The Victoria

The libelant was seriously injured by falling down tbe main hatchway of the third deck of the steam-ship Victoria, on his return from supper, just after he had reached that deck by a ladder placed in a smaller hatchway or scuttle, which is alleged to have been so dangerously near the main hatch that it was negligence to leave that hatch open. Whether it is usual to close the hatches on the third deck after the day’s work is done is a disputed question in the ease. The preponderance of the evidence is that it is not usual; and see Dwyer v. Nat. Steamship Co. 17 Blatchf. 472. The libelant had…