Griffin v. The Mariel

This is a libel by the owner of the canal-boat Iceland against the steam-tug Mariel, the steam-barge Butters, the tug Welcome, and the canal-boat Messenger, for damages to the Iceland occasioned by a collision between the Iceland and Messenger, near Stilson’s slip in the Chicago river, about a half mile below where the Illinois & Michigan canal joins the South branch of the river.

There is less conflicting and contradictory testimony than is usual in collision eases; and it appears without dispute that oil the evening of June 24, 1886, the Mariel entered the South branch of the Chicago river,…