Wilson v. Bessie Whiting

This is an action to recover salvage compensation for services rendered the schooner Bessie Whiting, on the 21st day of December, 1884. On the morning of that day a serious fire broke out at Pratt’s Oil-Works, Williamsburgh, in which several oil-tanks exploded, and burning oil was scattered over the adjacent waters. At this time the schooner Bessie Whiting lay fast to the south side of the pier at the foot of North Eleventh street. She was in charge of her mate, and the lines by which she was fast to the pier were stiff and frozen. The fire involved danger to the shipping in that locality,…