Sewall v. The La Champagne

The above libels grow out of a collision which occurred a little after 5 o’clock of the morning of tlie 25th of February, 1889, in the Atlantic ocean, about 25 miles south of Shinnecock light, between the French steamer La Champagne, and the three-masted schooner Belle Higgins. The stem of the steamer struck the schooner on her starboard side forward of the forerigging, and cut off the starboard bow, so that she filled in a few minutes. Being loaded with lumber, the schooner did not sink; and was left adrift until a tug was sent by the steamer to her assistance, by her master’s request, as…