878
FEDERAL REPORTER.
he will charge the shipper a higher price for carrying his goods, while, if the shipper agrees to insure for the carrier's benefit, he may get a lower rate from the carrier; but the objection to the condition lies in its tendency to impose upon the shipper the burden of protecting himself against a risk which it is the carrier's duty to assume, and which the law will not permit bim to evade. The only effect that can be given to the stipulation here is by construing it as exempting the claimants from liability for any damage that the shipper could insure against, not arising from the carrier's own negligence, (Yale Co. v. Central R. R. 3 Wall. 107; Bank of Kentucky v. Adams Exp. 00. 93 U. S. 174;) and in the courts of this state, where it is held that carriers may, by express contract, exempt themselves from liability arising from their own negligence, the rule is that when the general words may operate without including the negligence of the carrier or his servants, it will not be presumed that it was intended to include such negligence in the exemption. Wells v. Steam Nav. Co. 8 N. Y. 375; Steinweig v. Erie Ry. 00.43 N. Y. 128. In the case of Mynard v. Syracuse, etc., R. Co. 71 N. Y. 180, the contract released the carrier from "all claims on account of any damage or injury to the property, from whatsoever cause arising." But it was held that the exemption did not include an injury arising from the carrier's negligence. It is the first duty of a common carrier by water to provide a vessel tight, stanch, and fit for the employment for which he holds it out to the public. Ang. Car. § 173. The breach of this duty is the personal default of the vessel-owner. Lyon v. Mells, 5 East, 428. The loss sustained by the libelants, therefore, arose from the carrier's. own negligence. ' The other points urged by the appellants as a defense to the actionare not of sufficient merit to require consideration. The decree of the district court is affirmed, with interest and
THE
EXILE,
Rer Tackle, etc.
(Di,trict Court, D. New Jersey. July 5, 1884.) After a sailor has put his name to the shipping articles the court must reo. gard the terms of those articles as the contract finally entered into by the parties; 2.8A.HE'-8IGNING IN PRESENCJll OF BRITISH CONSUL-!NFJIlRENCE-EsTOPPEL. When it appears that a sailor signed the shipping articles in the presence of' the British consul at Bordeaux, in the absence of proof to the contrary oue must assume that the consul took pains to explain to him the nature, purpose, and effect of the agreement. The sailOl'cannot aftprwards absolve himself from the performance of the duties undertaken by him, by alleging that hedid !lot understand what he agreed to.
I.
LIBEL FOR
WAGES-8AILOR-8HIPPING
ARTICLES-CONTRACT.
'1'RE EXILE.
879
Libel· in Rem. Beebe « Wilcox, for libelants. Jas. K. Hill, Wing « Shoudy, for claimants. NIXON, J. This is a libel for wages. The defense is tbat the libelant had signed shipping articles for a voyage and deserted before the voyage was ended. The proofs show that the Exile is a British vessel, and that she was lying in the port of Bordeaux, France, about the first of August, 1883, when the libelant, in the presence of the British consul, signed an agreement for a voyage "from Bordeaux to Sandy Hook," and "or any port or places in the United States of America, or dominion of Canada," and" or any port or places in the known world, where employment may be obtained, trading to and fro, and ba<.'k to a final port of discharge in the United Kingdom, or continent of Europe, calling for orders if required; voyage not to exceed one year." He was to act as cook and steward during the voyage, at $30 per month,-$20 of the wages being advanced on entry. The ship. ping articles are exhibited in the suit, and bear date July 30, 1883. The bark sailed for New York on the fifth of August, and arrived at that port on the eleventh of the following September. It appears in the proofs that as soon as he reached the port of New York he had conversation with the master about leaving the vessel. He asked for his discharge, alleging that he understood he shipped only to New York, or some port in the United States, of which nation he was a citizen. The master insisted, however, that he had signed for the voyage, which would not terminate until their return to the United Kingdom or the continent of Europe; but consented to discharge him in a few days, if he could satisfactorily fill his place, and if, in the mean time, he would clean up things, and properly attend to hi.s work. On the thirteenth of September, between 4 and 5 o'clock in the afternoon, in the absence of the master, but in the presence of the mate, he packed up his clothes and left the bark. The official log of the Exile shows the following entry of the date of September 13, 1883: "David Mitchell deserted this afternoon, taking his ef. fects." It is properly attested by the names of the captain and first mate. The libelant subsequently demanded of the master the balance of his wages due, to wit, $22; and, payment being refused, he filed this libel to recover the same. There is no dispute about the libelant's signing the shipping articles, or that the contract was for one year, unless the voyage was sooner ended, or that the voyage contemplated a return to the united kingdom, or to the continent of Europe, after visiting Sandy Hook, or some other port or ports of the United States. Leaving the ship at New York without a discharge was a forfeiture of the wages which had accrued, unless the libelant bad justifiable cause for leaving the vessel. The libelant alleges that he had two good grounds for going ashore. The first one is that he informed the master, and the mMlter under.
880
stood that he was expected to remain with him only until the vessel reached some port in the United States, whither he was bound, and where he belonged. The second is, misconduct on the part of the captain during the voyage to the United States. Bad treatment is alleged generally. The only specific acts referred to are the frequent offers of the captain that they should settle their differences by personal combat. The first is not tenable, no matter what the antecedent conversation between the parties mlty have been, after the libelant put his name to the shipping articles; the court must regard the terms of these articles as the contract finally entered into by the parties. The master was not present when the lipelant signed the articles. The latter went before the British consul at Bordeaux, and signed in his presence, and one must assnm in the absence of proof , to the contrary, that the consul took pains to explain to him the nature, purport, and effect of the agreement. He cannot now absolve himself from the performance of the duties undertaken by him, by alleging that he did not understand what be agreed to. I have had more doubts about the second ground. Seamen are entitled to proper treatment by their officers; and offers to fight by the master is certainly unofficer-like conduct. But in the present case it seems to have been harmless bravado. It was doubtless exasperating, but no injury resulted to the libelant, especially after he declined the contest, and told the captain that he had come on board, not to fight, but to do his duty. After a careful review of the whole testimony, I am of the opinion that, under the general principles of the maritime law, the libelant has forfeited his wages by leaving the ship, without permission or discharge, in the midst of the voyage, and that the libel must be dismissed. In consequence of the master's belligerent disposition, I shall withhold costs.
OZARK LAND CO. V. LEONARD.
881
OZARK LAND
Uo.
V. LEONARD.
U]irtJ'dt OOU1't, F.
n.
Arkunql.
April Term, 1884.)
1.
EJECTMENT-POSSESSIO:-< BY DEFE:-<DAN1'-ARKANSAS RULE.
In Arkansas, before the plaintiff can recover in ejectment, he must show that at the time of the commencement of the action the defendant was in possession. The mere act of clltting timber on land, and hauling it off, is not such posof the land as Will entitle the owner to maintain ejectment against the trespasser, and occasional intrusions of this sort do not constitute possession, whether done under claim of title or not.
2.
POSSESSION-CUTTING AND HAULING OFF TIMBER, NOT.
In Equity. John B. Jones, for plaintiff. T. W. Brown and O. P .. Lyles, for defendant. . CALDWELL, J. This a suit to remove a cloud from title to lands. The defendant has demmred to the bill. All the questions raised by the demurrer have been decided in Lamb v. Farrell, 21 FED. REP. 5, save one. The one question remaining to be decided arises on this clause of the bill: "Your orator further represents that no person whatever is in the actnal possession of said lands; that your orator, by virtue of being the legal owner of said lands, is in constructive possession thereof; that said lands are wild and uncultivated lands, and chiefi,Y valuable for the timber standing and growing thereon; that said lands are well timbered, and valuable for such timber. Your orator further represents that said J. ,V. Leonard is trespassing on saill lands, and cutting and hauling off the most valuable trees, and is using said clouds, and pretending to be the owner of said lands by virtu!' of said conveyances."
And as a basis for an injunction (not moved for) it is further alleged that the defendant is a non-resident and insolvent. It is said this clause of the bill shows the defendant is in possession of the lands, and that as the plaintiff claims to hold the legal title he has an adequate remedy at law. The statute of this state requires the action for the recovery of real property to "be brought against the person in possession;" and to entitle the plaintiff to recover, he must show "that at the time of the commencement of the action the defendant was in possession." Gantt, Dig. §§ 2251, 2258. Whether the defendant was in possession at the commencement of the suit is an issuable fact; and unless the plaintiff proves the affirmative to the satisfaction of the jury, he must fail in his suit. Tyler, Ej. & Adv. Enj. 472; Owen v. Fowler, 24 Cal. 192; Owen v. Morton, Id. 373; Pope v. Dalton, 31 Cal. 218; Williamson v. Orawford, 7 Blackf. 12; Pope v. PendergrtMt, 1 A. K. Marsh. 122. The bill alleges that no one is in possession of the lands, and that they are wild and uncultivated. It is true. the bill further alleges v.20,no.14-56