Ennis v. The Maharajah

On the afternoon of September 22,1883, the libelant, while operating a winch on board the steamer Maharajah, lost the thumb and two fingers of his right hand, which were crushed between the cogs of the wheel and the reversing lever. The crank-bar, which let the steam on and off', was turned by a horizontal handle four and one-half inches long, *785the end of which, when turned inwards, came within three indies of the cog-wheel. While turning the handle, the libelant's hand accidentally slipped off, and was caught by the cogs. The libelant seeks to hold the vessel answerable for his injuries, on…