City of Chicago v. Wisconsin S. S. Co.
Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
Appeal from the District Court of the United States for the Northern District of Illinois. This was a libel in personam by the Wisconsin Steamship Company against the city of Chicago to recover damages for injuries to libelant’s steamer, the Thomas Davidson, then in tow of the tug William Dickinson, by collision with the Indiana Street Bridge, which occurred May 13, 1895, through the alleged negligence of the bridge tender.
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Appeal from the District Court of the United States for the Northern District of Illinois. This was a libel in personam by the Wisconsin Steamship Company against the city of Chicago to recover damages for injuries to libelant’s steamer, the Thomas Davidson, then in tow of the tug William Dickinson, by collision with the Indiana Street Bridge, which occurred May 13, 1895, through the alleged negligence of the bridge tender. The undisputed facts of the case were as follows: The bridge crosses the north branch of the Chicago river from east to west, and rests upon a turntable built upon piles…
1Opinion of the CourtBrown, Circuit Justice
(after stating the facts as above). The material question in this case is whether the bridge, as the tow approached the draw, was in line with the center protection or pier, and was properly locked at its north end. If it were not exactly in line, then the south end probably projected into the draw, and, as there was only a margin of 2-J feet on each side of the steamer, a blow against the south end of the bridge would thrust it to the eastward, with a corresponding movement of the north end to the westward, which would carry it directly over the port quarter of the steamer. Upon the other…
2Cases cited1 opinion
- The Worthington & DavisDistrict Court, E.D. Michigan · 1883
3Cited by1 opinion
- Newtown Creek Towing Co. v. City of New YorkDistrict Court, S.D. New York · 1930