FEDERAL REPORTER.
the wake to leeward, or to keep away from those waters, or toabandon the vicinity of the place of the collision. She was where she was by right. must be for the respondents.
THE ANNIE
WILLIAMS.
(District Oourt, D. New Jersey. June 28,1884.) 1. COLLISION-TUG AND Tow-RESPONSIBILITY OF THE TUG.
I:lteam-tugs, having boats in tow, are bound to the exercise of reasonable skill and care in everything relating to their work until it. is accomplished, and are chargeable for the want of either to the extent of the damage sustained; and this liability continues; although it may appear that the negligence or unskillfulness of those manag-illg the tow contributed to the collision.
2.
SAMF.-RESPONSIBILITY OF THE Tow.
Whenever tow-lines are used, the master of the tow is bound to obey all proper orders of the master of the tug, and when he refuses to obey such orders, or fails in reasonable skill or attenLion to duty, such conduct may relieve the owners of the tug from responsibilLy. A tug having a schooner in tow, attached by a long hawser, in attempting to pass a boat in tow, sheered upon the latter the schooner, and caused much damage to the boat. In such a case, the tug being the motive power, the law regards her as the dominant mind .in the transaction, and makes her responsible for all accidents resulting from not exercising ordinary care. .
3.
SAME-APPLIcATION TO FACTS.
In Admiralty. Libel in rem. Beebe, Wilcox cf Hobbs, for libelants. Alward et Parrot, for claimants. NIXON, J. The libel is filed in this caseto recover damages caused by a collision. It alleges that on the fifteenth of November, 1882, the libelants' boat Jl.lary, loaded with a cargo of coal, was taken in tow by the steam-tug Robert Burnett at Elizabethport, New Jersey, to be towed with three other boats to the city of New York; that the tow was made up with two boats on each side of the said tug, fastened thereto, the libelants' boat being on the outside of the port side of the tug; that they left Elizabethport between 7 and 8 o'clock in the morning and proceeded on said trip; that after they left Elizabethport the tug Annie Williams took a schooner in tow astern, by a long hawser, and proceeded after said tow, and following them; that when said tug and tow were about abreast of Mariners' Harbor, Staten iRland, and where there is a turn in the channel, the tug Annie Williams, with the said schooner in tow, attempted to pass the Robert Burnett and her tow between libelants' boat and the New Jersey shore; that in so doing the steam-tug Annie Williams caused the schooner to take a rank sheer, and while on said sheer the schooner came in contact with libelants' boat, striking her on the port quarter, starting
TBE ANNIE WILLIAMS.
867
thecabin and deck, breaking the timbers and rails, and doing other serious damage. It further alleges that the collision was owing solely to the negligence and carelessness of those in command, and control. ling and managing, the steam.tug Anuie Williams. The answer of the claimant sets up two grounds of defense, giving his version of the transaction as follows: 'fhat the steam-tug Annie Williams, with the schooner Impudence in tow astern by a hawser about 120 feet long, proceeded after the tow in which the libelants' boat was made up; that the tug was used by the schooner as her propelling power,the schooner being all the time in charge of. her own officers and crew, and steered by them, and her immediate course in the channel di· rected by them, and not by the steam-tug; that the tide was running from Elizabethport towards the corner-stake light, and in the direction the vessels were moving; that while the vessels were in the waterb of Staten Island sound, and the Annie Williams was proceeding on her course, the Robert Burnett suddenly stopped with all her tow, compelling the Annie Williams to pass her, which she did, on the port side, about 500 feet south-west of, and before coming to, the corner-stake light; that, in passing, the starboard side of the Annie Williams was full 40 feet from the port side of the libelants' boat; that if the schooner in tow rubbed against the libelants' boat as al· leged in the libel, it did not start the cabin or deck, or break her timbers, or do any damage; and that the schooner during the whole time was astern of the tug and under the control of her commander, who was standing at her wheel, steering the course of the said schooner, and if he had followed in a straight line in the wake of the Annie Williams the schooner would have passed the tow without colliding or touching; and that the pretended collision was not occasioned by the negligence or carelessness of those having charge of the Annie Williams, but by the conduct of those in charge of the libelants' tow and schooner, and by circumstances beyond the power of the said Annie Williams, and those controlling her, to prevent. The only interpretation to be put upon the answer is that, inasmuch as the schooner in tow of the Annie Williams was manned by and was under the control of her own crew, the schooner alone is answerable for all damages arising from a collision; and, secondly, that if any collision occurred no injury in fact resulted therefrom. The last question is not properly before the court, but must be considered hereafter, on a reference to ascertain the damages, if a ref· erence is ordered.. With regard to the first, the proposition is not true, without qualification. Steam-tugs having boats in tow are not liable as common carriers; nor are they insurers. They are, nevertheless, bound to the exercise of reasonable skill and care in everything relating to the work until it is accomplished, and are chargeable for the want of either to the extent of the damage sustained. And this liability contip.ues, although it may appear that the negligence or unskillfulness of those managing the tow contributed to the collision.
868
They may be both in fault, and in such cases are accountable to an innocent Buffering party, either jointly or severally, as such party may determine. The relative duties of the tug and tow were fully discussed by the late Justice OLIFFORD in the case of The Express, 3 Oliff. 462, and it was there determined that where a vessel was drawn by a hawser, both vessels had duties to perform, and that both might -be held in fault in case of an accident; that when tow-lines were used, the master of the tow was bound to obey all proper orders of the master of the tug; and that where.he refuses to obey such orders, or fails in reasonable skill and attention to his duty, such conduct might relieve the owners of the tug from responsibility. But, however culpable the conduct of the tow may be, the owner of the tug cannot claim such release from responsibility in any case where he also was in fault, and it is now well settled that where both tug and tow contribute to the accident by lack of skill or care, the injured party may maintain his suit and recover his damages against one of the offeuding parties. Thus, in The New Phila,delphia, 1 Black, 76, the supreme court held as a rule of law in the admiralty, as at the common law,"That when a third party has sustained an injury to his property from the co-operating consequence of two causes, though the persons producing them may not be in intentional concert to occasion such a result, the injured person is entitled to compensation for his loss from either one or both of them. according to the circumstances of the accident, and particularly so from the one of the two who had undertaken to convey the property with care and skill to a place of destination, and there shall have been in so doing a deficiency in either."
"Parties without fault * * * bear no part of the loss in collision snits, and are entitled to full compensation for the damage which they suffer from the wrong-doers, and they may pursue their remedy in personam, either at tl:J common law or in admiralty, against the wrong-doers, or anyone or 1110re of them, whether they elect to proceed at law or in the admiralty courts."
To the sltme effect, and as illustrating the same principle, is the decision of the supreme court in The Atlas, 93 U. S. 319, where it \s said:
The question then is, do the facts of this case show a want of reasonable care and skill on the part of the respondents' tug, having the schooner in tow? She was the following vessel, and was undertaking to pass the tow to which the libelants' boat was attached, on the port side of the channel. Being the motive power, the law regarded her as the dominant mind in the transaction, and made her responsible for all- accidents resulting from not exercising ordinary care. It is impossible to ascertain from the conflicting testimony the width of the channel at the point of passing. About 200 feet is tbe average of the evidence upon the subject. A mud-digger with a scow on her starboard side, anchored in the channel on the New Jersey side, made the attempt to pass more difficult and hazardous. The weight of the:
THE SARATCll:tIl.
869
proof does not sustain the allegation of the answer, that the Robert Burnett suddenly stopped, which rendered it necessary that the Annie Williams should go ahead. There seems to have been no slacking of speed by her until after the collision. Without dwelling at length upon the testimony, I am clearly of the opinion that the Annie Williams must be held responsible for want of care. No attempt should have been made to pass, with the mud-digger and scow on her port, and a tow nearly a hundred feet wide on her starboard side, where the whole channel was about 200 feet in width, having a deeply. laden schooner in tow with a hawser, sheering wildly, and not controllahle hy her rudder. He also added to the violence of the concussion by ringing extra bells for the engineer to work up, hoping to break the sheer by increasing the speed. The distance between the vessels was too short to accomplish any such result. The master of the Williams states, in his examination, that noticing the sheer of the schooner he rang to the engineer to throw the boat wide open, so as to pull the schooner off her sheer. There must be a decree in favor of the libelants, with costs, and a reference to ascertain the amount of the damages, unless the parties will agree that the commissioner may report the amount from the evidence already taken.
THE SARATOGA.
(District Court, 8. D. New York. 1.
June 17, 1884.)
COMMON CARmER-BILL OF LADIXG-EXCEPTIONS OF "NEGI,IGENCE."
A general ship is a common carrier; an exception in her bills of lading against loss" by any act, neglect, or default of the master or mariners" is invalid. SAME-Loss" BY THIEVES OR HOBBERS."
2. 3.
An exception against los8 "by thieves or robbers" is valid, unless the theft be invited or made easy through some negligence of the ship. SAME-ORDINARY NEGLIGENCE.
Such an exception serves only to relieve the ship from her liability as guarantor against theft, and from that extreme care which naturally accompanies such a guaranty. She is still bonnd to use all customary and reasonable vi,g;iagainst theft, according to the nature of the articles and the temptations and facilities for stealing them.
!l. SAME-CASE STATED.
Where the steamer S. received on board a box of gold coin valued at $23,600, a few hours before sailing, which was put in the locker beneath the fioor of the "glory-hole," in the run of the ship, and the scuttle to the locker was provided with a bar across it designed to be fastened by a padlock, and also with a stout lock in the edge of the sCllttle, and the box of coin was at once put in the locker and the lock fastened, but the bar and padlock were not used or fastened, and a former discharged employe had previously gone to the glory-hole, taken out the lock, and carried it off and got a key fitted to it, and had then replaced the lock in the edp;e of the scuttle, and, shortly after the box was shipped, again went aboard aud went to the glory-hole, unlocked the scuttle, broke open the box in the locker, stuffed the bag, of coin aIJout his waist, se-
870
cured them by a strap, and left the ship by the usual gang-way, unobstructed, though observed and interviewed by two seamen, who supposed him to be smuggling, held. that the ship was chargeable with neglect of customary, ordinary, and reasonable vigilance against the theft of the coin in not using the bar and padlock; in not providing any check or guard against access to the glory-hole; in not preventing tampering with the lock; and in not having suitable and proper watch against suspicious persons on sailing days; and in not obsorving and stopping a person when leaving the ship who was so Visibly and plainly stuffed with his plunuer.
In Admiralty. Butler, Stillman c1: Hubbard, for libelant. Goodrich, Deady J: Platt, for the Saratoga. BROWN, J. '['he libel in this case was filed to recover $23,600, the value of a quantity of Spanish gold coin shipped, on the twenty-seventh day of May, 1880, on board the steam-Ship Saratoga, and consigned to Havana, but which was not delivered there because stolen from the steamer, at> the evidence shows, before she left New York. The coin was in bags contained in a wooden box, which was strapped with iron, and was about 18 inches long, 12 wide, and 8 deep. It was received on board the steamer, as she lay at her wharf, about 1 o'clock in the afternoon, some three hours only before she saile']. It was delivered to one of the quartermasters, who immeliiately carried it to the locker, where it was deposited and locked up. The evidence leaves no reasonable doubt that, within an hour or two afterwards, the locker was entered by a former employe of the ship, who had been discharged on the previous voyage; that the box was broken open by him, the bags of coin stuffed around his waist; and that, with the coin about him, he went off the steamer, by the usual gangway, and in broad daylight, shortly before the ship sailed. The bill of lading exempts the vessel from liability for loss occasioned by "pirates, robbers, thieves, <II '" · or from any act, neglect, or -default of the master or mariners." The defendant's vessel was a general ship, and a common carrier. The clause of the bill of lading exempting her from liability for any "act, neglect, or default of the master or mariners" is therefore invalid, and affords no defense, if the loss was occasioned through their negligence. Railt'oad Go. v. Lockwood, 17 Wall. 357; Bank of Kentucky v. Exp. Go. 93 U. S. 174; The Hadji, 16 FED. REP. 861; 18 FED. REP. 459. It is not necessary to consider the confl.icting views as to the ship's liability under the exception of "thieves, robbers, " etc., had the theft been committed by one of her own employes, (Spinetti v. Atlas Steamship Co. 80 N. Y. 71; Taylor v. Liverpool, etc., L. R. 9 Q. B. 546;) nor what effect, in the consideration of that question, should be given to the principles laid down by the supreme court, in Ba,ilroad Go. v. Lockwood,. since Jacques, who is satisfactorily shown to have committed the theft, was not at this time in the ship's employ, but had been pre. viously discharged.
THE SARA.TOGA..
871
The exception of loss by thieves or robbers is valid, unless it be shown that there was negligence on the part of the ship which contributed to the theft or facilitated it; and upon defendant's proving that the theft was committed by a person not belonging to the ship, the burden of proof is upon the libelants to show to the satisfaction of the court that the loss might have been avoided by the exercise of reasonable and proper care on the part of the ship, and that the theft· would not have occurred if such care had been exercised. If the carelessness of the ship was such as to invite the theft, or to make it easy, or if the attempt would not have been successful except through the lack of such watchfulness and care as was reasonably incumbent upon those having charge of such treasure, then the loss must be held to be occasioned by the carrier's negligence and inattention to his duty, as well as through the direct acts of the thief. In Clark v. Barnwell, 12 How. 272, 281, the court say: "But if it can be shown that it (the loss) might have been avoided by the use of proper precautionary measures, and that the usual and eustomary methods for this purpose have been neglected, they may still be held liable. It is competent for the libelants to show that the respondents might have prevented it (the loss) by proper skill and diligence in the discharge of their duties."
In Transp. Co. v. Downer, 11 Wall. 129, 133, the court say: skill on the part of the defendant, it is plain that the loss should be attributed to the negligence and inattention of the company, and it should be heltl liable, notwithstanding the exception in the bill of lading." See, also, Sia) Hundred and Thirty Quarter Casks o/Sherry Wine, 14 Blatchf. 517; Dedekam v. Vose,3 Blatchf. 44; Richards v. Hansen, 1 FED. REP. 54,63; The Invincible, 1 Low. 225; 'Phe Montana, 17 FED. REP. 377. "If the danger might have been avoided by the exercise of proper care and
There can be no doubt that this rule, which, upon the above authorities, is applicable to the other exceptions of the bill of lading, is equally applicable to an exception of loss through theft or robbery. The exception of loss by "robbers, thieves," etc., applies to all goods alike; but it does not, therefore, follow either that the ship is relieved of all care whatsoever against loss by theft, or that only the same kind of care is required as regards coin, or other valuables, as would be sufficient as respects ordinary merchandise. The effect of the exception is to relieve the ship as a common carrier from its liability as a guarantor against loss by theft; and also to relieve the ship, as I think, from that high degree of care, which may be termed extreme care, which might naturally be expected to accompany its extreme obligation as a guarantor against theft in any event. But notwithstanding the exception of theft, the ship still remains liable for all ordinary, all customary, all reasonable diligence in the care of the goods intrusted to it; having reference to the nature of the goods themselves, th8ir liability to injury or loss, whether by theft or by any other cause, the temptations to theft, and the facility with which it may be committed. This principle is recognized and well settled in
respect to the oldest and most constant exception in bills of lading, namely, "perils of the seas." Though a loss happen from the violence of the winds or waves, it is not deemed to arise from a peril of the seas if it might have been avoided by the exercise of ordinary and reasonable human skill and vigilance. The Reeside, 2 Summ. 567, 571; The Titania, 19 FED. REP. 101. Though a loss by "breakage" . be excepted, this does not authorize the handling of glassware in the same manner as goods not liable to injury by breakage; nor is it claimed that because losses by robbery and theft are excepted, valu.ables, such as coin, watches, 01' diamonds, may be stowed on board ship with no other care than that which ordinary merchandise re. quires. Notwithstanding any special exceptions, all goods received must be handled and stowed, or stored, according to their nature, and their liability to injury or loss. The rates of freight differ in respect to different classes of goods in consequence of the different care and trouble which they require. The freight upon this box of coin, only 18 inches long, and weighing altogether but 137 pounds, was $29.50; and the obligation to make reasonable provision for the safety of such treasure is universally recognized by providing safes or lockers to receive it. Coin is free from liabilitv to most of the various kinds of injury to which ordinary merchandise is exposed; its peculiar danger is that of theft; the only care required in regard to it is vigilance against theft; and to protect against this danger, reasonable vigilance must still be exercised, notwithstanding the exception. The principal facts relied on to show negligence in this case relate to the place of the locker, its imperfect fastening, and the want of reasonable watch of persons coming on board and going off the ship. The locker was a small place in the run of the ship, beneath the deck of the "glory-hole," about six feet high, six feet long, and four feet wide. It was lined with sheet-iron; and the only access to it was through a scuttle two feet square'in the deck or floor of the gloryhole. The latter was a small room in the after-part of the ship, approached only through the rear of the cabin by stairs descending about six or seven feet. It was used as a sleeping-room for the waiters, and had 10 or 12 berths. The scuttle to the locker beneath was a part of the floor of this room, flush with it, and designed to be fastened by means of an iron bar extending across it, which was permanently fastened at one end, and at the other end was fastened by a padlock. In the edge of the scuttle upon one side was a heavy lock having two stout bolts projecting, when locked, into the adjoining edge of the deck or floor. There was a key-hole in the scuttle, the key of which was in charge of the purser. When the box of coin was put in this locker, the pursel' was called and the lock fastened. But the bar across the top was not secured by the padlock, either then or at any time during the voyage following. Before the box was placed in the locker the purser had left the key loose upon his desk or hung up in his room. His room was approached by two doors, which were usu·
813
ally lockea when he was not present. No person acted as guard or watch over the locker, or to prevent access to the glory-hole, duriug the afternoon before the ship sailed. Two or three days previous Jacques had gone on board the ship under pretense of desiring to get his clothes from the glory-hole, (where he had slept prior to his dis. charge,) and had removed the lock from the scuttle, taken it a way with him to a locksmith, had a key fitted to it, and had afterwards brought the lock back and replaced it in the scuttle. How he first removed the scuttle so as to be able to take the lock off does not appear; nor does it appear whether the scuttle was left unlocked, or whether he obtained the key for a short time from the purser's room to unlock it. Shortly after the box had been put in the locker, he for the third time came aboa.rd the ship, having a valise with a strap about it, and went to the glory-hole under the same pretense as before. Meeting two waiters, he sent them forward to the bar with muney to get some beer, and during their absence, it would seem, went dowu the locker, and by means of a short, pointed iron bar belonging to the ship broke open the box, removed the bags of coin, locked the locker as before, and stuffed the hags about his person, securing them by the strap which he had b1'Ought with the valise. As he came up the stern of the ship, he had a bundle in green cloth under his arm, and asked one of the seamen present if he could not get aboard a schooner off the stern of the steamer. The man offered to take the roll and pass it down to him, which Jacques declined, saying he would go out by the gangway. When he went to go off his great paleness excited remark, as well as the evident stuffing out of his person. Two other seamen meeting him observed this, and thought he might be stealing clothes or smuggling cigars. They had some conversation with him concerning the prolJability of his being observed as he went off the gangway. Satisfied that he was not stealing clothes, they did not report him. No attention was given him as he passed out of the gangway, nor does it appear conclusively that there was any person there at that time upon the watch for suspicious characters. 'fhe quartermaster assigned to that duty was not examined. The loss was not discovered until the vessel ar· rived at Havana, and, on opening the locker, the box was found broken open and all the coin gone except a small bag in one corner. I cannot hold, upon the evidence, that the place where the locker was put was, in itself, an improper one, so as to constitute negligence. The evidence shows that the place of this locker, in the run of the ship, under the glory-hole, was frequently used for such purposes; and that in some of the last and best steamers built that place was selected as the safest. In those the scuttle was secured by two iron bars across the top, fastened by padlocks, without any lock in the edge of the scuttle. In other cases, safes or lockers in the cabin are used, with upright doors. There are several particulars, however, wherein I feel bonnd to
hold that the ship did not exercise the customary and reasonable vigilance required in the care of such treasure: (1) The failure to lock the iron bar across the top of the E'cuttle. This bar was a part of the equipment of the ship, and one of the provisions for the security of the locker. The failure to use it was neglect of one of the customary and ordinary means of security. It cannot be called immaterial or unnecessary. Even if not used when there was no coin in the locker, had it been used as soon as the coin was put there, it would probably have prevented the theft, as there is no evidence that Jacques was provided with ready means to unlock the padlock, and every obstruction is of the greatest importance where the theft, to be successful, must be accomplished in a very brief space of time. (2) The lack of reasonable vigilance to prevent tampering with the fastenings of the locker before the coin was placed there. No safe can be of any value if proper care is not exercised to prevent its locks or keys being tampered with. This care is equally necessary whether the safe at the moment contains valuables or not. The evidence shows that no special care was taken of the key of the main lock, until after the coin had been received. I am inclined to think, however, that the key was immaterial in this case, because the inference from the evidence is that the scuttle, before the coin was received, was left unlocked. But it was want of reasonable care to leave the lock unfastened, when it was so slightly secured in the edge of the scuttle that the whole lock was easily removable. . (3) Neglect of any precautions to prevent access to the glory-hole after this treasure was received. If it be said that the waiters, whose berths were in the glory-hole, might be expected to supply the needful precaution against tbieves, the evidence shows that no reliance was to be plac'ed on them, and that they were plainly remiss in tbe duty which they owed to the ship in not reporting at once their clear observation and knowledge that Jacques was engaged in some illicit or criminal design. Some guard or check ought to have been provided against repeated access to the glory-hole and locker by persons having no business there. (4) f cannot resist the conclusion that there was negligence also in the proper observation of Jacques upon his repeated visits to the ship after his discharge, and also at the time when he left the ship with his booty visibly and plainly stuffed about him. These repeated visits excited the sllspicions of two of the seamen, who observed him as above stated. They knew the danger of theft of their clothing on sailing days, and they gave Jacques sufficient watch and examina. tion to satisfy themselves that he was not stealing their clothes. They did suspect he was carrying off smuggled articles; and, in my judgment, they knew that he was engaged in some criminal project. The plan of the theft required Jacques to come upon the ship three times in the prosecution of his. design during the few days the ship
THE HADJI.
875
was lying in port. He had no business there. His repeated visltg were of themselves suspicious, as the two seamen well understood, and these visits should have been known and observed by some reo sponsible officer of the ship. The habit of admitting friends of the passengers on sailing days on board the ship undoubtedly gives opportunity for thieves to come aboard, but this renders it obligatory to keep reasonable watch of the movements of suspiciouB characters. Had reasonable attention and watch been given at the gangway, it is difficult to see how Jacques, stuffed out, pale, and staggering with 125 pounds of gold in bags about his waist, could have passed unobserved. While the facts in this instance present none of those evidences of gross negligence which were exhibited in the case of King v. Shepherd, 3 Story, 349, 361, I cannot avoid the conclusion that there was a lack, in the partIculars above mentioned, of that reasonable vigilance and caution to prevent theft which the law imposes upon the carrier, notwithstanding the exception of loss by theft or robbery; and a lack of that care also which, by the common understanding, the ship is expected to exercise. This negligence, both before and at the time of the theft, co-operated with it. Without this neglect, I am satisfied the theft would not have been accomplished; and the libelant is therefore entitled to a decree for $22,871.50, with interest from June 1, 1880, and costs.
(Oirouit Court, S. D. New York. 1.
July 1. 1884.)
CoMMON CARRIERS-BILL OF LADING-NEGLTGENCE-RELEASE OF RESPONSIBILITY AGAINST INSURABLE DAMAGE.
If a condition in a bill of lading, relieving the carrier from liability for" any that can be insured against," is to receive an unqualified construction, and be deemed to include a loss arising from the negligence of the carrier, it is obnoxious to public policy, and thercfore void.
2. SAME-PUBLIC POLICY.
Public policy demands that the right of the shipper to absolute security against the ncgligence of the carrier. and of aU persons engaged in plJrforming his duty. shall not be taken away by any arrangement or agreement between the parties to the service.
S. BAME-IMPI,IED RELEASE. The same reasons that forbid the recognition of an express contract between the can:ier and the shipper, exempting the former from liability for his own negligence, forbid a contract between them which is designed to work the same result. That which cannot be done directly, will not be permitted to be done indirectly. L 8AME-THlc OBJECnON DEFINED. The objection t·o a condition releasing the carrier from liability for an insurable damage 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 him to evade' It is better that the carrier