The Park City

, PL,ATT, District Judge.

On Wednesday, December 23, 1903, and for some time prior thereto, the dredge Empire State had been used by its owner, John P. Randerson, in the work of improving the channel in Bridgeport Harbor. This was going on under a contract with the United States, lawfully entered into by the War Department, and was under the supervision of United States officers, one of whom was on board at the time of the accident soon to be described. The work in hand under the contract was to widen the channel, by removing mud on the eastern side thereof, so as to make an average depth of…