Page:Federal Reporter, 1st Series, Volume 3.djvu/259

 252 niDSBAii BSPOBTiia. �skesr were destroyeel, and the deok was damaged. If, at the time when it was apparent to the master of the steamer that a collision ■vras inevitable, her speed had been checked and her engines reversed to the extent of their ability, the vio- lenca of the collision wonld have been greatly lessened, and the damage woald have baen slight ; but her engines were not reversed, and on the coutrary were kept in motion after th« collision. �The theory of the steam-boat is that at the time of the col- lision the wittd was blovring moderately from the west north- west, the weather was threatening and it was dark, but ther» vas no difficulty in seeing lights which were preperly set and burning. The persons in command of the boat while she was heading about west south-west saw, by the aid of glasses, a dim, colorless light, not visible to the naked eye, about two points off her port bow, which was supposed to be the binnacle light of a vessel sailing westward, and that this was the only visible light at that time. Immediately upon this diseovery the course of the steamer was changed about two points to the northward, and at the same time the engine was slowed. Instantly the reflection of the steamer's head-light was seen npon the sails of a vessel heading about north north-west, and lying in the wind, or nearly so. At this time the Behooner's men were reefing. The steamer's helm was forth- with put hard a-port, and the engines were reversed and backed, and ail means taken to avoid a collision. While the steamer was headed about west, half north, the bluff of the Bchooner's starboard bow struck the port guard of the steamer between the capstan and the pilot-house. The schooner swung alongside of the steamer, and in this movement several of the arms of the port wheel of the steamer were broken. Thô claimants also allege that no lighted torch was shown by the schooner to the approaching steamer, and that if ono had been shown the collision would not have occurred, and deny that the schooner's lights were properly burning. �The facts which are found to bave been proved are as fol- lows : The wind was about west north-west. Shortly before the collision the schooner had been reefed. For a few miti- ����