Hamilton v. The William Branfoot

This libel is for personal injuries received on shipboard. Libelant was one of a stevedore’s gang employed in discharging pyrites from the British steam-ship William Branfoot. While he and others were working in the lower hold, an iron stanchion supporting the between-decks fell and broke his leg. Amputation became necessary. The leg ivas cut off about six inches below the knee. The stanchion w'as on the starboard side of the main hatchway, midway. It was 18 feet high, and weighed 660 pounds. It rested on an iron tank at the bottom of the hold, and had two flanges at its lower end, through…