Kimball v. United States

5 Ct. Cl. 252
CourtUnited States Court of Claims
DecidedDecember 15, 1869
StatusPublished

This text of 5 Ct. Cl. 252 (Kimball v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Court of Claims primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Kimball v. United States, 5 Ct. Cl. 252 (cc 1869).

Opinions

Nott, J.,

delivered the opinion of the court:

This is an action brought upon the bill of lading of the bark Annie Kimball. The damages grow out of injuries to the vessel caused by the defendants, and out of demurrage. They are laid, for the former, at $7,G04 41; for the latter, at $5,600.

The contract on which the action rests is contained in the. following bill of lading:

“ Philadelphia, April 18,18G5.

“ Shipped by Captain Henry Bowman, assistant quartermaster United States Army, in good order, on board the barque Annie Kimball, of Bath, Maine, whereof the undersigned is master for this voyage, now tying in port of Philadelphia, and bound for Port Boyal, South Carolina, (1,061) ten hundred and sixty-one tons (2,240 lbs. each) of anthracite steamer coal, all under deck, which I. promise to deliver in the like good order at the port of Port Boyal, South Carolina, (the damages of the seas only excepted,) unto Lieutenant S. S. Gregory, acting assistant quartermaster, or to his assigns, freight for the same, payable by the United States quartermaster at Philadelphia to the order of John H. Kimball, at the rate of $6 25 per ton, and demurrage $100 per day, allowing twenty-one (21) days for discharging.

“ In witness whereof the master of the said vessel hath affirmed to six bills of lading, all of this tenor and date; one of which being accomplished, the others to stand void.

“(Signed) D. M. HUMPHBEYS.

The United States government assumes the war risk on the passage of this vessel out to Port Boyal, South Carolina, and till discharged, the valuation being thirty-six thousand dollars, ($36,000.)

“ HENBY BOWMAN,

“Captain and Assistmt QuartermasterP

[257]*257On the margin of this bill of lading was a printed note, usually attached to such instruments by the Quartermaster Department:

“ If, on the arrival of this vessel at the port of destination, the consignee should order her to another place to discharge, such order in'all cases to be in writing on the bill of lading.

“ Freight and demurrage payable only on certificate of quartermaster that the cargo has been received in good order.”

The bark was laden under this contract, at Philadelphia, and arrived with her freight at Port Eoyal on the 4th May, 1865.

On the 6th May, Captain John L. Kelly, the quartermaster-in charge at Port Eoyal, ordered the captain of the Annie Kim-ball to “ get under way and sail to Key West.”

The master of the bark objected to this order. He addressed to the quartermaster a protest, and notified him that •he should hold him responsible for “ all losses, damages, and expenses that might occur or be sustained.” He also orally refused to obey the order, saying that he had performed his contract, that the voyage was finished, and that he ivas ready to. deliver the cargo. The captain of the port, who brought the-order, replied that if the master would not go “ they woidd put. in another master and send the vessel to Key West without him.”

On the morning of the 8th May, the government tug Achilles was sent to tow the Annie Kimball to sea. The master again objected to going. He also remonstrated against going then “for the reason that it was not safe, as the tide had ebbed about two hours, and there would not be water enough on the bar to take the vessel safely over.” The master of the tug replied that he “ had orders from the quartermaster to tow the Annie Kimball to sea that morning; that he should do so, and must proceed with his work.”

When the bark started the tide had been running out about two hours; there was, moreover, a heavy swell, and the two rendered it dangerous to cross the bar with a vessel drawing so much water. The bark struck several times in going out. She leaked badly after striking, and it was found necessary to bring her to anchor. Between 7 and 8 o’clock in the evening, to prevent her sinking, she was towed back and run ashore with six feet of water in her hold.

From the 8th May to the 24th June the bark seems to have [258]*258been detained by the defendants’ agents. On that day she was discharged by the quartermaster; and he certified that. u the detention of the vessel was owing to no fault of the master or crew.”

It had been reported to the quartermaster at Port Eoyal by the captain of the port that it “ was not safe to send the vessel north without a tow and steam-pumps.” She apparently waited for these till the 11th July. On the 18th she reached Boston, whither the tow seems to have taken her.

How long the vessel was detained at Boston by the repairs, and whemshe was returned to the owners, is not shown. Neither does it appear when the master and crew were discharged, nor the amount of their wages. The cost of the repairs is clearly and satisfactorily proven to have been $7,604 41, and that the money was expended strictly in making good the vessel’s injuries.

The first objection inteiqmsed to a recovery goes to the jurisdiction of the court. It is insisted that the injury to the vessel was caused bjr ua part», “of the army engaged, in the suppression of the rebellion? Of such cases jurisdiction is expressly withheld from this court by the Act 4th July, 1864, (13 Stat. L., p. 381.)

We cannot sustain the objection. Laying aside for the moment the claim for injury, it appears that the vessel did discharge her freight at Port Royal; that it was accepted there by the defendants; that the freight was not discharged until the 24th June; and that the quartermaster then certified by endorsement on the bill of lading: “ The detention of the vessel was owing to no fault of the master or crew?

For this detention the bill of lading expressly provided. Twenty-one days for discharging the freight were specifically allowed; for detention beyond that period the defendants were to pay $100 a day. A .previous injury or temporary appropriation by the army could not relieve the defendants from this obligation of- their contract. To this extent we thinlc there can be no question but that the court has jurisdiction.

As to the remaining branch of the case, growing out of the injuries suffered by the vessel, we are of the opinion that there was an impressment but notan “appropriation.” The quartermaster did not seize the vessel, did not take possession of her, did not evict the owners nor their agents, her master and crew. [259]*259What be did was to compel them to undertake with their vessel an enforced service. This did not divest the property, but left the vessel in the custody of her owners, though in the service of the government; and it entitled them to the benefits of the Acts 3d March, 1849, (9 Stat. L., p. 414,) and 3d March, 1863, (12 id., p. 736.) So far as this phase of the question of jurisdiction is concerned, it was considered and determined in the recent decision in liussell’s Case, p. 121, ante.

It may still be said, however, that the claim grows out of “ damage to property by the army,” or “ apart of the army engaged in the suppression of the rebellion.”

This statute, “ to restrict the jurisdiction of the Court of Claims,” employs three terms to specify those acts of the army which are not the subject of judicial redress. They are “destruction,”

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Bluebook (online)
5 Ct. Cl. 252, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/kimball-v-united-states-cc-1869.