Canisteo (Propeller), U126360, collision, 14 May 1890

CANISTEO-WALES Collision.
Judge Coxe of the federal court, New York, has rendered a decision in the collision case of the propeller CANISTEO and the tug WALES, in which the latter was sunk by the former, just below White's or Tonawanda island, at Tonawanda, on May 14, 1890. The CANISTEO was coming down on the village side of the island and the Wales was coming down the channel on the Grand island side. The CANISTEO was going to round the lower end of the island and pick up a consort, and signaled to pass on the port or east side of the WALES. But she made too wide a curve and struck the WALES stem on, sinking her almost immediately. judge Coxe, while considering the CANISTEO most to blame, because she did not stop when she found her course was not going to bring her short of the Wales, still thinks that had the WALES put her helm hard a starboard in good time the accident might have been avoided. Her owner saw the need of such a position and tried to prove that it was done, but the judge does not believe the testimony, for the boat was no farther to the westward of the channel when the collision occurred than when the CANISTEO signaled her. He therefore decides that the CANISTEO shall pay the WALES half the damages, which were about $8,000.
      Marine Review
      October 29, 1891
     
     
Steam screw CANISTEO. U. S. No. 126360. Of 595.37 tons gross; 539.39 tons net. Built Mounr Clemens, Mich., 1886. Home port, Suspension Bridge, N.Y. 182.2 x 34.3 x 12.2
      Merchant Vessel List, U. S., 1891