The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-08-10
SHIPPING LIVE STOCK.
Cruel Tortures Suffered by Animals
on Board Ships While in
Transit.
The Subject Recently Revived by
the Publication Of Plim-
soils Pamphlet.
Prohibit Landing Live Cattle
Beef Trade.


Prohibit Landing Live Cattle
Beef Trade.
LONDON. July GA great deal of interest
has already been excited in this country by
Mr.. Samuel Plimsoll's new article on cattle
ships. ard when the public generally come
to read his revelations of cruelties, which
are disgrace to the civilization OF the
nineteenth century, there is certain to be
loud outcry for the prevention OF such
outraees upon dumb creatures. with
much that Mr.. Plimsoll has to tell
us the people of New York have
been made familiar through the columns OF
the Press, a newspaper of that city, from
which numerous quotations appear in the
pamphlet Having myself received private
information from passenger in cattle
shin confirming many OF the horrible de-
tails given in Mr.. Plimsoll's publication, l
believe they are simple facts, and there is
very little, if any, e1aggeration in the
description of them. l propose to state
briefly the conclusions to be derived from
the evidence which Mr.. Plimsoll has given,
aided as it is by illustrations taken from
photographs, because they are likely TO
reason come within the scope of topics APP
propriate to financial journal. And if I
state the conclusion badly, it must not be
supposed that they are SO stated in the
pamphlet; for, on the contrary, very com
plete evidence is given in support of every
one of them.
!. Cattle are commonly packed 80 close
" that they have not room to lie down;
therefore, even in fair weather they must
suffer severely in being kept standing for
fortnight Or more. Bearing in mind the
heavy, it is clear that gross cruelty is in
yolyed in such a method Of shipping them.
2, In rough weather the sufferings of the
cattle are terrible. as they are thrown down
by wholesale when the vessel pitches, and
the most horrible manner. Moreover, az
the hatchways have to be closed when the
sea is rough, the animals between decks are
slowly stifed, and as they struggle for their
lives they mutilate each other to a fearful
extent.
3. No matter how terribly mutilated a
beast is, OF how improbable is its recovery,
it is never put out of its misery, because, If
not left to die a natural DEATH" its insur
ance money would be forfeited. Therefore
the wretched beast is left to die in slow
/. knowing that if a beast sinks down
from exhaustion it is liable to be trampled
to death by its companions. the attendants
upon the cattle resort to the most cruel ex-
pedients for keeping the animals on their
legs. such as beating them with sticks,
parafiine oil into their ears.
5. The common plan OF loading the mp
per deck with cattle, and covering it with
the shedding necessary to shelter them is
highly dangerous to the lives of sailors, be-
and always almost unmanageable in q
storm. Another result is that the boats
are shifted out of their proper positions,
and are often SO placed that they could not
be got at in time in the event of sudden
wreck. such as occurs sometimes when one
vessel is run into by another.
6. The losses of cattle through the
scandalous system of overlooking vessels
are often very heavy, and many cargoes are
!. The meat OF cattle killed on the
American side Of the Atlantic and sent to
England in refrigerating chambers is bet
ter than that sent over in suffering con-
dition.
8. The only substantial reason for send
ing the beasts over alive is that English
butchers will give higher prices for them
animals are slaughtered in England their
meat can be sold as prime English" or
'.best Scotch" Therefore there is no rea-
son. from a consumers point of view, for
continuing the transatlantic live stock
"
butchers to deceive and defraud their Gus
toners.
8. II, as is probable. it would not pay to
bring beef cattle over under humane con-
ditions, such as are observed when valuable
pedigree animals are shipped, they should
not be brought alive at all.
Mr.. Plimsoll has secured the introduction
of clause in the merchant shipping act
amendment (No. p bill, prohibiting the
landing Of live cattle at any part of the
United Kingdom. from any port or place
west of the 10Th parallel of west longitude.
There is no chance of the bill being dis
cussed before the separation of parliament
fear, but ] have suggested in influential
quarters the appointment of select COM
mittee to inquire into the subject during
the recess, and there is no reason why this
plan should not be adopted.
This is rather curious turn for affairs to
take Just at a time when the government Of
the United States are making strong repre-
sensations to the British government with
view to getting the port slaughter restric-
have free ineress to this country. One OBJ
jeot of these representations is to open the
way for American store cattle. Apart, how
ever, from all questions of disease, hope
that this object will never be attained
il the comparatively fat beasts will not pay
to send here except under conditions in.
volyinR torture always, and frequently mu-
tilation, agony and DEATH what would ba
the conditions under which cheap store cat
tie would be shipped? Man has no right to
torture the brutes over which he has power,
and all humane people should do their ut
most to stop the barbarous transatlantic
cattle traffic.
Why should Americans want to send us
store cattle? They have the cheap maize
and other food with which to fatten the
animals, and can produce beef much more
cheaply than we can on this side. Lee
them send us all the beef they like, and W,
can consume it. They have been sendin,
pretty freely this year, and rejoice to Sc,
the carcass trade succeed. But let us hav
an end first to the live cattle traffic, unles
it can be carried on under altogether differ
ent conditions from those prevailing a
present. WILLIAM E, BEAR.
T.. c. Power & Co. selling their mammot
stock of vehicles at greatly reduced prices
The jackson Street improvements.
The most noticeable improvement i
the streets of Helena this season is Ii
widening of jackson street from Gran
~k~ 80 SrxvxI Al.