Cudworth v. Panamanian Motorship The St. Cuthbert

HOFFMAN, District Judge.

This is an action in admiralty by the master and members of the crew of a tug against the Panamanian motorship St. Cuthbert, in rem, and its owner, in personam, asserting salvage claims alleged to have been occasioned by a fire at the dock of the West India Fruit and Steamship Company, Norfolk, Virginia, where the vessel was moored. Libellants assert that, by reason of their prompt action, the vessel and its valuable cargo of bananas were saved. Libellants were attending a meeting at a local hotel when they noted the fire and went to the scene. Respondents posted…