Moran v. The Ciampa Emilia

The libelant sues for $250, the agreed price for towing the ship Ciampa Emilia from New York to Philadelphia, in November, 1888. On the trip the Ciampa was damaged in an amount much beyond the contract price, through the alleged negligence of the libelant’s tug. The answer admits the agreement to pay $250; but it alleges a contract to tow safely, the non-performance and violation of that contract, the consequent damage, and the pendency of a suit in the Eastern district, brought by the claimants against the libelant’s tug in rem, to recover damages much in excess of the price of the towage.…