The Itasca

SPEER, District Judge.

The libel in this cause was brought to recover damages resulting from the sinking of the steam dredge Alabama by the steamship Itasca. The collision occurred in the Savannah river August 16, 1899. The questions involving the liability of the Itasca were submitted to the court, and were determined on the 8th of February of this year, when, on the conclusion of the argument, the following oral opinion was rendered:

“This cause has been argued very exhaustively, and for almost all of two entire daily sessions of the court. I stated in the outset to counsel that I would take…