel"Vices. They were both contracted for at the same time, and with the same person. The Kate, 164 U. S. 45R, 470, 17 Sup. Ct. 135. The libel will therefore be dismissed, with costs.
THE LYDIA A. HARVEY. TARR v. THE LYDIA A. HARVEY. (DIstrIct Court, D. Massachusetts. February 10, 1898.)
No. 854.
L
MARINE INSURANCE-SALVAGE BY INSURER.
A vessel was stranded on the beach, so that the tide ebbed and flowed through her, and was deserted by her master and crew. Her owner informed the Insurer that he was unable to meet the expense of getting her off, and the insurer employed another to raise and float her, replace her ballast, and tow her to port for $350. The work was performed, the sum paid, and the insurer took an assignment of the salvage claim. Held, that the Insurer did not act as a voluntary adventurer, but in its own interest, because of the insurance contract, and that it had no claim on the proceeds of her sale.
8.
MARITIME LIENS-RESIDUE OF PROCEEDS-NoNLIEN CLAIMS.
As against the owner petitioning for payment of the residue of proceeds to him, the court cannot distribute the same in payment of claims not mario time liens.
This was a libel in rem by James G. Tarr against the schooner Lydia A. Harvey. The cause was heard on a question as to the distri· bution of funds in the registry, resulting from the sale of the schooner. Edward S. Dodge and Chas. Wolcott, for libelants. J. D. Bryant and L. E. Griswold, for China Mut. Ins. Co. W. F. Prime, for Lockwood Mfg. Co. Carver & Blodgett, for Low and others. Dana B. Gove & Sons, for petitioner Pigeon. BROWN, District Judge. This case presents questions of the validity of claims to funds in the registry resulting from a sale of the Lydia A. Harvey. The China Mutual Insurance Company, as assignee, claims. a first lien for salvage. December 16, 1896, the Har-
THE LYDIA A. HARVEY.
1001
vey was stranded on Plymouth Beach, off the town of Plymouth, in this district, in a place where, though sheltered, and on a soft bed of sand, she was expospd to possible danger of injury from ice. The tide ebbed and flowed through her, and she was deserted by master and crew. Her owner forthwith informed the insurance company (insurer to the amount of $800 on the vessel and $200 on outfits and catch on a valuation of the vessel at $2,000) that he would not get her off, as he was unable to meet the expense. The insurance company employelJ Sorrensen, a submarine diver and raiser of sunken vessels, to float her, replace her ballast, pick up her anchor, and tow her to Boston, agrt'eing to pay $350 for the work when performed. The work was done. Sorrensen was paid by the company, and made in writing an assignment of his claim and lien. The company also paid to other persons for a survey, for services, and for calking, additional sums, amounting to $95.42. I am of the opinion that the insurance company has failed to establish any legal or equitable right to compensation from the fund in the registry. Though there was, probably, no proper abandonment or right to abandon, the company nevertheless interposed for its own interest, and upon the evidence must be regarded as the principal, ,who, through its employe, and at its own expense, got the vessel off, and brought her to Boston. It acted, not as a voluntary adventurer, but because of its previous contract with the owner, which made it directly interested in the preservation of the vessel. The company was liable, under its policy, for a partial loss. The contention that the loss did not amount to 14 per cent. of the valuation is based upon a deduction of one-third "new for old," which is not permissible in the present case. Potter v. Insurance Co., 3 Sumn. 27, 45, Fed. Cas. No. 11,335; Wallace v. Insurance Co., 22 Fed. 66, 70. Within the limit of the amount insured, its expense cannot be regarded as incurred for the benefit of all, but must be considered as incurred solely for its own benefit. Providence & S. S. Co. v. Phamix Ins. Co., 89 N. Y. 559, 563; The Clarita and The Clara, 23 Wall. 1,17. The company must therefore stand upon its own rights resulting from its own acts, and cannot increase or alter them by taking an assignment from its own employes, who did not rely upon the credit of the vessel, and who have been paid. It would certainly lead to great confusion if under· writers who are liable for a loss by stranding should be permitted to get the vessel off, acquire a salvage lien, completely reimburse them· selves from the vessel, and compel the assured to sue to recover from them the amount, or a portion of the amount, that the underwriters have received from the vessel. I find it unnecessary to decide whether the company has paid out anything in excess of the amount of its liability, since, if it has done so, it has only a claim upon the owner, and none upon the fund. The Non-lien Claims. I think it clear that against the objection of the owner, who petitions for the payment to him of any residue after satisfying the claims secured by maritime liens, the court has no power to distribute the proceeds in payment of claims not maritime liens. The Lottawanna, 20 Wall. 201, 219, 224; The Willamette Valley,
1002
84
lI'JIlDlllltAL RlllPORTlIlR.
76 Fed. 838, 841, 844. There will be allowed, in addition to the lien claims of James G. Tarr and Sidney W. Oakes, for which decrees have been entered, the lien claim of George W. Smith, which, after correction of error, amounts to $66.43; also the lien claims of Timothy B. Sprague and J. S. & J. H. Marquand. After satisfaction of the above claims, with interest and costs, the residue, after deducting therefrom the amount of $231.91, will be payable to John Clancy, the owner. The sum of $231.91 may, by the consent of Clancy, be paid to the proctor for J. Baker & Co., J. G. Tarr & Bro., and Sidney W. Oakes. The remaining claims are disallowed. A decree may be entered in accol'dance with this opinion.
THE A. 1. WRIGHT. 'l'HE SPIEGEL. THE NEW YORK WORLD. THE ELIZABETH FARRELL. ltELIAN>CE MARINE INS. CO. v. THE A. J. WRIGHT et IlL
(District Court, N. D. New York. L
February 12, 1898.)
COLLISION IN ERIE CANAL-FAILURE TO REVERSE.
A wheelsman In charge of a steam canal boat, with a tow lashed In front, Is in fault if, on perceiving the approach of another steam canal boat on the side where he himself Is entitled to pass, he maintains his course and speed, and does not reverse untll collision becomes Inevitable.
I.
SAME.
A collision between the forward tows of steam canal boats, proceeding In opposite directions on the Erie Canal at night, held, on conflicting evidence, not to have been an inevitable accident, but to have resulted solely from the fault of the westward-bound vessel In not keeping closely to Its own side of the channel.
This was a libel in rem by the Reliance Marine Insurance Company, insurer of cargo, against the steamer A. J. Wright and the canal boat Spiegel. The steamer New York World and the canal boat Elizabeth Farrell were subsequently brought into the cause by petition. Laughlin, Ewell & Houpt and Wilber E. Houpt, for libelant Potter & Wright and William B. Wright, Jr., for the New York World and the Elizabeth Farrell. Ingram & Mitchell and John W. Ingram, for the A. J. Wright and the Spiegel. COXE, District Judge. On the evening of July 18, 1896, the steam canal boat New York World was proceeding eastwardly on the Erie Canal, pushing the canal boat Farrell and towing two other canal boats at the end of a long hawser. At the same time the steam canal boat A. J. Wright was proceeding westwardly, pushing the canal boat Spiegel and towing two other boats. The Spiegel and the Farrell were rigidly fastened in front of their respective ateamers.