Lake Sand Corp. v. John I. Hay Co.
Lake Sand Corp. v. John I. Hay Co.
Opinion of the Court
Appellee filed its libel in Admiralty against appellant claiming damages to its steamer “Gilbert” resulting from a collision between that vessel and a barge belonging to appellant. The latter cross-libeled claiming damages to its barge from the same collision which it alleged resulted solely from the negligent operation of the Gilbert. The District Court found in favor of the libelant and dismissed appellant’s cross-libel, and directed that the matter be referred to a Commissioner to compute the amount of the damages due appellee, unless the parties were able to agree thereto. From this interlocutory decree the appeal was taken.
The collision which gave rise to the present controversy occurred on October 14, 1940, at about 5:50 P. M. in the vicinity of 95th Street and the Calumet River, in the city of Chicago. We append a diagram to illustrate the general locale.
Appellee owns a dock and sand yard on the Calumet River, extending from Howard’s Slip to the 95th Street bridge. Just prior to 5:50 P. M. on the aftern'oon of October 14, its steamer, the Gilbert, was proceeding slowly, at a speed of not more than three miles an hour, up river (south) from Lake Michigan, loaded with sand
There is dispute as to whether or not the barge was properly tied up and whether there were any lights at all on it. There is also dispute as to how the Gilbert came into the slip. Appellee contends that it was headed straight in, steady, with its port side lined up with the south side of the slip, about eight feet from it, and with neither bow nor stern swinging, and that, because the barge was not tied fast the suction caused by the movement of the Gilbert caused the barge to surge forward and up onto the port side of the Gilbert. Appellant contends, on the contrary, that the barge was properly moored, and stationary, but that the Gilbert was heading in at an angle, and the wind and current carried her stern around so that in maneuvering for the turn into the slip the boat swung into the barge.
From our study of the record we are convinced that there was preponderating evidence to support the. findings of the court-that the Gilbert was at all times here involved, carefully and prudently managed and navigated, and with a proper lookout, while the barge was a trespasser on appel-lee’s dock, unattended and improperly moored and lighted, whose presence was not known to those in charge of the Gilbert until just immediately prior to the collision,
Decree affirmed.
The evidence indicates, that at the rate of speed at which the Gilbert was moving, not more than three miles an hour, about one minute would have elapsed from the time the barge was sighted by her navigator until the collision.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- LAKE SAND CORPORATION v. JOHN I. HAY CO.
- Status
- Published