The Priscilla

Citations

• 153 F. 476
• 1907 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 286

Syllabus

<p>Salvage — Eire—Compensation eor Service.</p> <p>Eour steamships of the same owner, and largely of wooden construction, were lying for the winter at piers near each other, when one took fire in the night and burned. Another, the Lowell, worth $300,000, which was lying in the same slip, with only 50 feet between them, was in imminent peril, and would probably have been destroyed if she had remained. A small tug offered its services, but they were refused, although probably adequate, and the Lowell took a line from libelant’s larger tug, and was towed to a place of safety; the service requiring half an hour. The tug then went to the assistance of two smaller tugs, and together they took out the third vessel, the Puritan, worth $S00,000, which was lying on the opposite side of the pier from the burning ship and was in a position of danger, as the pier was on fire, and would probably have been injured, but not destroyed. This service took about three-quarters of an hour, and at the request of those in charge of the fourth vessel the tug then stood by during the remainder of the night, but her service was not required. The tug was valued at $60,000. Neither she nor her crew were at any time in danger. Held, that she was entitled to a salvage award of $9,000 in case of the Lowell, and $5,000 in case of the Puritan, and also to $250 for standing by the fourth vessel at the request of her owners; three-fourths of such award to go to the owner, and one-fourth to the crew.</p> <p>[Ed. Note. — Eor cases in point, see Cent. Dig. vol. 43, Salvage, §§ 55-77. Awards in federal courts, see note to The Lamington, 30 C. C. A. 280.]</p>