139 F. 637 | 8th Cir. | 1905
after stating the case as above, delivered the opinion of the court.
However interesting it might be to follow counsel in their scientific investigations, we think the case may be decided by the application of well-known principles to the facts appearing in the evidence. The policies of insurance were contracts between the parties to this litigation, and must be construed as such. In their interpretation we must give to the words employed therein their ordinary popular signification, unless it appears the parties intended to use them in a different sense. No such intention appears in this case as to the use of the word “fire.” That the wool, submerged
It appears, without contradiction, from the evidence, that there was not at any time any visible heat or light in or about this wool. Wool is an animal fiber, and the necessary result of its submergence in water and mud for the time mentioned would be that it would become heated, and disintegration of the fiber would occur. But, according to the evidence, the internal development of heat never at any time became so rapid as to produce a flame or a glow, and hence, within the meaning of the word “fire,” as used in the policies of insurance, there was no fire.
We think the ruling of the court below was right, and the judgment must be affirmed.