The Alabama
The Alabama
Opinion of the Court
The libel in this case was filed by the owner of the steam-tug Bobert Lockhart, to recover for damages caused to the propeller of the tug from running upon a cohcealed anchor of the scow Alabama, in what is known as the California dock, in Jersey City, on the twenty-sixth of November, 1880. The California dock is-a slip or basin some 500 or 600 feet wide, between two piers, and extending back about 1,000 feet. About midway in the length of the dock, and about 150 feet south of the northerly pier, there was a coffer-dam moored to piles. The scow Alabama hacked in and fastened her stem to the coffer-dam and dropped an anchor about 100 feet forwards of her bows, and this was about 100 feet inside cf the outer end of the dock. The tug Lockhart, between 6 and 7 o’clock in the morning, liad landed a tow at the coffer-dam, a usual place for such landings, and in coming out of the slip, the water being shallow, her propeller ran upon the anchor, causing the tug considerable damage. There was no bouy at the anchor; the light intended as an anchor-light was near the stem of the scow, but not at the height required by the rules for an anchor-light, and no light was observed by the pilot of the Lockhart.
I cannot doubt, upon the evidence, that the anchor belonged to the Alabama. The place of collision corresponded with the place at
In the case of Phila. W. & B. R. Co. v. Ph. & H. de G. S. T. Co. 23 How. (U. S.) 209, 216, the supreme court say: “It is a rule of maritime law from the earliest times * that if a ship run foul of an anchor left without a buoy, the person who placed it there shall respond in damages.’” 1 Emerigon, 417; 2 Browne, Civ. & Adm. L. 203.
Decree for libelant with costs, with an order of reference to compute the damages.
Reference
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