Page:Federal Reporter, 1st Series, Volume 5.djvu/122

 110 FEDESali REPORTER. �"Lat. 39, 30; Long. îl, 25 m., Sept. 13, 1879. �"It ÎB this day agreed between Capt. P. Pfeiffer, of the S. S. Leipsic, and Capt. Gibb, of the S. S. Gresham, to tow the eaid steamer Leipsic to Sandy Hook for the sum of three thousand pounds, (£3,000,) but leave it to the court to prove the Baid agreement. �[Signed] "F. Ppeiffee. �"Thos. Gibb." �The Leipsic was a Bteam-propeller, of about 2,000 tons burthen. She was one of a Une of steamers ruiining between Baltimore and Bremerhaven. She left Baltimore on the fourth of September, 1879, passing Cape Henry on Septem- ber 6th at 4:45 a. m. On the sixth of September that part of her shaft known as the "first transmission shaft" broke. By this accident she was disabled as to her machinery. She was then about 350 miles from New York, which was the near- est port. Her propeller was then disconnected, and she pro- ceeded under sail towards New York, heading about W. N. W. By September 12th, at noon, Bhe had reached a point about 125 miles from Sandy Hook. From that time till noon of the 13th, when the Gresham took her in tow, there was alniost no wind, and she made no headway, but drifted about 20 miles in a north-easterly direction. One day she made, under sail, 50 miles, and other days less than this, down to 10 miles. She was in ail respects, except as to the injury to her machinery, staunch and strong, well-manned, equipped, and provisioned. She had on board a general cargo of merchandise and 12 passengers. On the afternoon of the ninth of Septem- ber she was spoken by the Britiah steamer Gamelot, which offered assistance, but it was declined. When it became calm on the 12th her master determined to call for assistance, if opportunity offered, and he ordered rocket signais to be given on the night of the 12th in case a steamer passed. About noon of the 12th she had spoken a bark bound for the Delaware breakwater, and asked her to report the steamer as being there with a broken shaft. About 3 o'clock in the morning of the 13th a steamer bound to the westward, which it appears prpbable was the Gresham, passed the Leipsic ����