The Ashbourne

DROWN, District Judge.

At about (5:20 p. m. of the 7th of September, 1899, as the tugs Ashbourne and Hadden were pulling the burning ship Buceros away from a wharf on fire in the Erie Basin, she came in contact with the libelant’s canal boats Columbus and Cum*112berland, lying in the same slip, near the exit from the basin. The above libel was filed to recover the damages.

Upon all the evidence submitted, I am of the opinion that the tugs can hardly be found chargeable with negligence as respects the manner of towing the ship out of' the slip after they had once started. There was a strong wind…