Bradley v. The John Pridgeon, Jr.

Citations

• 38 F. 261
• 1889 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 56

Syllabus

<p>1. Collision — Between Steamers — Fog.</p> <p>The steamer C., while steering north by east, in a fog, was struck by the steamer P. on her port bow, and sunk. The testimony on the part of the C. was to the effect that the whistle of the P. was first heard on the port bow of the C.; that the wheel of the C. was at once ported a quarter of a point, and one blast of her whistle blown, to indicate that she would pass the P. port to port; that, soon afterwards, the P.’s bright, light and green light being still on her port bow, her wheel was put hard a-port, and she was swung several points to starboard, when she was struck. The testimony on the part of the P. was that while steering south half west the white light of the 0. was seen about one and one-half points off the starboard bow of the P.; that two blasts of the steam-whistle were immediately blown, and, no answer being heard, the signal was repeated; and that then one blast of a whistle being heard close at hand the P.'s wheel was put hard a-starboard, and signals given to stop and reverse; but that there was not time to reverse. The testimony that the P. was on the port bow of the 0. when the latter’s whistle was blown was corroborated by the testimony of those on board a schooner in tow of the C. The captain of the P. testified to the course of the vessel, but he had not seen the compass. He also testified that, when he first saw the white light of the 0., he did not know it was that of a steamer. Held, that the officers of the P. were negligent in not stopping when they first saw the white light of the 0., and in starboarding, instead of porting.</p> <p>Same.</p> <p>Where the 0. had two men of experience stationed as lookouts in the “eyes of the ship,'” there was a sufficient compliance with its duty as to lookouts.</p> <p>3. Same.</p> <p>The 0. was held not to be negligent in not blowing fog-signals at proper intervals where the testimony of those on board the 0. was that fog-signals were sounded at interval