The Panther

AUGUSTUS N. HAND, Circuit Judge.

On December 9, 1933, the steam tug Panther, belonging to the libelant, was proceeding west in Kill Van Kull, bound for the west side of Pier 6, Elizabetliport, to take on coal. At the same time the tug J. W. Branning, with the loaded oil barge Hardy in tow on her starboard side, was proceeding east in the Kill with the tide and bound for Stamford, Conn. The tide was running about two. miles per hour. When the Branning was off the iron dock on her port side of the channel, she saw the Panther ahead just above Buoy S 8, and the Panther blew her a one-blast…