The Sybil: Dangerfield/Opinion of the Court

APPEAL from the Circuit Court of South Carolina. This was a case of civil salvage, in which the district court decreed a moiety of the net proceeds, as salvage, to be distributed in certain proportions among the salvors; which was reversed by the circuit court, on appeal, and one-fourth decreed as salvage, to be divided among the respective salvors, in proportions somewhat different from those ordered by the district court. The cause was submitted to this court, without argument.

MARSHALL, Ch. J., delivered the opinion of the court.

This is a case, in which, under its peculiar circumstances, the amount of salvage is discretionary. In such cases, it is almost impossible, that different minds, contemplating the same subject, should not form different conclusions as to the amount of salvage to be decreed, and the mode of distribution. Appeals should not be encouraged, upon the ground of minute distinctions; nor would this court choose to reverse the decision of a circuit court, in this class of cases, unless it manifestly appeared, that some important error had been committed. In this particular case, the court is well satisfied, both with the amount of salvage decreed by the circuit court, and with the mode of distribution; and the decree is, therefore, affirmed, with costs.

Decree affirmed.

A question afterwards arose, upon a claim of the ship-owners for freight, &c.

February 26th.

JOHNSON, Justice, delivered the opinion of the court.

In this case, the attention of the court has been particularly called to the claim interposed by the ship-owners, for freight and average.

This court, as at present advised, are very well satisfied, that no freight was earned, and that average may have been justly claimed. But in the case then depending, the circuit court could not have awarded either of those demands. The question is inter alios. There was no pretext for claiming either, as against the salvors; and the ship-owners ought to have pursued their rights by libel, or petition by way of libel, against the portion of the proceeds of the cargo which was adjudged to the shippers. These parties were entitled to be heard upon such a claim, and could only be called upon to answer, in that mode. But the ship-owners are not yet too late to pursue their remedy. The proceeds are still in the possession of the law, and may be subjected to any maritime claim or lien in the court below.

Claim rejected.