The Ariadne

1 F. Cas. 1110, 2 Ben. 472

• Court: District Court, S.D. New York
• Decided: June 15, 1868
• Status: Published

Opinion

BLATCHFORD, District Judge.

I think the weight of evidence is, that the brig did not have burning, at the time of the collision, such a green starboard light as the statute requires — a light capable of being seen on a dark night, with a clear atmosphere, at a distance of at least two miles. The night was dark, bfit not foggy, though cloudy, and the evidence is that the light of a vessel could have been seen that night two miles. No green light on the brig could be seen from the steamer, and the evidence from on board the brig, that her green light was burning at the time so as to be visible, beyond a very short distance, is very unsatisfactory. There had been trouble with both of the side lights of the brig that night, and they had required to be taken down and retrimmed. If the green light had been properly burning, it would have been seen from the steamer, at a sufficient distance to have left the brig wholly blameless, and the steamer wholly in fault, for the collision. This fault on the part of the brig undoubtedly led to the collision.

In any view, the burden is on the libel-lants to show that the steamer was in fault. But, as the brig did not have a green light properly burning, it is especially incumbent on them to show, that, notwithstanding such condition of their own light, the collision arose from the fault of the steamer. The libellants fail to show this. They do not show that the steamer could, with proper vigilance, have seen the brig in season to avoid her. The speed of the steamer was not too great, in view of the character of the night, there being no fog, and she having a right to rely on the exhibition of a light by an approaching vessel, for the reason that a proper light, if exhibited, could be seen at a distance sufficiently great to avoid a collision. The steamer had a lookout properly stationed, competent and attentive, and it is not made out that the brig could have been seen sooner than she was. She loomed up out of the darkness, but, because her green light could not be seen, her course could not be discerned, and the evidence is, that the steamer was promptly slowed and stopped and backed, and, that when the master of the steamer, by the aid of his night ■ glass, made out the course of the brig, the helm of the steamer was put to starboard, which turned her head to the eastward, and was a proper manoeuvre, as the brig was headed to the westward. The libel must be dismissed, with costs.