Judgment was delivered on Tuesday in the actions resulting from
the recent collision between the ' Olympic' and H.M.S. Hawke.' The Court found that the Olympic' was solely to blame, as the Hawke' was never an overtaking vesseL The vessels were crossing at the time of the collision, and the !Olympic' ought to have given way. The action of the 'Olympic' against Commander Blunt, of the Hawke,' therefore failed. But the action of the Admiralty against the ' Olympic' also failed, as the 'Olympic 'was in charge of a pilot, who relieves the master and officers of a ship of all responsibility under the rules of compulsory pilotage. The evidence on behalf of the officers of the 'Hawke' was certainly more complete and ogical than that for the Olympic.' A considerable im- pression had been made on the public by the evidence of spectators on shore, who described the 'Hawke' as turning almost at right angles into the Olympic.' Presumably these onlookers were mistaken. Such mistakes are very easily understood by those who know how deceptive the courses steered by ships frequently are when seen from an angle and. at a distance.
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