The Echo

On December 21, 1880, the libelant’s canal-boat Van Vleet, laden with coal, was lying at the Long Island railroad dock, in Newtown creek, a short distance above the bridge, moored outside of two other canal-boats. At dusk, about 5 p. m. of that day, the weather being clear, the steam-tug Echo was coming down the creek on a course which would carry her about 25 feet outside of the Van Vleet. When she had come within about 30 feet of the stern of the Van Vleet her pilot saw a line stretched across the creek a short distance below the canal-boat, running from a schooner on one side to the…