New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-27
SAMUEL PLIMSOLLS VISIT.
THE WELLKNOWN ENGLIsFMAN TELLS
OF ITS OBJECT.
HE DEPRECATEs WHAT he TERMS AMERICAN
DISLIKE FOR THE MOTHER CoUNTRY-IS
CAISES.

HE pEpRECATEs WHAT he TERMS AMERICAN
DISLIKE FOR THE MOTHER CoUNTRY-1S
HERE TO STUDY ITS CAUSES.
Aside from the interest excited in the object OK
Samuel Pimsoll's trip from England 10 this country
10 remove American prejudice against Great Britain
the important part which he played in the estapish
mcnt Of the "Pmsol mark on ships Is recalled at
this time. When the wel-known Englshman was
seen at the Gsey House yesterday where he Is stay
ing he was not inclined 10 dwell upon his acnleve-
ents in bringing about reforms in shipping as much
as he was disposed to discuss the prospects OF Ills
educational undertaking. Mr. Plimsol is seventy
years Old but he Is hale and hearty and possesses
vigor of speech and force Of manner that carry
conviction with It. IT did In the sixties when ne
raised his voice in behalf of the sailors.
Thirty years ago the abuses and outrages IN snip
ping grew to such dimensions. Mr.. Plimsoll said that
public attention drawn to the nefarious prac-
tees Human Ife was in jeopardy. Unprnciped
sh!p-owners would insure rotten craft and send the
leaky tubs 10 sea, where they would sink and the
souls on board go down with them. while the plotters
collected their insurance Other schemes included
the reckless overOading OF ships. which would De-
come helpless on the ocean, until so many wrecks
occurred that suspicion aroused. The insurance
companies took hand in the investigations that FOL
lowed. The agitation increased, and foremost IN the
movement for reform was Samuel Plimsol, whose
efforts In behalf Of Jack Tar won for him the
appellation OF 1.-THE sailors friend. So widesprea d
was the exposure and so prominent the discussion
excited over the subject that It furnished theme
for dramatic exploitation. a melodrama styed
British Born" appeared, in which vlainy was typ-
fed as wrecking ship to collect the insurance, and.
while London audiences appiauded the triumph OF
virtue over viainy, Saumel Plimsoli was active In
ha ving placed on the statute books the law whose
application became known 10 the seafarers OF the
world as the ''Plimsol mark"
ic RI fpfv ai-vyat line British
ships indicating the depth to which vessels may 90
In the water and beyond which they dare not fall
With the enactment OF this law one of the greatest
OF shipping reforms Accomplished reckless over
loading Of ships ceased and rotten craft were no
longer sent to to sink.
Mr. Pllmso was elected 10 Parliament in 1855.
and continued in the public service until he re-
signed IN favor of Sir William Harcourt in $780, on
condition that efforts in behalf OF the seamen should
be continued When asked about the possibility OF
Pllmso replied that his attention was now draw I
20 she subj Oi ,,rh ,asiine ubere no might find
that it existed. He said Il want 10 eradicate any
Inherited and unjust dislike Of and il-feeng toward
the mother country England has only sympathy
ana admaton fer the nf1 S st sy ana ien in
this country against Britain, ~.
II became attracted 10 this subject during the
venezuelan complications when the antagonlstic
and bitter attitude Of Americans toward England
was reflected In press and speech. | resolved then
sentiment of the people behind ali this apparent BIT
tcrness. No one is associated in any way with me
in this and the only person who knew OF my IN
tenton is the pastor OF the church which attend
admired Senator Woicotts stand whsn ne spo yH
in Congress IN a friendly spirit regarding England
and | wrote to him then thanking MIN lor ms
views He invited me 20 visit him. lie mas nom.
INK 70 do with my present mission want 10 cal
on him soon possible. II Americans had mani.
tested a more concillatory disposition toward my
country II would have been impossible for the
Triple Alliance and Russia 10 threaten the EFFORT
ENGLAND would have made to prevent the massacre
OF thousands in Armenia
MI Pmson expects 10 consult the tex;o0oks IN
tho schools here TO learn what preJudices. X any
are incucated in the minds OF the rising genera
ION against England He will also inquire into such
social and political! conditions as .nay have bear.
ing on the subject which he Is considering. lie VIII
remain several days IN this city ana then start lot
the West.