at about 8:14 p.m. 15 december 1916 outbound "powatan" collided with the inbound british ship "telena" southeast of thimble shoal light in the deep channel of the lower chesapeake bay. both ships were damaged with "powatan" beached with ship and cargo a total loss. court findings were that "powatan", in confused signals, had cut across "telena's" course rather than pass port to port with the responsibility for the collision resting entirely with "powatan". on appeal of that decision the fourth circuit court of appeals dismissed the case and found it "unnecessary to add anything to the full and fair discussion" of the case in the lower court.