Page:Federal Reporter, 1st Series, Volume 9.djvu/859

 844 FEDETIAL EEPORTEB, �at a distance from it variously estimated in the testimony from a quarter of a mile to a mile. Shortly before, the Bohooner Aiexaudria, also bound down the river, had come to anchor at a point a little below the Repplier, and from 100 to 200 yards nearer to the southerly shore. The night was dark, but neither foggy nor thick. The Eepplier had on board the captain, a mate, and a colored lad acting as stew- ard. No watch was kept during the night, but before going to bed they set the usual light in the fore-rigging, about eight f eet above deck, and the Alexandria had a similar light. �The Isaac Bell belongs to the Old Dominion line of steamships, running from Richmond to New York. On that evening she came down the river upon one of her regular trips, and, some time before reaching the White Shoal light, sighted the light of the Alexandria, as well as the White Shoal light. She proceeded in her usual course, S. E. by E., keeping the light of the Alexandria a little off her starboard bow. As she approached this light her wheel was put to starboard, and a few moments afterwards she ran upon the Eep- plier, her paddle-box upon the port side, carrying away the bowsprit and rigging of the schooner, sweeping along her side, and causing such injury that in a few hours afterwards she sank. No light was seen upon the Repplier, prior to this collision, by those on board the Isaac Bell. The pilot and wheelsman were in the pilot-house at the time, and the lookout at the bow. They all testify that no light was visible upon the Eepplier, and that she was not perceived at all until just before the collision, shortly after veering to port to avoid the Alexandria. No person was awake on board the Alexandria or the Eepplier at the time of the collision, unless the testimony of the col- ored lad, that he was on deck at the time, is to be credited. �A few hours before, at about 11 o'clock at night, the steamer Norfolk, of the Clyde line, had also gone down the river upon one of her regular trips, and nearly in the same traok. Her captain testi- fied that his course is usually somewhat nearer to the White Shoal light than that of the Isaac Bell, and that he saw the light of the Alexandria ; that he passed from 40 to 50 yards inside of the Eep- plier, and near enough to distingiiish her, and that she had no light then burning; that he "took particular notice, and if there had beeu a light he would certainly have seen it." The pilot, the quartermas- ter who was at the wheel, and the lookout of the Isaac Bell, all of whom were obviously attending to their duties at the time, testify to the same thing. They saw the light of the Alexandria long before. She was properly avoided, and there is no reason to suppose if the ��� �