35 F. 615 | N.D.N.Y. | 1888
The owner of the canal-boat Nathaniel Lyons brings this libel against the steam-tugs Nettie and William Orr, and the canal-boat A. 0. Hopson, to recover damages for injuries received by reason of their alleged negligence. On the 26th of April, 1887, the Lyons, unloaded, was lying at her dock at Troy, N. Y., on the easterly side of the Hudson river. On that day the tugs Nettie and Orr were proceeding up the river from West Troy to the state dam lock with the loaded canal-boats A. G. Hopson and W. Í1. Duryea in tow. They were in the following order: the Orr, the Nettie, the Duryea, the Hopson. The hawser from the Orr to the Nettie was aboul«40 feet in length, that from the Nettie to the Duryea was about 150 feet, and that from the Duryea to the Hopson was about 80 loot. The tugs are each about 50 feet, and the canal-boats 97 feet, in length. The entire distance, therefore, from the bow of the Orr to the stern of the Hopson was not far from 500 feet. Opposite where the Lyons lay, and about 450 feet distant, was an island. On the day in question, by reason of a freshet, this whole space was navigable. The tugs took a course about 35 feet from the east bank of the river. When the Hopson was opposite the Lyons she sheered to starboard, and struck the latter four or five feet aft of the bluff of her port bow, causing the injuries complained of.
No negligence can be imputed to the Lyons. She was rightfully at the dock, and did nothing to produce the accident. The Nellie, 7 Ben. 497. The tugs wore clearly in fault in attempting to tow two loaded canal-boats, one behind the other, up a rapid current, rendered more
Regarding the Hopson, it must be held that her negligence contributed to cause the accident. The impression left by the proof, and also by the manner in which the collision occurred, is, that When the Orr threw off her line the Nettie’s speed was diminished, causing a momentary slackening of the hawser, and that this, together with the improper or inattentive steering of the Hopson, caused the collision. On the way up the river she sheered frequently, either through the unskillfulness of the steersman, or because she refused to answer her helm. It is immaterial whether she was improperly handled, or improperly constructed, or impropérly loaded; in either event, her master, knowing the defect, and the dangers liable to result, should not have permitted her to be placed in a position attended with so much risk and peril. He should have insisted upon being taken to his destination by a single tug, in the manner before indicated, and not at the tail of a tow 500 feet in length. In contemplation of law the Hopson was as responsible for the make-up of the tow, in some respects, as were the tugs. The Bordentown, 16 Fed. Rep. 270.