Franklin Fire Ins. v. Royal Mail Steam Packet Co.

L. HAND, Circuit Judge.

The libelant is an underwriter which, having paid the shipper, sues the carrier upon the bill of lading for damages to a parcel of coffee on a winter voyage from Haitian ports to Antwerp; The coffee was stowed in hold No. 1, just abaft the forepeak, and separated from it by a collision bulkhead. After touch*176ing at St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands, the ship left the Caribbean on January 21st, and on the 22d, being by the stern and meeting heavy weather, she filled the forepeak. The bad weather continued for four days, and three days later, on the 28th, water was…