Edwin I. Morrison Bradley Fertilizer Company v. Lavender

by Melvin Fuller

United States Supreme Court

153 U.S. 199

Edwin I. Morrison Bradley Fertilizer Company  v.  Lavender

This was a libel by the Bradley Fertilizer Company against the schooner Edwn I. Morrison for damages to cargo. The district court rendered a decree in favor of libelant. to the circuit court, the decree was reversed, and the libel dismissed. 40 Fed. 501. The cause is now brought by appeal to this court.

This was a libel filed by the Bradley Fertilizer Company in the district court of the United States for the southern district of New York against the schooner Edwin I. Morrison to recover for the damage done to a cargo of guano by sea water taken aboard on January 10, 1884, on her voyage from Weymouth, Mass., to Savannah, Ga. The libel set up the charter, the loading, the bills of lading, the sailing from Weymouth, the arrival at Savannah, and the delivery of the cargo in a damaged condition; and also alleged that the schooner, when she left Weymouth and before, 'was not tight, stanch, strong, and every was fitted for said voyage as agreed;' 'and that the cap was gone from off the bilge-pump hole on the port side of said schooner, or was then so loosely, insecurely, and negligently fastened and screwed that the same worked and came off without any danger of the sea intervening, whereby said vessel was unseaworthy and unfit for said voyage, or, after leaving port, said cap was ren oved, and not properly and securely replaced and screwed down, or was negligently and improperly loosened and left insecure by those in charge of said schooner, so that by the unseaworthiness of said schooner, or by the negligence and improper navigation of those in charge of her, said cap came off from said pump hole without any danger of the sea,' and that about seven feet of water was admitted through it into the hold and upon the cargo.

The answer admitted the charter, shipment, bills of lading, sailing, arrival, and delivery of the cargo in a damaged condition, and in excuse thereof alleged: 'That on said voyage the said vessel encountered very rough and tempestuous weather, in consequence of which she shipped large quantities of water, and was greatly damaged by the seas, and it was found on the arrival of the said vessel at Savannah that her said cargo, or a portion thereof, was damaged by the said perils of the seas encountered on the said voyage, or from causes excepted in the said contract or contracts of affreightment.'

The district court found that nine-tenths of the damage to the cargo was occasioned by sea water taken in through the bilge-pump hole on the port side, and that the vessel was not seaworthy in respect of the proper security of this port cap and plate, and rendered a decree in favor of libelant. The opinion is reported in 27 Fed. 136.

The schooner sailed on the 5th of January, and, according to the log, on the afternoon of January 9 met a very strong gale and heavy seas, and shipped great quantities of water. The log of January 10 read as follows:

'This day begins with a strong westerly gale and sea still running very high. At 8 a. m., set two-reefed foresail; set storm-try-sail, and hove vessel to, heading about south; find that the vessel is making water faster than we can pump it out with both pumps, the men not being able to work at pumping steadily because of heavy seas sweeping her decks.

'(Note. The words in italics are inserted on margin of log in lead pencil.)

'Sounded pumps and find that she has 7 ft. of water in the hold.

'(Note. The figure 7 is written over an erasure.)

'Cut the boat lashings and got all ready to leave the vessel, when found that the cap had washed off the bilge-pump hole on the port side; nailed a piece of sheet lead over it, and started both pumps agoing; pumped two hours, and sound again, and find that we are freeing her very rapidly. So ends this day. No latitude; no longitude.'

The bilge-pump hole referred to in the above extract was a hole in the port side in the waterway, a short distance only in front of the poop, and ran down through the waterway between the ceiling and the skin of the ship. It was from three to four inches in diameter, and covered by a brass plate about four inches square, countersunk into the timber, through which was a hole, covered by a brass cap, which screwed into the plate, and the plate was fastened into the waterway by screws. There was a similar hole on the starboard side. The district judge was of opinion that these holes, which had never been used, were dangerous unless the caps and plates to cover them were kept perfectly tight and secure; that 'the obligation to keep watch of their condition was as stringent as the danger from weakness in them was extreme;' and that there was no satisfactory evidence that there had been more than a casual examination of them since the schooner was built, some 11 years previous.

The theory of the defense was that the plate and cap were perfectly tight, but that, through the many seas taken aboard, they were knocked off by accident or by some blow from floating articles. The district judge held that this was possible, but, for reasons which he gave, that its probability was exceedingly small; and that, even if it could be supposed that the plate had been knocked off through the blow of some object washed across the deck, it would still be incumbent on the claimant to show that the cap and plate were so made and fastened as not to be knocked off by ordinary collisions of that kind, which had not been done; that, while there could be scarcely any doubt that the cap and plate were carried off through the action of the sea, yet that the evidence indicated clearly that this was done before the vessel was subjected to any extraordinary conditions, aside from her deep loading, and that there was no indication of any such violence about the woodwork in that quarter as would be necessary to knock away such a cap, if properly secured; and that the only reasonable conclusion was that, after 11 years' service, the fastenings had become weak, and that the plate had been carried away from that cause, and not from any extraordinary contingencies.

The case having been taken to the circuit court, the testimony of one Candage, an expert, was given to the effect that these bilgepump plates in the waterways were regarded as permanent fixtures, not requiring to be removed for examination; that, by taking hold of the cap, one could judge of the firmness of the plate; that he had sometimes unscrewed the cap, but usually could judge of condition by the eye; that, by unscrewing, one could judge of the condition of the wood slightly better; that he never thought it necessary to unscrew the plate. which, if done frequently, would have a tendency to weaken the fastenings; that if the plate of the Morrison had been there for 10 or 11 years, and never removed, and had been painted over from time to time with the ways, no examination was necessary other than by the eye; that he would say, as matter of opinion, there would be no gradual weakening of the fastenings of the plate; that, upon the details stated in a hypothetical question, it was his opinion that the loss of the bilgepump plate was attributable to the fact that some hard substance had been dashed against it by the force of the waves and the rolling of the vessel, though the force of the water alone could not have ripped it out and carried it away. The circuit judge was of opinion (40 Fed. 501) that 'the vessel was not originally unseaworthy because she had bilge-pump holes covered as these were. The presumption of continuing seaworthiness in respect to this part of the ship is not rebutted by the single fact that no special test was made as to their condition, in view of the testimony (especially that taken in this court) as to what is the usual examination given to such structures.' And he concluded that the inference to be drawn from the testimony was 'that there was no defect, patent or latent; that the fastenings were sufficient, and were knocked out by a blow such as could not reasonably have been anticipated, and which was caused by a danger of the sea.'

The circuit court made its findings of fact and conclusions of law, which are given in the margin ^[1] (and to which, in whole or in part, and to certain refusals to find, libelant filed 27 exceptions), and rendered a decree reversing the decree of the district court and dismissing the libel, with costs, whereupon the cause was brought by appeal to this court.

George A. Black, for appellant.

Geo. Bethune Adams, for appellees.

I. The findings of the Ciruit court are conclusive as to the facts.

[Argument of Counsel from pages 207-209 intentionally omitted]

Mr. Chief Justice FULLER, after stating the facts in the foregoing language, delivered the opinion of the court.

Notes

1. '1. The schooner Edwin I. Morrison, owned by the claimants, was chartered on December 19, 1883, by a written charter party, to the libelant for a voyage from Weymouth, Mass., to Savannah, Ga., to carry a complete cargo of guano in bags and (or) in bulk for a price agreed upon.

'2. By the charter party it was agreed on the part of the vessel that she 'should be tight, stanch, strong, and every way fitted for such a voyage,' and 'the dangers of the sea (were) mutually excepted.'

'3. Under this charter there was loaded on board said schooner by the libelant a cargo of guano, superphospate, and other fertilizers, viz. 343 1680-2240 tons in bulk and 410 35-61 tons in bags, besides 3,925 empty bags and sacks. Six bills of lading were given therefor, which acknowledged the receipt of said cargo in good order and condition, and agreed to deliver the same in like good order and condition at Savannah, the dangers of the sea only excepted. The bulk cargo was stowed between decks, and the remainder in the lower hold.

'4. The cargo was what is known as a 'dead cargo,' and a hard one for a vessel to carry in severe weather.

'5. The vessel was not overloaded. She was accustomed to and able to carry that amount of cargo of the same character at that season.

'6. The vessel was built in 1873; had three masts; was about 155 feet long over all, carrying spanker, mainsail, foresail, forestaysail, jib, flying

jib, outer jib, foretopsail, maintopsail, and mizzen topsail. She was properly manned and equipped. Her officers and crew consisted of a master, first mate, second mate, steward, and four sailors. On this voyage she had two passengers on board, viz. the master's wife and a lady friend.

'7. On the port side of the vessel, in the waterway, and close to the bulwark, there was a hole about three inches in diameter, made when she was built, for the purpose of introducing a hose pipe into her bilges, to free her of any water accumulated there. The waterway (of yellow pine) was about three and a half inches above the deck. The hole was a short distance in front of the poop and ran down through the waterway, between the ceiling and the skin of plate about four inches square, countersunk plate about four inches square, countersunk into the timber flush with the top of the waterway, and fastened by four brass screws. In the brass plate was a removable cap, also of brass, intended to be unscrewed from the plate when the hole was to be used, but it had not, in fact, been used for four or five years (if, indeed, at all), and was painted over whenever the waterway was painted. The removable cap projected about three-eighths of an inch above the surface of the plate, the edges being beveled so as to leave not more than an eighth of an inch of perpendicular surface. There was a similar plate and cap on the starboard side of the vessel, but somewhat further aft, and upon the poop deck.

'8. Such bilge-pump holes are not unusual in vessels constructed in some localities. The plates are generally considered permanent fixtures, not peculiarly susceptible to deterioration from age. Verdigris sometimes forms around brass screws, thus weakening the hold of the wood; but waterways located as this was, well covered up and well painted, are not liable to rot, and their reasonable expectation of sound life is largely in excess of twelve years.

'If the plates and caps which are generally used to cover such holes are not kept tight and secure, the holes become dangerous; but that mode of covering was generally deemed secure by seafaring men, and seldom, if ever, have any accidents arisen from their use.

'9. The bilge-pump hole, heretofore described as located in the waterway, was opposite a port in the bulwarks of the vessel. The opening of the port was about a foot square, beginning about two inches from the bulkhead of the poop deck. The poop deck was about four and a half feet above the main deck, and extended from just about the mainmast to the stern.

'10. Said bilge-pump plate was in plain view, upon a casual inspection, at the time of making the charter and loading the vessel. The vessel was loaded several times before this voyage by the libelant.

'11. Before the vessel sailed, the cap and plate appeared to be in good order, with no indication of looseness. The examination which was at that time made of them

consisted of such inspection as could be given by the eye, and to such an inspection they were from time to time subjected. They were not tested either by unscrewing the cap or the plate or by tapping the plate with a hammer. Tapping with a hammer or unscrewing the cap might have developed any insecurity (if there were any) in the bilge-pump plate. Immediately after the loss of the port bilge-plate (hereafter described), the mate tested the condition of the similar plate on the poop deck, starboard side, by tapping with a hammer, and found it apparently sound.

'12. The examination which was made of the cap and plate, as set forth in the eleventh finding (viz. by a survey without the use of special tests, unless there is some appearance of defect), is such as a reasonably prudent master or owner might be expected to give them in order to determine the seaworthiness of his vessel before beginning a voyage.

'13. The voyage began the 5th day of January, 1884, and the vessel actually got to sea on the 7th, when she encountered a strong northwest gale. The light sails were furled and the mainsail and foresail double-reefed. The gale caused her to labor heavily, and ship large quantities of water, some of which entered the cabin and reached the cargo. The vessel was driven out of her course and into the Gulf Stream. The gale moderated somewhat the latter part of the day, but the vessel still continued to roll heavily and shipped plenty of water. The pumps were attended to, and the vessel was found to be making considerable water. The next day the gale continued, with a very heavy sea running, until about 4 p. m., when it moderated, and at 6 p. m. topsails were set. The latter part of the day there was a strong breeze, and two reefs were made in the spanker. The vessel made little water this day. The next day (the 9th) began with a strong southeast breeze, which freshened to a strong gale. Two reefs were made in main and foresails. At 4 p. m. the spanker and jib were furled. The middle part of the day there was a very sharp gale and heavy sea running. The vessel labored heavily, and shipped great quantities of water. The pumps were carefully attended to, and she was found to be making considerable water. The latter part of the day the wind was still increasing, and the foresail and the forestaysail were furled. It was then blowing a 'living' gale from the westward. The weather through the night continued to be extremely severe; there was a 'terrific gale of wind.' Planks were carried away from the bulwarks of the starboard side of the vessel; also one of the ports; the waterway on starboard side was started off. The covers of the chain locker and a spar were found loose in the morning, floating in the waist of the vessel on both sides. Coal washed about decks; also, buckets and bucket racks; also, pieces of bulwark. The forecastle door and galley door were washed off, but were not lost. The men could not stand at pumps on main deck because it was continually swept by the seas, and it was with

difficulty that they were able to work at the pump on the poop deck, which was about four and a half feet higher than the main deck, on account of the sea breaking over. Before midnight the vessel was hove to under a storm trysail, two-reefed foresail, and forestaysail on the port tack. The vessel was shipping water through the cabin windows, doors, and down the booby hatch. The cabin was situated in the after part of the poop deck. The top of the cabin house was about three and a half feet above the deck. They commenced to take water in the cabin while eating supper, and all through the night it forced its way in. This was unusual, and indicated very bad weather and a rough sea. Everything in the cabin was drenched, excepting the berths, with water washing around the cabin with motion of vessel. Water reached the cargo during the night through the cabin, a strained waterway, and otherwise. The pumps were tried every two hours, and by four o'clock Thursday morning it was discovered, by the pumps bringing up guano with the water, that the cargo was wet. The master of the vessel did not go to bed during the night, but was mostly on deck. Previous to 4:30 o'clock in the morning they were able to get a suck on the pumps, indicating that there was no water then in the well, but after that they were unable to do so. At this time the weather was very bad, a very bad sea flooding the decks continually, and washing everything movable about. About five o'clock they sounded, and found eighteen inches of water in the well. In about half an hour afterwards they wore ship, putting the vessel before the wind, so that the men could stand at the pumps. This gave the vessel a list to port. The only outlets on the port side for the seas that came aboard were the open port above mentioned and the scuppers. They continued pumping, but still were unable to get a suck, and at nine o'clock soundings showed about seven feet of water in the vessel. Preparations were then made to abandon the vessel, as she was supposed to be sinking. The lashings of the boat on the poop deck were cut, and the women on board came up from the cabin to take the boat. Between ten and eleven o'clock they wore ship, and the vessel slowly righted up, the booms swinging from the port to the starboard side, bringing the port side out of the water. The vessel was then working heavily in the sea, losing steerageway, and settling fast. When the vessel righted up and rolled her lee side out of water, the second mate, who, with others fastened with lines to prevent them from being washed away, was working at the pump on the main deck, heard a heavy gurgling sound, and let go the pump and went over to the port side, put his hand against the rail, and looked down under it to where the bilge-pump plate was, and saw a hole large enough to put his hand in. He ran his hand and arm down the hole, and sung out to the captain, 'Look here!' Being greatly excited and not looking for such a thing, he hardly realized what the trouble was. The captain came and

said, 'My God, this is the bilge pump.' It was found that the whole bilgepump plate, with the screws, was gone.

'14. The wood to which the plate had been fastened looked white and sound. From the holes out of which the screws had come part of the clear wood was itself hauled, the splinters hanging around the edges of the holes, the holes thus presenting a ragged look. The screw holes were not smooth nor black nor rusty. The wood of this particular waterway in the vicinity of the plate did not look rotten, and when after arrival at Savannah the temporary plugging referred to in the seventeenth finding was removed, and the hole plugged and covered with sheet lead, the timber into which the plug was driven and on which the lead was nailed was found solid, and since that time the covering had not been further repaired nor the timber changed in any way.

'15. No marks of violence other than the splintering of the wood about the screw holes were visible upon the waterway or upon the adjacent bulwarks or stanchions.

'16. As no one witnessed the removal of the bilge-pump plate, direct evidence of the cause of this mishap is not obtainable. It is, however, to be inferred from the facts proved that it was knocked out by something striking violently against it subsequently to the time when they wore ship after finding eighteen inches of water in the well, which would be between 5 a. m. and 5.30 a. m.

'17. The hole was at once plugged up, covered with canvas, and sheet lead nailed over the canvas.

'18. At this time the wind had abated somewhat. The vessel's wheel was tied hard up, and the sails trimmed so that she would lie to, and the crew went to work pumping again, and gained on the water. By eleven or twelve o'clock that night they succeeded in getting her free of water, so far as the pumps could do so, and the journey was continued.

'19. Afterwards it was found that the mainmast had been loosened by the working of the vessel, and that the coating was broken; also, that a scupper on the starboard side was broken.

'20. The weather continued severe during almost the entire voyage, and the injury to cargo was increased thereby.

'21. The vessel arrived in Savannah, January 27th.

'22. Upon the arrival she delivered her cargo, some of it in a damaged condition. The extent of the damage was $9,175.40.

'23. At the time of the contract and lading of cargo and commencement of voyage the vessel was tight, stanch, and strong, and in every way fitted for the contemplated voyage.

'24. There was no latent defect in the vessel which contributed to the injury to the cargo.

'25. There was no fault or negligence in the navigation of the vessel or care of the cargo.

'26. The whole of said damage to cargo was caused by a danger of the seas, and was within the exception in charter party and bills of lading.

'Conclusions of Law.

'First. The damage is to be attributed to the dangers of the seas, and not to the fault of the vessel.

'Second. The decree of the district court is reversed, and the libel dismissed, with costs of both courts.'