'!'HE ROSEDALlIl.
737
crimination between foreign vessels and domestic vessels, and as the section as to foreign vessels cannot possibly be applied as regards their acts done in foreign ports, it follows that the whole section musi be deemed intended to apply to the ports of this country only. For these reasons I must consider the act in question inapplicable to the present case. I am obliged to discredit the testimony of the seamen in this case, who deny their signatures to the vouchers and testify that they did not owe the debts stated. The handwriting of each is peculiar, and corresponds so entirely with their signatures to the depositions; and their testimony in regard to some other circumstances is discredited to such an extent, that I am obliged to consider their testimony as unworthy of belief. The circumstances of their attesting these bills, and the delivery of the vouchers to the consular agent, satisfy me that these bills were paid by their procurement and assent, and should stand charged against them. The seamen will be allowed, therefore, only the amounts due to them according to the master's account, deducting these advances. As these amounts were offered them before suit and were refused, no oosts will be allowed.
THE
ROSEDALE,
etc.
SMrrR, as E:x:'r, v.
MoKILLOP.
(Dim-iet (J01J,rt, S. D. New York. December 20, 1884.) L OOLLISION-STEAMER AND SAILING VESSEL-CHANGB 0]1' COURSE-RULE' SAILING VESSEL IN FAULT-On COUHSE.
23-
Where a sloop was beating up the East river past Blackwell's island, and the steamer R, coming down, undertook to keep out of the way by passing very near the westerly shore, leaving abundance of room for the maneuvers of the sloop, and the sloop, when upon her starboard tack, ran into the steamer, being, at the time, at least from three to five points off her course, which was by the wind, held, that the sloop was Wholly to blame for the collision, for either intentionally changing her course by paying off in the direction of the steamer, or for negligently allowing the sloop to payoff much in excess of what was necessary in tacking, and that this fault was the direct cause of the collision. The state statute requiring steamers to keep in the middle of the East river docs not apply above the southerly end of Blackwell's island. The course of thc steamer close to the westerly shore held prudent and justifiable.
2.
SAME-STATE STATUTE.
In Admiralty. Hyland « Zabriskie, for McKillop. Butler, Stillman It Hubbard and W. Mynderse, for Smith and the Rosedale. BROWN, J. On the thirteenth of April, 1883, as the steamer Rosedale was coming down the East river, abreast of Blackwell's island, at the rate of from 16 to 18 miles an hour, the sloop Alida was seen v.22F,no.12-47
738 beating up with a strong flood.tide, the wind being about N. E. The course of the river there is about N. N. E., and the channel only from 600 to 800 feet wide. When in the vicinity of Seventieth street, the sloop, being then upon her starboard tack, and heading towards the New York shore; struck the steamer on her port wheel-house, causing some damage to both vessels, for which these cross-libels were filed. The sloop, when first seen from the Rosedale, was heading towards the New York shore. Shortly afterwards, she tacked and headed towards the Blackwell's island shore, when the Rosedale, according to her own testimony, ported and went as near to the New York sbore as possible; shaping ber course within less than 100 feet of the shore; and, according to her witnesses, she kept within that distance of the west shore; expecting thereby to keep out of the way of the sloop. After reaching near the Blackwell's island shore the sloop again tacked towards the New York shore, and ran upon the steamer, as above stated. The sloop's witnesses say that the place of collision was not more than one-third of the distance across from Blackwell's island.' .A disinterested witness, who was in the pilot-house of the steamer, can· firms the steamer's testimony; and I must hold that the steamer, at the time of collision, was near to. the western shore. They state, also, that the sloop, at the time of the collision, was heading a little down river; while the slodp's witnesses say that she was heading about directly across the river. !fhere was a good sailing breeze, and the sloop was going at the rate of at least four knots. She could easily sail within from five to six points of the wind. Her witnesses say that in coming about, the sloop is liable to payoff from one to two points from her true course. Admitting this, it does not explain why the sloop should have been suffered to head directly across the river, as 'her own witnesses admit, or somewhat down river, as the steamer's witnesses assert. This was at least from three to five points off from her course, and much in excess of her liability to pay off in tacking. Besides, as the collision was on the western side of the river, t4e sloop, if properly handled, would have picked up and reached her true course some time before coming to the place of col· lision. I cannot find any explanation of the course and heading of the sloop prior to the collision compatible with ordinary care or skill in navigation on her part. Had she kept her proper course on her starboard tack, as required by rule 23, no collision would have happened. The captain of the steamer supposed the sloop would go astern; she would have done so had she been kept up to the wind on her proper course, as she might and ought to have kept, and as the steamer had a right to suppose she would be kept. The statutory rule that requires steamers to keep in the middle of the East river applies only "between the Battery · · · and Blackwell's island." 4 Edm. St. 60. In going very near to the west shore, the steamer violated no rule or regulation of navigation, and I am inclined to
THE THOMAS P. WAY.
think adopted, as she claims she did adopt, the most prudent course. She left plenty of room for the sloop, and had a right to assume that the latter would keep her proper course in beating. As the sloop's failure to do so was the real cause of the collision, and no definite fault contributing to the collision appears on the part oftha steamer, I am constrained to dismiss the libel with costs in the first case, and to decree for the libelants with costs in the second.
THE THOMAS
P. WAY, etc.
(District Court, S. D. New York. December 20, 1884.) COLLISION-RuLE 23-CHANGE Oll' COURSE-DEPARTURE IMMATERIAL.
In Admiralty. Howard A. Sperry and J. A. Hyland, for libelant. Butler, Stillman &; Hubbard and W. Mynderse, for claimants. BROWN, J. On the eleventh of September, 1883, as the yacht Ariel was beating up the Kills off West New Brighton, Staten island, she came in collision with the steam-boat Thomas P. Way, bound down, on her way from New York to Newark. The Kills at this point is about one-third of a mile wide. The collision was about 200 feet from the Jersey shore. The port bow of the Way struck the starboard bow of the yacht, carrying her along under her guards for some little distance, when, by backing, the steamer cleared and passed astern. The Way was going down the middle of the Kills at the rate of about 12 miles an hour. The yacht, having previously neared the Staten island shore, was seen to tack, come about, and make nearly across the Kills towards the Jersey shore. When about 600 to 700 feet distant from the Way, the latter, without changing her wheel, slowed down in order to pass under the stern of the yacht, which was then on the steamer's port bow. The captain of the steamer testifies that after this slowing, and while the Ariel was still upon his port bow, and when about 500 or 600 feet off, she came up into the wind, apparently designing to tack again towards the Staten island shore; and that he thereupon ported his wheel, and started up full speed in order to pass ahead of the yacht, but that soon afterwards, when the yacht was about 400 feet away, she paid off again,