It is with great regret that we have to report the death at sea on board the Blue Funnel steamer Teiresias of Captain S. C. Plant, River inspector of the Chinese Maritime Customs for the Upper Yangtze.
Captain Plant who left here with Mrs. Plant on February 24 for ome, arrived from "Toane: en February 20, and his old friends saw no change'in him and he looked the picture of health. On the Wednesday following, however, a fever developed and he was convinced. that his old trouble, malaria (contracted years ago in Messopotamia) had taken hold of him. He went on board next day, still apparently ailing, and on Friday morning, the 25th, passed away from pneumonia. _To those to whom the upper section of China's great waterway is familiar Captain Plant needs no introduction. He was probably the first man who really knew the Upper Yangtze, and to the naval authorities of all nationalities, but more especially the British, together with all those interested in shipping, lis death will be a calamity, Everyone who went up through the Rapids went to see Captain Plant at his house and headquarters at the Hsintan—he was always ready to help, always ready to give assistance, and was always cheery and bright. Beloved and respect-by Chinese and foreigners alike, his quiet' and unassuming manner wen for him a host of friends, and although there are not many people in Shanghai who have come into contact with him, those that knew lim will feel the lass of aa ola friend. To his mother who is still alive in England, and to Mrs, Plani we extend our sincerest sympathy.
Tua Rapips.
Captain Plant's early life at sea was spent in sailing ships, and in time he drifted to Mesopotamia where he had command at an early age of a small paddle steamer running on the Euphrates. It was on this river that he was first fascinated by rapids and difficult waters. Some 20 years ago when the fate Archibald Little was in Loaden he was introduced to Captain Plant and induced him to come to China to take command of the Pioneer which had just been completed for the Ichang-Chungking run. In June, 1900, the Pioneer made her maiden trip from Ichang to Chungking successfully in seven days under his command, but unfortunately, owing to the Boxer troubles which had broken out shortly after her arrival in Chungking, she was commandeered by the British Government and eventually sold to them as a gunboat, and as the Kinsha has for many years served the British Naval Authori-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.