Page:Federal Reporter, 1st Series, Volume 9.djvu/428

the plimuuth b,ock. 413 �The Plymouth Eock. (Dittriel Court, 8. £>. New Torh. 1881.) �1 BALVAGB— PAS8BNGEK BtBAMEU. �Towage rendered to a vessel that is disatled, and in a situation to occasion reasonable apprehension of danger, is salvage, service. Henoe, where the Ply- mouth Rock, a passenger steamer of light draught and excessive " free board " exposure to the wind, in grade belonging to the class oi river and sound steamers, and rated as A 2)^, became completely helpless as to motive power by the breaking of her steam-pipe within a short distance of the New Jersey coast, in a north-east gale and a heavy sea, and v^ith only two-thirds of the usual equipment in anchors and chains of full sea-going vessela, held, that the service performed intoviring her into the port of New York is a salvage service. �2. SaME— COMPBNSATIOK. �In the language of the court, the most important considerations in fixing such awards are the value of the property rescued, the number of lives imper- illed, the degree and imminence of the danger, the proximity of other means of succor, the hazard, labor, and skill of the salvors, the duration and difflculty of the service rendered, the value of the vessel employed, and her danger in ren- dering it, and the incidental risks or responsibilities incurred by the latter or her owners, if any, through any deviation from her voyage in rendering the service. �In this case $2,000 was adjudged to be a just award, ia vie w ox ali the circum- stances. �In Admiralty. �Butler, Stillman e Huhhard, for libellants. �Sidney Chubb and Wm. W. Goodrich, for claimant. �Bkown, D. J. The libel in this case is filed by the owner, together with the master and crew, of the steam-tug Germania, consisting of seven perspns, to recover the sum of $10,000 for salvage services rendered to the Plymouth Epck, August 17, 1881. The answer admits that towage teervice was rendered, and tenders $300, which it alleges is a reasonable compensation therefor, and denies that the libellants are entitled to any compensation as salvage. �The Plymouth Eock is a side-wheel passenger steamer, originally constructed for navigation upon Long Island sound. Her length is 325 feet, beam 28 teet, tonnage 1,812 tons, — half above and half below, — ^her main deck depth of hold 12 feet, and draught loaded about 9 feet; lier boilers are set upon guards, on a Une with the main deck; above this is the promenade deck, and a hurricane deck above. Some years ago she was withdrawn from the souud, and used as an excursion steamer. In grade she belongs to the flfth class of steamers, — i. e., river and sound steamers, — and in that class ranks as A2|, "very low as a Sound steamer;" net being fitted, either in structure or equipment, for general ocean navigation, nor for the coasting service. Slie lias been consid- ��� �