Serio v. The Giava, No. 12,962

No. 12,962 | E.D. La. | May 30, 1893

BILLINGS, District Judge.

Libelant alleges that on or about 30th April, 1892, there were sit ¡[sped, per said steamer, from Palermo, Kicily, for his account, 86 boxes of macaroni, marked as valued at $2.25 per box; that, at time of shipment (he said boxes of macaroni were in good condition and a dean bill of lading was given, but when received at (his port, to which, they were consigned, they arrived in a damaged condition, so as to be unsalable; and that said damages were caused solely by the negligence and carelessness of the officers of said vessel, in improperly stowing them. The averments of Russo, intervening libelant, owner of 46 boxes of macaroni, of the total value of $114.75, are to the same effect.

I think that Mori a, the stevedore, and John Thompson, the foreman, established the fact that green fruit was stowed in the same hatch with the macaroni. There is no evidence tending to show that the macaroni was not shipped in good condition, and the evidence establishes that it arrived in bad condition. This being so, the boat, to discharge itself from obligation, must show that the damage happened from the perils of the sea.

The protest states that they encountered heavy seas, took much water over all; that she strained heavily, and, they feared, took water through the seams; they found water in the bilges. The master, in Ms testimony, states that no water was shipped down into the hatches; the macaroni was stowed on the top of cask's, and with green fruit. It is difficult to see how water coming through the seams of the vessel could have made this macaroni musty, stowed, as it was, on the top of casks, and there being only 18 inches of water in the hold. It seems, therefore, that the burden being upon the ship to show that it arose from the perils of the sea, and, the testimony failing to establish this, the inference must be that the damage was caused by bad stowage,— the macaroni being stowed along with green fruit. There must be judgment for the libelant and intervening libelant, as claimed.