Nelson v. Robin Line S. S. Co.

Appellant, while employed by the Long View Stevedoring Company which was engaged in loading the Robin Gray owned by the Robin Line Steamship Company, was injured by being struck by a heavy timber which was being taken aboard. He filed this libel against the Robin Gray to recover damages for the injuries thus received. The accident occurred on February 2, 1928, at 10 p. m. Libelant attributes his injury to a defective winch which was being used in *431 loading timber. The timber which struck the appellant was about 40 feet long and 12" by 12". A sling was put around the timber about 15 feet from one end. The timber was swung aboard by two lines operating from the ends of two swinging booms. Each line was attached to the sling, passed through blocks at the upper and lower end of a boom and thence around a winch. These two winches were operated by the same winchman who stood with his back to the winches as he brought the timber aboard and lowered it into the hold. He operated the throttle of one winch with his right hand and the other with his left hand. The timber in question had been lowered into the ’tween decks hold, and landed upon a block lying on the deck. In order to unhook…