Morning Courier and New-York Enquirer (New York, NY), 26 Jan 1853

U.S. DISTRICT COURT.--Before Judge BETTS.-- (At sittings in Admiralty.)--Collision on the Mississippi.--John M. Laypayer vs. The Propellor Ontario.--This was a case of libel before the Court of Admiralty to recover for damages sustained by the steamboat Louisville, on the 20th of January, 1851. It appeared that the libelling was a resident of New Orleans, and owned the steamboat in question, and that the defendant owned the propeller Ontario. The Louisville was going down the river, and when near the South West Pass came into collision with the Ontario, whereby the Louisville was seriously injured on the guards, wheel house, bulwarks, &c., and was compelled to forego her intended voyage for which she was chartered at $150 per day, and was laid up for eight days, thereby sustaining a loss of $1200, which, with the cost of her repairs, amounted to $4000. On the part of the libellants it was set up that the Louisville was keeping her own course; that the collision was the fault of the other parties in charge of the Ontario. On the other side it was endeavoured to be shown that the weather was dry hazy at the time of the collision, and that it was the result of accident. Decision reserved.