Worthington Live Stock Co. v. Consolidated Coal Co.
Worthington Live Stock Co. v. Consolidated Coal Co.
Opinion of the Court
This is an action for damages for the loss of the cargo of a barge, designated as “the lumber barge.” The appellant company, it is averred, was engaged in the towing business and was employed toJ;ow this so:called lumber barge and another barge, known as the “hog barge,” from Ghelsa Island to a point above that on the Mississippi river.
There are two assignments of negligence. The first is in connection with the manner in which the towing was done, it being alleged that the barg-e had been made to careen in consequence of that. It is unnecessary to notice this assignment as the proof fails to show any loss occasioned while the barges were in course of the voyage; that is, none of the articles with which the barge was loaded and which are alleged to have been lost, fell off of the barge while the barge was being pushed or towed up the river. The barge was pushed into shore and tied up with its cargo all aboard, although that cargo had slipped.
The second allegation of negligence is that when the lumber barge approached the river bank for the
There was evidence in tbe case tending to show that when tbe tug of tbe appellant took bold of these two barges for tbe purpose of towing them up tbe river, the “lumber barge,” so-called because its load was principally made up of lumber, on top of wbicb an engine and other machinery were loaded, was in front of tbe tug, and that tbe “bog barge,” so-called because loaded witb bogs, was alongside of the tug and to tbe rear of tbe lumber barge, lines being attached to the tug and to tbe two barges respectively; that while tbe barges were being pushed or towed up- tbe river by the tug tbe lumber barge began to careen and threatened to capsize and throw off tbe upper part of its load. Mr. Worthington, tbe bead of tbe Live Stock Company, respondent here, who was on tbe tug, insisted that tbe captain of tbe tug stop tbe engine or let up and slack tbe tow lines- so that tbe barge would be righted. The captain refused to do this for a time but finally, realizing tbe danger of tbe load slipping off of the lumber barge, turned in towards the shore and endeavored to land that barge. Reaching tbe shore, a volunteer not connected witb either plaintiff
The jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff, assessing its damages at $477.63. Judgment followed, defendant filing a motion for new trial and that being overruled and exceptions saved, has duly perfected its appeal to this court.
Plaintiff, during the progress of the trial, introduced in evidence testimony as,to the value of each of the articles claimed to have been lost off the barge. Defendant objected to this testimony as not founded on allegations in the petition. The court, however, admitted it, over the objection and exception of defendant, and at the close of the testimony plaintiff was allowed to amend its petition'to conform to the evidence, which it did, specifically setting out the value of the articles which it claimed it had lost, placing the total value at $575.95, defendant duly saving exception to the amendment. We see no error in the action of the trial court in allowing the testimony as to the value of the several articles lost, even if such value had not been specifically stated in the petition.
The court very properly confined the damage recoverable to the articles lost, all claims for the other elements of damage having been abandoned by plaintiff.
Counsel for appellant strenuously insist that there was no probative testimony in the case authorizing its submission to the jury. We have read all the tes
The court gave instructions asked for by plaintiff and several asked by defendant. The defendant asked this instruction, marked 3, which the court refused to give, defendant duly excepting:
“The court instructs the jury that if you find from the evidence that the loss of plaintiff’s barge was not due to any negligence or carelessness on part of defendant’s employees- in attempting to tow said barge, but that the engine, lumber and other property loaded on said barge, or portions thereof, were caused to fall into the river on account of the manner in which they were loaded on • said barge by plaintiff’s employees, then your finding must be for the defendant. ’ ’
We are compelled to hold that the refusal of this instruction was reversible error. If it is true that the loss of the cargo of the lumber barge was occasioned by the manner in which the barge was loaded, then even if it broke loose from the shore through the
Counsel for respondent claims that this proposition was covered by the second instruction given at the instance of plaintiff. That instruction is as follows :
“Although you may find from the evidence that the captain in charge of defendant’s boat refused to tow the lumber barge, owing to the unsafe manner in which it was loaded, until plaintiff, by its president, Mr. Worthington, agreed to be responsible for any loss of cargo due to the manner of loading, this agreement did not absolve defendant from using ordinary care in handling said barge, but did absolve defendant from responsibility for loss, due to insecure loading while the barge was in tow.”
W'e do not think this instruction reaches or covers the thought contained in the refused instruction.
For error in refusing this instruction, the judgment of the circuit court must be, and accordingly is, reversed and the cause remanded.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.