Abell Forwarding Co. v. United States

The appellant imported and entered, for warehouse, at the port of Buffalo, a considerable quantity of oats and wheat, which was stored, in Government custody, in the Exchange Elevator, a wooden structure, at the Erie Basin. On September 8, 1924, there remained in said elevator, of this grain, 22,425 bushels of oats .and 8,000 bushels of wheat. On that day fire broke out in the elevator, which continued, intermittently, for 10 days, while the fire department of Buffalo was continually attempting to subdue it. The building, 154 feet in height, finally collapsed, and with whatever contents it…