Ayer v. The Walleda

64 F. 807, 1894 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 113

• Court: District Court, S.D. New York
• Decided: December 18, 1894
• Status: Published

Opinion

BROWH, District Judge.

At about 10 p. m. in the evening of September 25, 1894, the schooner Walleda, sailing west, and the Helena, going east on the port tack, came in collision in Long Island Sound not far from Bridgeport. The Helena’s stem struck the port side of the Walleda abaft the fore rigging, and both were damaged, for which the above libel and cross-libel were filed.

The evidence shows so clearly that the lookout on the Walleda was grossly negligent, that I should have no hesitation in accepting the Helena’s account of the collision, and holding the Walleda alone responsible, if the Helena’s story had been consistent and probable, and furnished a reasonably satisfactory account of the collision. But the positive testimony of the Helena’s witnesses that the light seen on the Walleda a mile distant was the green light, a point and a half or two points on the Helena’s starboard bow, and that that- green light continued in view all the time until the •Walleda luffed, a few lengths before collision, is wholly incompatible with the other testimony and circumstances, and leaves the collision unexplained. It could not possibly have occurred in that way. Upon the courses the vessels were on, had the green light of the Walleda been exposed even two-thirds of a mile distant, one and a half to two points on the Helena’s starboard bow (and it must, from her course, have been on that bearing) the Helena, instead of colliding, would have passed the Walleda from 400 to 500 feet, at least, to the northward. Ho supposable luff by the Walleda can explain such a discrepancy; nor in such a position of the Helena-is any luff by the Walleda conceivable. The necessary conclusion is, that no green light could have been seen at any considerable distance; but, if at all, only just as the Helena was passing the line of the Walleda’s course only a few lengths off, and just before the Walleda luffed; that the Walleda’s red light was visible for a considerable time before that, and was not noticed, because no proper lookout was kept up on the Helena. This, and the gross misrepresentation as to the lights, is sufficient to deprive her witnesses of any special confidence as to the disputed question of the direction of the wind. The Walleda’s witnesses say the wind was N. by W.; the Helena’s, that it was about N. K. E. At the nearest weather bureau station, namely, at Hew Haven, the wind up to midnight did not go E. of bf.; and in the difference of testimony, I shall adopt that as the course of the wind during the hour prior to collision. This would make the Helena have the wind from one to two points free on the port side. I am confirmed in this finding, by the fact that at collision her sails were full; and as the wheelman left the wheel some moments before collision, and as be testifies that she did luff, and as the mate ran to the wheel after the wheelman had left it and put it down before collision, I have no doubt the Helena did luff at least one to two points, and still had her sails full. Having the wind on her port side and free, the Helena was bound to keep out of the way of the Walleda, which had a free Avind on the star-hoard side. The real faults were the same in each, viz., the total want of proper watch, or any seasonable notice of the other, in consequence of which each wrongfully luffed. The schooners were not heavily incumbered, and could be easily and quickly handled in so fine a, breeze; and had either paid any timely heed to the other, the collision would have been easily avoided. The damages must, therefore, be diAdded. Decrees accordingly; with orders of reference, if the damages are not agreed upon.