Hanson v. Haywood Bros.

SEAMAN, Circuit Judge (after stating the facts). The propositions ■on which the libel rests, and as well the decree, are threefold: (1) that the master was negligent per se in proceeding upon the voyage without consulting the reports of the weather bureau, when the warning signal was observed; (2) that such negligence was the proximate cause of the cargo loss; and (3) that the vessel and her owners were chargeable with liability for the assumed negligence of the master. Unless each of these contentions is tenable, the decree cannot be upheld,' and the primary question for solution, in any view of the master’s failure either to inform himself of the weather bureau advices or to delay prosecution of the voyage thereupon, is whether liability for loss of the deck load can be thus predicated. Exemption from such liability is claimed under the provisions of the act of February 13, 1893, c. 105, known as the “Harter Act” (27 Stat. 445 [3 U. S. Comp. St. 1901, p. 2946]), of which section 3 reads: “That if the owner of any vessel transporting merchandise or property to -or from any port in the United States of America shall exercise due diligence to make the said vessel in all..resppcts seaworthy and properly manned, equipped, and supplied, neither' the vessel, her owner or owners, agent or charterers, shall become or be held responsible for damage or loss; resulting from faults or errors in navigation or in the management of said vessel, nor shall the vessel, her owner or owners, charterers, agent, or master be held liable for losses arising from dangers of the sea or other navigable waters, acts of God, or public enemies, or the inherent defect, quality, or vice of the thing carried, or from insufficiency of package, or seizure under legal process, or for loss resulting from any act or omission of the shipper or owner of the goods, his -agent or representative, or from saving or attempting to save life or property at sea, or from any deviation in rendering such service.” It is undisputed that the schooner was “in all respects seaworthy and properly manned, equipped and supplied,” so that due diligence was exercised upon the part of the owners for carriage of the cargo. The departure from Charlevoix on the voyage to Chicago was an exercise of the master’s prerogative in the management and navigation of the vessel, and we are of opinion that it was plainly within the té.rms and intent of the foregoing limitation of liability for faults or errors therein. Assuming (without deciding) that it was the duty of the master, not only to ascertain the full import of the reports at the signal station, but to rely upon such general warnings, rather'-, than his own observations and judgment, and discontinue his .voyage— when it was his belief that the signal as displayed meant favorable wind without serious danger — such obligation on his part was ! due alike to vessel and cargo. Under the express terms of the statute, the assumed fault in prosecuting the voyage is not attributable tol the seaworthy vessel or her owners, as it relates alone to the management and navigation of the vessel. The Silvia, 171 U. S. 462, 466, 19 Sup. Ct. 7, 43 L. Ed. 241; The Wildcraft, 130 Fed. 521, 65 C. C. A. 145, affirmed 201 U. S. 378, 26 Sup. Ct. 467, 50 L. Ed. 794; The Etona, 71 Fed. 895, 18 C. C. A. 380; The Guadeloupe (D. C.) 92 Fed. 670. The numerous decisions cited in support of the decree are plainly jdis-tinguishable, having reference to the lading and care of the cargo, apart from the navigation, and are inapplicable to the negligence alleged in this libel. The master has entire charge of the navigation [403] of the vessel, which includes the time and manner of leaving port, equally with the course of sailing and the sail to be carried, ¿o the contention that the voyage commenced at Charlevoix, and not East Jordan, on Pine Lake, the port of lading, if true under the conceded facts, is without force. The decree of the District Court is reversed accordingly, with direction to dismiss the libel.