The Samson

1. This action is the result of a collision between the steamship Henderson and a barge loaded with stone in tow of the tugboat Samson on the Columbia river on July 22, 1911, at about 1:40 a. m.

The Henderson was a stern-wheel river steamer 158 feet long with a beam of 31.6 feet. At the time of the accident, she was proceeding up the river at a speed of about three or four miles an hour, and was towing a steel oil barge, known as barge No. 93, owned by the Standard Oil Company. The oil barge was 300 feet long, with a beam of 34 feet. The Henderson was lashed to the port quarter of the oil barge in such manner that she extended along the port side of the barge a distance of about 100 feet; the stem of the Henderson being slightly inclined toward the side of the oil barge.- The barge had no motive power of her own; but the pilot who was in command of both vessels was stationed on the oil barge, and the steering of both vessels was directed by him from the deck of the oil barge.

The Samson was a sea-going tugboat about 110.4 feet long with a beam of 25.4 feet. She was proceeding down the river at a speed of *346 about seven miles an hour, and was towing three barges (Nos. 8, 9 and…