The Alene

116 F. 57, 1902 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 132

• Court: District Court, E.D. New York
• Decided: May 12, 1902
• Status: Published

Opinion

THOMAS, District Judge.

At 2 p. m., on the 17th day of August, 1901, the steamship Alene came in collision with the schooner James Gordon Bennett, sinking her, and drowning four of her crew. For the loss of the schooner and the personal effects of her crew this libel is filed. The Bennett was a pilotboat navigated by pilots and apprentices. The wind was fresh from the southward, and shortly before the accident the Bennett had been sailing easterly, on a course north of the Scotland lightship. After having hauled in her flying jib, and taken two reefs in her mainsail, she went about on the port tack. At about the time the Bennett was going about on the port tack, the steamship Aleñe, having come easterly through Gedney channel, was dropping her pilot at the steam pilotboat, which was stationed on the course the steamship was taking at the time, and at a point northward and westward of the place where the Bennett went about. Thereafter the Aleñe changed her course “first to southeast, and then a little south,” as her captain states, and came forward with increasing speed. The only persons forward in charge of navigation of the Aleñe were the captain on the bridge, who was the only lookout, and Anderson, the man at the wheel, which was situated directly under the bridge. The captain of the Aleñe states that when some 3,000 feet away he saw the schooner three and a half points on his port bow, headed about southeast on the port tack, and that he then gave the wheel-man orders to starboard. Thereafter the course of the Aleñe was directed so that she, with a continuing starboard wheel, should have passed under the stern of the schooner, and so she would have done had the orders of the captain been executed. But the captain testified, “When the pilotboat was nearly just ahead, then my ship stopped going more to the port.” Then the captain again gave the order to ' starboard, but he did not know whether the order was obeyed. For some reason unexplained, as Anderson was not a witness, the intended course to port so as to pass under the stern of the Bennett either was changed or was not continued, and the Aleñe bore directly down upon the schooner. When this was discovered, Mix, who was in charge of the wheel of the Bennett, called warningly to the Aleñe, although the witnesses for the Bennett testify that no one could be seen on the Aleñe until a person with lace on his cap was seen running across the bridge and telephoning. But the call of Mix was fruitless, and thereupon the alarm was given to those on the sailing vessel, but the collision was inevitable, and shortly followed.

The evidence of the captain of the Aleñe leaves no doubt of the culpable negligence of the steamship. The fault was that of Anderson at the wheel, who in disregard of the captain’s repeated orders, or in negligent fulfillment of them, suddenly directed the steamship upon the schooner. Upon discovering the jeopardy, the captain of the Aleñe did all in his power to avoid the accident or diminish the injury, but his discovery and action thereupon Game too late. It is urged that the statement of the captain concerning the distance at which he saw the Bennett on the port tack should be disregarded, and that it should ■ be inferred that the interval was very much less. There is little danger that the captain, with the responsibility for disaster resting upon him, would exaggerate this all-important matter. He was the man in command, he was the sole lookout, he had superior opportunity to know, he alone of those on the Aleñe gave evidence, and that evidence must be accepted, notwithstanding the admirable argument of the claimant’s advocate. .

It is further urged that the schooner was negligent in not keeping a better lookout, and maneuvering in such a way as to avoid the collision after it was seen to' be impending. The persons in control of the schooner were Sandy Hook pilots, and undoubtedly expert in the handling of vessels. The evidence of the captain of the Aleñe shows that he intended to go under the stern of the schooner, and such intention was indicated for some time by the course taken by her. The faulty operation of the wheelman did not produce its effect upon her heading until it was too late for those on the pilotboat to avoid the results of the steamer’s negligence. The plain fact is that this accident was caused by gross and inexcusable negligence on the part of the wheelman, and the persons on the pilottioat, misled by the previous course of the Alene, and startled from a condition of justly expectable safety by the menace of destruction) were not in fault for failure to apprehend the sudden danger and to attempt to avoid its consequence. No one more than the captain of the Aleñe was shocked by the swift change of conditions, and so rapid was the alternation from security to peril that he, in his commanding position from the bridge, did not know how the accident came to pass.

It is concluded that the libelant should have a decree for damages and costs.