Page:Federal Reporter, 1st Series, Volume 4.djvu/170

 156 FBDEBAL BEFOBTEB. �the Hawaiian îslands, owing to the presence, almost invaria- bly, of coral reefs The fact that this mode of strengthening his ground tackle was resorted to, seems to involve the tacit admission that the cables alone were insuflBcient. �The master himself testifies : "I knew the chainsi,were old and weak, so I attached a hawser to the anchors to strengthen the ohains.". The mate, whose testimony is in some respects more favorable to the libellants than that of the master, says:: "The reason the hawsers were attached to the anchors ■was because the chain cables were -weak." �2. The loBs of the vepsel does not appear to have been caused by any sudden, unforeseen, or irresistible violence of wind or sea. No storm prevailed. It is even doubtful whether the trade winds which caused the vessel to part her cables blew with any unusual violence. �The master, who had been as sailor and master engaged in the inter-island navigation for 30 years, says : "The wind was as usual for that place. Easterly trade winds, moder- ately strong, and the usual long, heavy swell; and the surf on the rocks was not high." And he adds: "If the chains had held, the vessel would have been in no danger. The weather was perfectly safe for anchorage off Honokoa. I have anchored there in much worse weather in saf ety. " �The mate's account of the cause of the disaster is slightly different. He says: "It was occasioned by the wind and weather, which was heavier than usual. The wind was quite high that day; weather bad, sea rough. I have been at that place seven times before ; never saw it so rough before. * * The wind was high, and a heavy swell was setting directly ou shore. The usual wind is more to the east, which sets the Bwell along the shore at this place." �It is apparent from this testimony that though the wit- nesses differ as to whether the wind blew with any unusual strength, yet they both agree in ignoring the existence of any storm or extraordinary violence of the elements which a well- found vessel could not have anticipated and successfuUy en- countered. ����