Harold S. Brown, Libelant-Appellee v. Universal Marine Company, of the Tug Bayou Barataria, Her Engines, Etc., Cross-Libelant-Appellant

The libelant, Brown, owned a marina on the bank of the Tennessee River near Saltillo, Tennessee, consisting mainly of a houseboat and a cafe mounted on a barge. He filed this libel in rem in admiralty, alleging that the Tug Bayou Barataría, proceeding downstream without a tow was negligently handled so as to create a wave wash and suction, which caused severe damage to libelant’s marina.

The claimant of the Tug filed a cross-libel against Brown, which alleged that the libelant approached the Tug in another vessel and, with malice and force, pointed a shotgun at the Tug, her master and crew,…