THE LATE SIR HECTOR MACDONALD.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVII, Issue 120, 23 May 1903, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE LATE SIR HECTOR MACDONALD.

BURIAL AT DAWN.

SCENE AT KING'S CROSS.

As the hour for the departure of tbe train from the King's Cross Station approached, thaGreat Northern Hotel became thronged with Scotchmen, \ some in Highland garb, others in orthodox morning dress, who bad come to pay their last tribute to the ■dead gfmral. When 'it became known that the body was to be re moved quietly, arid that the interment would take place in the early hours of .Monday morning, the greate?t indignation was expressed on all sides. Tbe representatives of the London Scottish societies held hurritd consultations, and it was resolved that as far as circumstances would permit last honours should not be witbeld from one who was aptly named by an enthusiastic Highlander as " Scotland's national hero." Upon tho arrival of Lady Jeune, who brought some lovely rosea to place upon the coffin, she was besought to use her influence with Lady Macdonald to postpone the funeral to a more suitable hour. Lady Jeune was not able, however, to alter the decision which had already been arrived at, and the large gathering' who occupied the precincts of the hotel moved across to the departure platform, where the train for the ! North was drawn up. The coffin containing the body of the deceased general was encased in a rough wooden shell, which was placed in a special van in the centre of the train. By the courtsey of the railway officials the doors of the van were thrown open, and the assemblage filed past, saluting the dead in Gaelic fashion, and casting loose flowers upon the coffin as they went. Nor were the Scottish ladies unrepresented, for conspicuous amongst a group of her countrywomen was Miss Alice McDonnell, of Keppocb, the poetess of the Clan Macdonald. This touching ceremony concluded, the j secretaries of several Scottish societies in London entered the funeral van and reverently placed wreaths upon j the coffin. Eaoh of the wreaths was composed of white heather and forgetme nots, and bore the inFcription in Gaelic, " Leig leis a mbarbh Cadai," the English translation of which is appropriately enough, " Let the dead sleep." Meanwhile telegrams were despatched to apprise the Edinburgh people of the time of the funeral. Just before a-quarter to nine p.m. Lady Macdonald, accompanied by her son, and brothers of deceased, took their seats in the train, the crowd drew round the funeral van, with heads uncovered, and two stalwart Highland pipers in kilts and tartans, Mr Peter McLean, of the Inverness-shire Society, and Mr Keitb, of the Clans Association, i stepped forward, acd commenced to play the mournful lament " The Flowers of the Forest" on their bagpipes. This old-time Scottish dirge, which dates from a few years of the battle of Flodden, welled up in mournful cadence as tbe train slowly steamed out. ARRIVAL AT EDINBURGH. As the train arrived in Waverley Station early in the morning a crowd of shout 200 people who were present respectfully uncovered their beads. Mr William Muedonald, Sir Hector's brother, was tbe first to leave tho carriage. Then there was a short' delay while the coffin and wreaths were pieced in a plain, canopied hearse drawn by two horses, standing a few yards away. On tbe lid of the coffin was the inscription ; — Major-General Hector Macdonald. ! Born 1854. Died March 25, 1903. ! Lady Macdonald and her son, Hector Duncan Macdonald, entered the carriage immediately behind the hearse,. and Mr William and Mr Ewan Macdonald (brothers), and the Rev. James Macdonald (cousin) followed in the next coach. At once a telegram to the Provost of Edinburgh from the Scottish societies of London, begging him to use his influence with Lady Macdonald to have the funeral postponed, was communicated to her ladyship. But Lady Macdonald declined to accede to this r< quest. By a-quarler past six the funeral cortege was moving but of tbe station. The morning was bleak and a strcng northerly wind was blowing. As tbe funeral passed at a brisk trot along Princes-etreet, men and women on their way to begin their day's labours looked in surprise to see a funeral passing so early, but some, evidently aware that Sir Hector's funeral was to take place, became alive to the fact, and followed on foot as fast as they could. The Dean Cemetery, where the dust of many celebrated Scotchmen lie?, was reached about half-past six. Here also a crowd cf people bad assembled, and stringent precautions were taken to prevent all but those atteneling the funeral from entering. AT THE CEMETERY. The coffin was carried by six men, one of whom had served under Sir Hector in Egypt, to a newly made grave situated on the north side of the new ground near the entrance. Tbe Rev. Dr. White read a short service from the 180 th Psalm and the passage in Romans beginning " 0 death, where is thy sting ?" The general's son stocd at the head of tbe grave, his mother beside bioi, much affected; and as the Benediction was pronounced they beld the cords as the body was lowered into the grave. At a-quar&er to seven the obsequies were

at an end, and tboto present moved slowly away. Many wreaths were left. One from the Gaelic Association, of London was inscribed "For our gallant and brave goneral," that from the London Argyllshire Association "For our htro," and there was another " From come friends whose love and faith have not failed him." It was not until nino o'clock in the the morning that the gates of the cemetery were thrown open. Many who bad been waitiug there during the long interval paFsed within to iht-. mound which marked the grave and deposited flowers. LADY MACDONALD'S EXPLANATION OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES. Lodj Macdonald has written to the town clerk of Dingwall explaining tho circumstances of the late, MajorGeneral Sir Hector Macdonaid's funeral. The letter is as follows:— " My husband and I had arranged that until Hector's education was cotnpletod we should live very quietly, and when the cad event occurred I wbs living at Dulwicb, where Hector was at the college. I did not therefore hear of my husband's death until late in the evening of the 25th. I at once resolved to bring my hus band home, but being a comparative j stranger in Dulwich I did not know ! where to go or to whom I should apply. Mr William Macdonald had wired me the day before that circumstances prevented him from coming south. I therefore telegraphed to my solicitor in Edinburgh, who knew my deceased parents and myself all my life, and you may imagine the anxiety with which my son and I awaited tho arrival at King's Cross of the quarter past six train on Thursday evening. Further, you may well suppose that our troubles were not lessened by seeing placards on the streets announcing that, with the consent of Mr William Macdonald, my husband was to be buried in Paris the following day (Friday, the 26?h). Through the extreme kindness of General bir Thomas Kelly-Kenny and of the Lord Advocate, ruy son and I were enabled to stop the interment in Paris and to bring back my husband's body to Scotland. Late on Thursday night I was informed that Mr William Macdonald was so ill that he oould not even go to Paris to bo present at the funeral. My son and I then fixed that my husband sboujd rest in Edinburgh To this we were moved by reasons personal to ourselves — reasons which I explained to those who called to press tho elaima of persons in other localities. Further, I wished the funeral to be private, not merely because it was my own desire, but mainly because I knew that my husband would have wished it to be so. Accordingly, Hector and my solicitor went to Paris and made all life necessary arrangements. On their return to London they met Mr William Macdonald and the Rev. James Macdonald at Kipg's Cross on the morning of Sunday, the 29ih, and cordially invited them to join us in completing the last stage of our mournful duty. Unfortunately, seme people who misunderstood my feelings attempted to alter my plans. I readily forgive them, because I know ' it was from love of my husband lhat their mistaken actions sprang. Nevertheless, their action has been the means of causing me to be misjudged, I am grieved to say, by the people of Dingw&ll, who honoured ], my husband, and whose esteem I: value on that account —hence this explanation." i A PATHETIC LETTER. The Rev. David Crichton Melvin, formerly chaplain of the Gordon ! Highlanders, has received a letter which is one of the last written by the late Sir Hector Macdonald. The letter is dated from Colombo, and includes itw following passages:— "My life has been a very uphill and laborious one, and it has been more by luck than guidance in many parts that it has turned out as it has done. A generous Government gave me a three months' holiday, which is the only one I have bad in my many years' service. I have spent ten years under canvas or in a tent. This letter is not for publication during my life ; it is-simply a reply to yours presumably to yourself.—Yours ever truly, H. A. Macdonald. MACOOHALD'S MARRIAGE. While a subaltern in Edinburgh I Castle in 1884, Hector Macdonald ! went through an irregular form of : marriage with a girl just over 16 i years of age, and in 1894 Mrs Macdonald raised in the Court of Session an action of declarator of marriage between herself and her husband to confirm the irregular marriage. The aotion was not defended by General Macdonald, who was then in Egypt. Mrs Macdonald had to give evidence as to the irregular marriage having taken place, and thereafter declarator of marriage was granted. A report of the action in the Court of Session on July 17, 1894, states :— Lord Stormouth Darling, in the Court of Session, has heard evidence in an action of declarator of marriage by Christina Duncan, or Macdonald.

Mr Comrie Thompson, on behalf of the lady, stated that no defences had been lodged, but the defender had lodged a minute, which was an attested document. I& stated that tbe defender admitted that on June 16, 1884, the parties were lawfully married by declaration within the house, 2, Kew Terrace, Edinburgh, and that the lady was thereafter the lawful wife of Hector Macdonald, who consented to the decree being pronounced to that effect.

Mrs Macdonald, who was then put into the box, stated that eio w.ia born on July 18, 1867, and wua n,cr 16 years of age at the time of her marringe. From Whit Sunday, 1883, onward, her parents lived at 2, Kew Terrace, and she resided with them. In tbo spring of 1882 she made the acquaintance cf her husband. He was then a subaltern in the Gordon Highlanders. She firet met him while her parents were living in Frederick-street. In 1882 she was at school in Edinburgh, and from that time he began to show her very great attention, treating her most affectionately. On July 10 he sent her a birthday gift. Later on in that year the Gordon Highlanders came to Edinburgh. During his sojourn in Edinburgh he visited constantly at her father's house, p'iul her marked attention, and made professions of love to her. In tbe spring of 1884 her father removed from Frederickstreet to Kew Terrace, and he continued to pay bis addresses to her. By this time marriage hud been talked of between them. Ho talked to her father about wishing her to become his wife. Her father objected merely on the ground that she was so young, but did not object to him if he chose to wait. Lieutenant Macdonald then promised to marry her, and they thus became engaged, with her parents' knowledge. Ho was then going up to qualify for] getting a company. In 1884 he wished a secret marriage, as her parents objected to her marrying so young, and because of his position as a subaltern. Tbe regiment was ordered to go to tho South of Ecg- \ land. On June 16, 1884, she consented to a marriage taking placo j between them by exchanging consents. She and he were alone in the room. She understood what she was doing, and understood that it, was a marriage recognised ty the law i: the two parties consented. He took out a Bible and asked her to swear. She said : " I solemly swear and dfdare that I take you, Hector Archibald Macdonald, to be my husband, to love, honour, and obey, co help me God." He, in similar terms, took her for bis wife. They both kisstd the Bible. He made her promise that she would not reveal the marriage. There was a child of th 9 marriage. It was six years old. He had sent her money to support her and her child, and had behaved very nicely.

Decree was granted.