Mason v. Carter Packet Co.

While defendant company was loading cotton and cotton seed on its boat from the private warehouse of plaintiff, a match was struck in the warehouse by Stephens, a pilot on the boat, and the contents of the warehouse became ignited and were destroyed by fire.

Plaintiff has brought the present action for damages against defendant company on. the theory that Stephens was the master of the boat at the time and was guilty of negligence in setting out the fire in the warehouse.

The defense to plaintiff’s action is twofold: First, that Stephens was not master, but was pilot of the boat, when the fire…