241 F. 389 | S.D.N.Y. | 1917
(after stating the facts as above).
There are several reasons in the case at bar for refusing to accept the explanation offered by the ship. In the first place, no one found any of the necessary valves open. When Weston looked at them, they had been closed, and when he questioned Hall, Hall said that he had not left them open. In the second place, we have the soundings on the 24th and 25th. The log shows that the ship made fast alongside of Pier 35 of the Atlantic Basin at 8 a. m. on the 23d, and presumably the engines were stopped at once. On the morning of the 24th the port side of the after hatch showed no water whatever, and at 7 o’clock on the morning of the 25th only 5 inches had gathered. It is quite true that the entry for the 25th shows changes; but on-scrutiny it is quite apparent, that the second entry, marked, “Wednesday, the 24th,” was a mistake, and was intended to cover the 25th. The contents of the two entries shows that they were consecutive, and that the ship began discharging her sugar on the morning of the 24th and finished on the afternoon of the next day. It is riot necessary to go over all the entries of that day, but an inspection will certainly show that I am right. ■ If the ship’s story is true, the bilges began filling through the pipe on the morning of the 23d and if 56 inches of water at any time had gathered in the port bilge of the after hatch, it would have shown by the soundings on the 24th, and by 7 a. m. on the 25th.
The libelant may take its decree, and the cross-libel will be dismissed.