Page:Federal Reporter, 1st Series, Volume 9.djvu/862

 THE ISAAO BEIiL. 847 �the river, might easily be very inaecura,te, and would be liable to much variation in the estimate of direction. �The -watchi of Tapley, the lookout on the Isaac Bell, began atJ o'clock, when he came on deck some time previous to the steamer reaching the White Shoal light, and he saw the collision. Walthall, the pilot, testifies that he noted the time of passing the White Shoal light at eight minutes past 2, and that the collision was some two or three minutes after that. The steamer was going from eight to ten miles an bonr, and, taking the lowest estimate of speed and time, the collision, according to Walthall's testimony, must have been about 1,400 feet, or about a quarter of a mile below the light ; and this point would still be further up the stream than the point indicated by tho compass bearings as given by the libel and by the libellants witnesses. These statements on both sides, in ways wholly independent, corrob- orate each other, and tend to show that the place of anchorage was considerably below the light, and in this direction a given distance from the light would bring the place of anchorage much nearer the steamer's track than the same. distance directly abreast of the light. lu the direction indicated by the compass bearings, as sworn to, a depth of 15 feet only would be found at not less than a mile distant from the light, and no one but the captain of the Alexandria gives any such estimate of distance. �The mate of the Eepplier testifies that he hove the lead, and found the depth of water was two and a half fathoms. He says he did this after the vessel had anchored; that he hove it but once; that he had no particular purpose in doing so, and that he told no one at the time of the depth; but as the Eepplier, with her center-board down, drew 15 feet of water, it is hardly probable that the schooner went upon shoal water until she strack bottom. Nor does the captain claim that; he only says that he could not have gone in much further, and it was then low water. The captain of the Alexandria, who was from 100 to 200 yards di&tant, and about one length further down the stream, testified that he anchored in two and a half fathoms of water, but does not state whether he hove the lead, or whether this was merely his estimate of the depth ; and if that was the true depth where the Alexandria anchored, the depth of water from 100 to 200 yards nearer the light must have been somewhat greater. As the heav- ing of the lead by the mate was without any special object, and as no action was based upon it, it can only be regarded as a casual observa- tion, at best, and not to be relied on for perfeet accuracy. ��� �