THE STACEY CLARKE.
533
he did; and it was then that the defendants refused to load the vessel under the charter party, informing the master that they had disposed of the cargo which they had prepared for his vessel, owing to her delayed arrival, and that at that time they had no other cargo like that mentioned in the charter party. I do not think that the acts of the agent were such as to justify the master in relying on them as a waiver, when coupled with the declaration made by the agent to him, that owing to his long delay the cargo intended for his vessel had been otherwise disposed of; that he did not know what the charterers were going to do about it, and he must learn from them. The proof fails to show that the defendants received any benefit under the charter party. They, through their agent, advanced $100 to the master, but it does not appear that they have received any commissions or interest on it, or, indeed, that the principal has been repaid. I think the charterers took their objections to the delay within tt reasonable time, and that they can avail themselves of the broken conditions of the contract. 1 Fritch. Adm. Dig. p. 489, par. 185. It follows that the libel must be dismissed, and it is so ordered.
THE STACEY CLARKE. THOMPSON v. THE STACEY CLARKE.
(District Court, S. D. Alabama. May 13, 1892.)
1
SUIPPING-,-AuTHOIUTY OF MASTER-PUNISHMENT OF SEAMEN.
A master may punish a seaman who refuses to do his duty, and may. if the seaman is incorrigible, discharge him, confine him, or deprive him of plivileges; but forfeiture of wages cannot be superadded to corporal punishment, and it is not within the ordinary powers of a master to imprison a !>ailor on shore. Mutiny consists in attempting to deprive the master by violence ot his autbority as such, whether by resisting him in its exercise, or by actual uS\ll'pation of the command. 'When a· seaman sues for discharge and tor damages tor alleged ill treatment, a decl'ee of discharge ends his contract With the vessel, and prevents the allowance of further wages.
2.
SAME-MUTINy-DEFINITION.
S. i::lAME-WAGES AS DAMAGES.
In Admiralty. Libel in rem for wages, and damages for alleged cruelty. Decree for libelant. Smith & Gaynor, for libelant. W. D. McKinstry, for claimant. TOULMIN, District Judge. If a seaman refuses to do his duty, he is liable to punishment by the master, and, if he is incorrigible, the master may discharge him, or correct or confine him, or dock him of his privileges; but he cannot superadd a forfeiture of wages after inflicting corporal punishment, (Desty, Shipp. & Adm. 129; Thorne v.White, 1 Pet. Adm. 168;) and it is not one of the ordinary powers ·of a master to imprison a seaman on shore. But a seaman is bound
534
'FEDERAL REPORTER,
voI.54.
to obediencefl,nd respect of officers; and the master has the right to enforce discipline, and is justified in the use of any necessary means to this end. He may use a deadly weapon when necessary to suppress a mntiny, but only when mutiny exists or is threatened. A revolt or mutiny consists in attempts to usurp the command from the master, or. to deprive him of it for any purpose by violence, or in resisting him in the free and lawful exercise of his authority, the overthrowing of the legal authority of the master, with an intent to remove him against his will, and the like. The evidence fails to satisfy me that there was any revolt or mutiny committed, attempted, or threatened by the libelant on the occasion referred to; but it does satisfy me that he was guilty of disorderly and insubordinate behavior of a very reprehensible character. There was, how· ever, no obstinate or continued misconduct or refusal to do duty, al· though his misconduct was of a highly aggravated character, and deserved the punishment which he received, and which in my judgment was severe, being shot at two or three times with a pistol, and then placed in close and solitary confinement on bread and water for a period of 15 days. I do' not say that under the circumstances this was excessive or immoderate punishment, such as would enti· tIe the libelant to damages; but I do think it is sufficient, without superadding to it a forfeiture of all wages. The government and discipline of the seaman being largely in the discretion of the master, and he having seen proper to correct him in the manner that he has, I do not feel called upon either to punish the master for his acts, by awarding damages against him, or to further punish the libelant, by superadding to the punishment already inflicted a foriei. tore of all wages. I therefore·award libelant one month's wages, less the amount of f5 already received by him. As his term. of service contracted for has not expired, more wages would be awarded him, but that he files his libel before the expiration of one month's service praying for a discharge, and thereby severing his connection and ending his contract with the vessel. The imprisonment on shore in the guardhouse by the master and police officer was in my opinion unlawful, but, as no appreciable damage was done libelant, I consider the amount awarded as wages sufficient to cover this tort, if it be a tort. A decree will therefore be entered for $20.
THE WARRIOR. S H. HARMON LUMBER CO. et aI. v. THE WARRIOR. (Circuit Court of. Appeals, Ninth Circuit. fOWAGE-STRANDING OF
January 30, 189&,)
Where on trial of a libel against a steam for damages caused by the stranding of a schooner upon a bar while in tow of the tug, the e,lde,nce as to the schooner's draft, and the depth of water at the time at stranding is conflicting, a finding by' the <llstrict court that the schooner was in fauit will not be disturbed on appeal
Tow.
No. 57.