828
FEDERAL
be under the control, by the hand, of the operator, and that no a.uto-' matic control is the equivalent of this manipulation by the operator forthis purpose. The apparatus of Jaubert's patent does not, therefore, do the same thing by the same, or substantially the same, means as the apparatus of the orator, even if it will do it at all with practical success, which on the proof is doubtful. And if Jaubert's machine was detached from the power it would not be operative, as constructed, by hand. The other patents are for machines for working wood or stone automatically, and are not any more nearly adapted to this purpose thau the contrivances of these that are mentioned particularly. None of them are taken for this purpose in this art; the defendants and others in this business are not content to use these former patented devices, but prefer the orator's. This fact is evidence of the superiority of his. And as to these foreign patents, it might be remarked that this patent was granted under the act of 1870, (16 St. at Large, p. 201, § 25,) which provides that no person shall be debarred from receiving a patent for his invention or discovery, nor shall any patent be declared invalid by reason of its having been first patented or caused to be patented in a foreign country, unless the same has been introduced into public use in the United States for more than two years prior to the application, (Rev. St. § 4887,) and that there is no evidence of such introduction into public use during that time anywhere. As to the other point, it is to be noticed that the patent is merely for the apparatus for applying the plate of glass to the grinding wheel. The drawing shows a grinding wheel properly arranged for doing some, but rare kinds, of work. None arranged for the usual work, or in the best manner, is shown. Still it appears that a person skilled in this art would readily apply the patented apparatus to any kind of wheel. This would seem to be sufficient. Loom Co. v. Higgins, 105 U. S. 580. There is really no question about infringement. Let there be a decree for an injunction and an account, according to the prayer of the bill, with costs.
THE SYRAOUSE.
(District Oourt, 8 D New York.. December 14, 1883.) 1. CoLLISION WITH PIER-TURNING-INTENTIONAL STRIKING-OLD BOATS-NoTICE.
The tug S., with the canal-boat K. Jashed to her side. in turning round in the Morris canal basin, intentionally ran or rubhed against the" middle pier" to assist in turning, and afterwards against a float of spiles. Two holes were thereby made in the K., and she afterwards sank. In a conflict of testimony, held, the blow was unjustifiable, whether for a new or an old boat, and that any such blow approaching to violence is at the tug's risk, and tile practice condelllned.
SYRAOUSE.
829
2. SAME-OLD BOAT-NoTICE. An owner of an old boat towed, if she is not staunch Bnd strong, Is bound to give notice of her weakness to the tug, otherwise he can only claim the benefit of ordinary care in the tug's handling of her. 3. SAME-DAMAGES. The evidence showing that the K. was an old boat, not staunch and strong, and no such notilJe having been given, held. the owner should recover but half his damages.
In Admiralty. Ool11s1On. J. A. Hyland, for libelant. Edwin G. Davis, for claimant. BROWN. J. On the eighth of September. 1880, the"steam·tug Syracuse took in tow the canal-boat Kearsage, loaded with staves, at the Morris canal basin, to be towed to the East river. In the course of turning around in the basin, immediately after leaving the dock, the tug intentionally ran against what is called the middle pier, which is in the middle of the basin, for the purpose of expediting the turning of the boats, and a few rods further on she rubbed or hit against a float of spiles near the opposite side of the basin. Two holes were thereby stove in the canal-boat near amidships, and below the water line, so that she sank several hours afterwards. This libel was filed to recover for the damages thereby sustained. The defense is that the boat was unseaworthy and rotten, and that the contact with the pier and spiles was nothing more than was usual and justifiable 'in the course of turning. The tow was lashed upon the starboard side of the tug. Although the pilot of the tug testifies that there was no 'blow, but only the usual rubbing to assist in turning, I am satisfied from the evidence of the owner and the wheelsman of the Kearsage that there was a very decided, if not powerful, blow. They both testify that it was a violent blow, such as caused the boat to roll. Just before reaching the pier the owner of canal-boat, seeing that they were .going to strike, sang out to the pilot of the tug protesting against it, and the latter replied that it would do no harm. The latter testifies that it was necessary to run against the pier in order to make the turn, as the channel there was narrow. This cannot be accepted as a sufficient justification. If he could not have backed any further on his spring lines before leaving the dock, as he says,there were plenty of other means at the command of a tug, in handling a single tow, without injuring her by running against a stationary structure. The practice of running vessels or canal·boats in tow, whether new or old, against other vessels or piers, for the purpose of rapid handling, is dangerous, sure to lead to disputes, and, when approaching anything like a forcible blow, must be held to be at the risk of those who practice it. The Nebraska, 2 Ben. 500; The Harry, 15 FED. REP. 161. The captain of the tug in this case had had much experience in this basin, but this was no guaranty that in running against the pier the blow might not be severer than he intended.
830
Those in the canal-boat were in a much better situation to observt the force of the blow, and I am satisfied that their account of it he substantially correct, and that it was a blow unjustifiable in the navigation of either new or old vessels. Such a blow, however, may de no immediate and perceptible damage to a staunch boat, while it may sink an old and infirm one. If tugs undertake to handle which are known to be old and weak, they are bound to exercise additional caution in their treatment. On the other hand, owners oj such boats are bound to give notice of their infirmities, or else the) are not entitled to have them handled with more than ordinary carl: and prudence. The evidence in regard to this boat shows clearly that she was an old boat. The libelant bought her as such in exchange for another old one, paying also, in addition, $100 in cash and hi: note for $40. On account of alleged misrepresentations by the seller, the libelant subsequently refused to pay the note, and it was surrendered. She was not rated; but this circumstance is not conclusive that she was not ratable for insurance, since not unfrequently good boats of this class are run without insurance. A ship-carpenter, on behalf of the claimant, examined the Kearsage while she was being repaired, and while the broken planks were being taken from her side. He testifies that the planks removed were rotten, so that they could be broken by the hand. The carpenter who did the repairs testified shortly before the trial that the broken planks were sound and in good condition, and that the general condition of the planking of the boat was sound and seaworthy. This latter testimony was given some three years after the transaction; the former, near to the time· of it. It is difficult to form any satisfactory conclusion from evidence of this character. Had the claimants intended to rely upon the fact of . such utter rottenness and unseaworthiness as should preclude the Kearsage from any recovery, additional means of supporting their case in this respect should have been procured. At the same time, I am by no means satisfied, upon the circumstances of this case, that this canal-boat was of the ordinary strength or ability to undergo the nsual handling of staunch and sound boats. The natural inference from all the facts is that she was not. I think this is confirmed by the captain's calling out to the pilot when he saw that they were going to run against the pier. This was too late, however, to be of any avail. Had seasonable notice of the weakness of the boat been given, doubtless the pier and the spiles would have been avoided, or struck more cautiously, and no injury have ensued. Justice requires that the continued running of old boats should be closely scrutinized, and their owners should not be suffered to conceal their infirm condition, and, when accidents happen, get them repaired, or recover as for a total loss, at the expense of others. 'The Bordentown, 16 FED. REP. 270. The owner is bound to give notice of any infirmity about his boat, if she be not staunch and strong; and where this is
THE ALABAMA.
,831
not done he must be held jointly or solely responsible for such injuries as the present, according to the other circumstances of case. No such notice was given in this case. Had the contact wIth this pier been only such as was clearly justifiable in the case of ordinary boats, the libel would therefore have been dismissed. The Gen. Geo. G. Meade, 8 Ben. 481. But as I must hold otherwise, upon the . evidence, both must be regarded as in fault, and the libelant is entitled to recover but half his damages, (The William Murtaugh, 8 FED. REP. 404; Ohristia.nv. Van Tassel, 12 FED. REP. 884, 890,) amounting, upon the testimony before me, with interest, to $105, with costs.
(District Oourt, 8. D. New York. SLIP-ANcnOR-NEGLTGENCE-DAMAGE FROM.
December 12,1883.)
A vessel throwing an anchor in tlhallow waterln a large slip or basin where other vessels lLre in the habit of coming and going, without a buoy, and a,t a considerable distance from the vessel, and with nothing to indicate the presence of the anchor in the spot where it lies, is liable for the injury caused to another vessel which runs upon it without notice.
In Admiralty. E. D. McOarthy, for libelant. Taylor If Parker, for respondent. BROWN, J. The libel in this caE·e was filed by the owner of the steam-tug Robert Lockhart, to recover for damages caused to the propeller of the tug from running upon a concealed 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 backed in and fastened her stern 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, 'had 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 anchorlight was near the stern of the scow, but not at the height required by the rules fur 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