:rHE O.
M.
HITCHCOCK.
II 7"''''
THE O. M. HITCHCOCK. 1 COFFIN and others v. THE O. M. HITCHCOCK. (District OOU'l't, 8. D. New YO'l'k. November 16, 1885.) 1. SALVAGE-FIRE IN CARGO OF COTTON-SUEORDINATE SERVICE.
The lighter H. was lying at Martin's Stores, in the East river, loaded with about $30,000 worth of cotton, when fire broke out in the cotton. The lighter was towed out into the river, where libelants' tug C. approached her and pumped fresh water from her tanks on the burning cotton. Three or four Other small tugs were pumping at the same time, the C. being the third to are rive, When the C. discontinued pumping the fire was not under control, but was finally extinguished by the city fire-boats. Libelant claimed $2,500 as salvage for the services of the C. Held, that while the tug's services were small in the whole work of extinguishing the fire, nevertheless they were of some value in assisting to check the fire pending the arrival of the tire-boats, and that, under the circumstances, $50 was a reasonable compensation. Costs were withheld in consequence of the extrawagance of the claim presented.
2.
SAME-COSTS.
In Admiralty. Edward H. Hobbs, for libelants. Butler, Stillman et Hubbard, for claimants. BROWN, J. The libelants are the owners of the steam water-boat Croton, who claim $2,500 for salvage services rendered to the lighter O. M. Hitchcock, on the twenty·fifth of September, in extinguishing a fire which broke out in her cargo of cotton·. The value of the lighter was $3,000. The cotton saved was worth $30,OUO. The Hitchcock had been lying at Martin's Stores, Brooklyn, and when the fire burst out she was towed into the East river by other vessels. The Croton came up unsolicited, and played upon the cotton for a certain time with fresh water from her tanks; when this was exhausted she left. There is great difference in the testimony as to the time during which the Croton played upon the fire. Her witnesses make it some two hours; but their testimony is upon estimates only. The specific data given by the persons on board the city fire-boat Patrol, which came up and played upon the fire after the Croton had left, show pretty certainly that the Croton could not have been in attendance more than an hour at most, and probably considerably less. There were three or four other tug-boats that were playing upon the Hitchcock at the same time with the Croton. The Croton was the third to go to her assistance. All that can be said is that the Croton did what she could to check and subdue the fire by playing upon it until her fresh water was exhausted; that she then left the Hitchcock still attended by several other small tugs, and that the raging of the flames was kept subd.ued for the time being by all these tugs combined. The city boats, the Pa1 Reported
by R. D. & Edward G. Benedict, Esqs" of the New York bar.
778
FEDERAL REPORTER.
trol and the Havemeyer, came up not long after the Croton had left, while the other boats were still playing upon the Hitchcock, and by their powerful streams the fire was soon reduced to a smouldering condition, so that the boat could be taken to a pier and the cotton removed, and the fire thereby extinguished. A claim for the extra compensation of salvage cannot be sustained, unless the service is successful. It was here successful, but not chiefly through the libelants' services. Nevertheless,·all the tugs that played on the fire before the Patrol and the Havemeyer arrived were of some service, and not an unimportant one, in checking the fire for the time being. The ultimate saving of cal'go was due to the joint efforts of all. Had not the small tugs altogether kept the fire in check until the Patrol arrived, it is not improbable that the Hitchcock would have been destroyed, and the loss of the cotton much greater. As it was, the value of vessel and cargo saved was about $33,000. Still, I am forced to regard the services of the libelants as quite subordinate, and comparatively small in the whole work. Upon all the testimony I think that $50 is a reasonable compensation for the slight salvage services rendered by the Croton. When the Croton left the Hitchcock the latter was still in the East river, and the cotton would have been mostly, if not wholly, lost but for the subsequent services of the other vessels. 'rhe salvage was due to the efforts of all from first to last. The libelants are entitled to a decree for $50, but without costs; which I withhold in consequence of the extra vagance of the claim presented.
THE AURORA V. THE REPUBLIC.·
(Diatrict Oowrt. S. D. Georgia. July 29, 1885.) TOWAGE-NEGLIGENCE-PROXIMATE CAUSE.
It is unnecessary to consider the question of negligence, unless It be first made to appear that the negligence complained of was in fact the cause of the injury. If the evidence discloses no injury traceable to the negligence complained of, the libel will be dismissed,
SPEER, J. The libelant has proceeded against the tug Republic to condemn the latter for damages alleged to have been sustained by rea. son of the negligent conduct of the latter while towing the bark Aurora to sea from the port of Savannah, on the thirteenth of November, 1883. 'l'he negligence alleged is that the crew of the tug cast off the hawser by which they were towing the bark, while in the mouth of the Sa. 1 Reported
Denmark ct Adams, for libelant. Garrard ct ]Vleldrin, for respondents.
In Admiralty.
by Theodore M. Etting, of the Philadelphia bar.