Page:Federal Reporter, 1st Series, Volume 1.djvu/906

 898 FBDEBAL BEPOBTSB. �The steamer left New York for London on the eîghteenth of September, and arrived at London on the third day of Octo- ber. �On the tenth of October, 1878, the master of the Utopia signed and swore to a statement before the receiver of wrecks, in London, which was as foUows : �"On Friday, the sixth day of September, at 5 v. m., the tide at the time being unknown, the weather thick and foggy, and the wind in the south-west blowing a fresh breeze, the sea smooth, the said ship arrived off the south edge of the Grand Bank coast of Newfoundland. The vesael was in charge of deponent, who was on the bridge. T. Swain, first mate, was with deponent on the bridge ; Polsen, third mate, was also on the bridge, attending to the steam-whistle, whioh was kept going about every two minutes; one A. B., seaman, (name unknown,) was on the bow forward, and another A. B., seaman, (name unknown) on the fore bridge, keeping the lookout. The vessel steers by steam from the bridge, the wheel being attended to by the quartermaster. The vessel was steaming about nine knots, the course being west by south, (magnetic.) Deponent and the lookouts simultane- ously observed the sails of a bark, which proved to be the Helios, about right ahead, almost head on. She appeared to be about a quarter of a mile distant. Instantly, put the helm hard a-port and stopped the engines, and then reversed, full speed astern. The Helios was observed to port her helm and then instantly starboarded. Deponent then ordered his helm to be starboarded, which was instantly done, and the vessels were clear of each other. The Helios suddenly again ported her helm, and a collision became inevitable. Doponent's vessel was going full speed astern, but the Helios' port side, a little abaft the fore rigging, fell aeross the Utopia's stem. The Helios stove in her port side and fell over on the port side, a complete wreck," �This statement was dictated by the master, and he in- dorsed on the statement, in his own handwriting, and signed the following additional statement: "That, in my opinion, the cause of the casualty was the Helios improperly star- ��� �