218
93 FEDERAL REPORTER.
fabric, and bring it up around the edge of the fabrio into position fot completing the stitch. In both machines this transit is effected by the successive action of both jaws. The distribution of the period of transit between them must be held immaterial when no functional change is involved in making it earlier in the one than in the other. No cause for modifying the original decision appeal'B.
THE MIAMI. (Clreuft Conrt of Appeals, Seeond Clreult. No. 83·. AND SERVANT-INJURY TO SEAMAN SERVANTS-LIABILITY.
Mareb I, 1899.)' FELLOW
Wbere the mate of a vessel, after gIving an order to eertaln seamen, proceeded to assist In Its execution, and by theIr negligence another seaman waa Injured, the mate, while so engaged, WaB not acting aB a master or vIce principal, but as a and hence tbe sblp Is not liable for the 'njurles so receIved.
MATE'S NEGLIGENCE ' .
Appeal from the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of New York. This cause comes here upon appeal from a decree of the distriot court, Eastern district of New York, dismissing the libel. 87 Fed. 757. The suit was for personal injuries sustained by the libelant, th-e boatswain of the steamship Miami, while lowering a topmast at sea. Chaa. C. Burlingham, for appellant. J. Parker Kirlin, for appellee. BeforeWALLACE, LACOMBE, and SHIPMAN, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM. The facts are fully set forth in the opinion of the district judge. We are satisfied from the evidence that the negligent act which caused the predpitate descent of the topmast was not any improper casting off of one of the tnrns of the chain from around the drUID. The SUbsequent experiments indicate quite clearly that the remaining turns gave a sufficient purchase to control the descent of the topmast, if only the free end of the chain had been held taut, as it might readily have been, and paid out gradually. There is no force, therefore, in any suggestion that an improper or negligent order of the I;llate caused the accident." That officer undertook to carry out his own order. He cast off the turn (or two), checking any slip of the chain by pressing it against the drum. Had he not released that pressure until the seamen who held the free end had it well in hand, there is nothing in the record to indicate that the chain would have got beyond control. The seamen, however, supposed that he was intending to payout himself, and had relaxed their hold; while he, supposing they still maintained it, released the pressure, and in a few seconds the weight of the topmast imparted an impetus to the chain which none of them could overcome. The negligence was that of the three men (the mate and the two seamen) in carrying out the instruction to reduce the number of turns around the drum. When participating in this particular work, t19 mate was not acting
THE ALLERTON.
219
-as master or vice .principal, but as an ordinary seaman, or, at most, as the foreman of a gang performing ordinary seamen's work. The case is within the rule laid down in Quinn v. Lighterage Co., 23 Blatchf. 209, 23 Fed. 363, and clearly distinguishable from the cases cited by the appellant: Peterson v. The Chandos, 4 Fed. 645; Daub v. Railway Co., 18 Fed. 625; The Sachem, 42 Fed. 66; The Titan, 23 Fed. 413; and McCullough's Adm'x v. Steamboat Co., 20 U. S. App. 570, 9 C. O. A. 521, and 61 Fed. 364. We concur, also, in the finding of the district court that there is no evidence that the shackle was insufficient. Its breaking seems to have been the result, not the cause, of the accident. The decree of the district court is affirmed, with costs.
THE COLUMBIA & WILLAMETTE RIVER OPPOSITION STEVEDORE CO. v. R. W. :YEYLAND & CO.
(District Court, D. Oregon. Nos. 4,401, 4,402. 1. 2.
15, 1899.)
ADMIRALTY JumSDICTION-CONTRACT FOR STEVEDORES' SERVICES.
A contract for stevedores' services is maritime.
MARITIME LIENS-BREACH OF CONTIlACT FOR STEVEDORES' SERVICE!!.
An action in rem will not lie for breach of a contract for stevedores' services, to be rendered generally for the term of one year to the owners of the vessel sought to be attached, where no services were rendered such vessel, to give the libelant the right to a lien thereon.
These are two libels by the Columbia & Willamette River Opposition Stevedore Company for breach of contract,--one against R. W. Leyland & Co., and the other against the ship Allerton and the same respondents. George E. Chamberlain, for libelant. James Gleason, for claimant of the Allerton and defendant. BELLIKGER, District Judge. There are two of these cases. One is a libel in personam, as well as in rem, for damages for a breach of a contract for stevedores' services. 'l'he other is a libel in personam for a breach of the same contract. The contract was entered into on February 17, 1898, between Leyland & Co. and the libelants for such stevedoring services as might be required by the ships owned by Leyland & Co. at Portland and Astoria during the continuance of the contract, which was for one year. The ships Allerton and Otterspool, owned by said company, arrived at Portland in September and December, respectively, in ballast, for wheat cargoes; and although the libelants were ready and willing to perform the services required of them by their contract in unloading and loading these vessels, and offered so to do, yet said Leyland & Co. refused to permit them to perform such services. Whereupon they bring their libels in this court, and pray that warrants may