FUNERAL OF SIR HECTOR MACDONALD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12269, 13 May 1903, Page 2 (Supplement)

FUNERAL OF SIR HECTOR MACDONALD.

BURIAL AT DAWN".

SCENB AT KING'S CROSS.

'As the hour for the departure of the train from the King's Cross Station approached the Great Northern Hotel became thronged with Scotchmen, some in Highland garb, others in orthodox morning dress, who had come to pay their last tribute to the dead general. When it became known that the body was to be removed quietly, and that the" interment would take place in the early horn's of Mondaj morning, the greatest indignation was expressed on all sides. The representatives of the London Scottish societies held hurried consultations, and it was resolved that as far as circumstances would permit last honours should not be withheld from one who was aptly named by an enthusiastic Highlander as " Scotland s national hero." Upon the arrival of Lady Jeune, who brought some lovely roses 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 Jenne 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 courtesy 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 croup of her countrywomen was I Miss Alice "McDonnell, of Keppoch, the | poetesss of the Clan Maedonald. This touching ceremony concluded, the secretaries of several Scottish societies in London entered the funeral van and reverently placed . wreaths upon the coffin. Each, of the wreaths was composed of white heather and forget-me-nots, and bore the inscription in Gaelic. " Leig leis a mharbh Cadal," 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 vim, with heads uncovered, and two stalwart. Highland pipers in kilts and tartans, .Mr. Peter McLean, of the Inverness-shire Society, and Mr. Keith, of the Clans Association, stepped forward, and commenced to play the mournful lament "The Flowers of the Forest" on their bagpipes. This oldtime Scottish dirge, which dates from a few years of the battle of Floddeu, welled up in mournful cadence as the train slowly steam°J ARRIVAL AT EDINBURGH. As the train arrived in Waverley Station early in the morning a crowd of about 200 people who were present respectfully uncovered their heads. Mr. William Macdonald, Sir Hector's brother, was the first to leave the carriage. Then there was a short delay while the coffin and wreaths were placed in- a plain, canopied hearse drawn by two horses, standing a few yards away. On the lid of the coffin was the in- • scription : — 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 Maedonald (brothers), and the Rev. James Ma-cdonald (cousin) followed in the next coach. At once a telegram to the Provost of Edinburgh from tie Scottish societies of Loudon, 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 request. By a-quarter past six the funeral cortege was moving out of the station. The morning was bleak and a strong northerly wind was blowing. As the funeral passed at a brisk trot along Princes-street, men and women on their way to begin their day's labours locked 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 iScotsmen'lies, was reached about half-past six.' Here also a crowd of people had assembled, and stringent precautions were taken to prevent all but those attending the funeral from entering. AT THE CEMETERY. The coffin wars 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. The Rev. Dr. White read a short service from the 150 th Psalm and the passage in Romans beginning " O death, where is thy sting'/'' The general's sou stood at the head of the grave, his mother beside, him, much affected; and as the Benediction was pronounced they held the cords as the body was lowered 'into the .grave. At. "a-qnaiter to seven the obsequies were at an end.'and those present moved slowly away. Many wreaths were (eft. One from the "Gaelic' Association of London was inscribed " For our gallant and brave general," that from the London Argyllshire Association "For our hero," and there was another "From some friends whose love and faith have not. failed him." It was not until nine o'clock in the morning that the gates of the cemetery were thrown open. Many who had been waiting there during the long interval passed within to the mound which marked the grave and deposited flowers.

LADY MACDONALDS EXPLANATION

OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES. Lady Macdonald has written toy the town clerk "of Dingwall' explaining ' the circumstances of the late Major-General Sir Hector Macdoriald's funeral. The letter is as follows: — "Mv husband arid I had arranged that until Hector's education was completed we should live very quietly, and when the sad event occurred J was living at Duhvich, 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 husband home, but being a, comparative 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 the arrival at King's Cross of the quarterpast six train on Thursday evening. Further, you may well suppose that our troubles were nob 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 26th). Through the extreme kindness' of General Sir Thomas Kelly-Kenny and of the Lord Advocate, my sou and' I were enabled to stop the interment in Paris and to bring back my husband's body to Scotland. Late on Thursday night 1 was informed that Mr. William Macdonald was so ill that he could not evfen go to Paris- to be present at the funeral. My son and I then fixed {hat my husband should rest in Edinburgh. To this we were moved by reasons personal to ourselves —reasons which I explained to those who called to. press the claims of persons in other localities. Further, I wished the funeral to be private, not merely because ifc 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 the necessary arrangements. On their return to London they met Mr. William Mac- i donald and the Rev. James Macdonald at King's Cross on the morning of Sunday, the 29th, and cordially invited them to join us in completing the last stage of our mournful duty. Unfortunately, some people who misunderstood my feelings attempted to alter my plans. 1 readily forgive them, because. J know it was from love of my husband that 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 or Dingwall, who honoured my husband, and whose esteem J value an that account—hence this explanation^

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 br the late Sir Hector Macdonald. The letter is dated from Colombo, and includes the following passages: —" My life has been a very uphill and laborious oue, and it has been more by luck than guidance iii manv parts that it "has turned out as it has done. A generous Government gave me a three months' holiday, which is the only one 1 have had in my many years' service. I have slept 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." MACDONALD'S MARRIAGE. While a subaltern in Edinburgh Castle in 1884, Hector Maedonald went through an irregular form of marriage with a girl just over 16 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. action was not defended bv General Maedonald, 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 Stonnonth Darling, in the Court, of Session, bus heard evidence in an action of I i declarator of marriage by Christina Duncan, or Maedonald. 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. It stated that the defender admitted that on June 16. 1834, the parties were lawfully married by declaration within the house, 2, Kew Ter- j race, Edinburgh, and that the lady was thereafter the lawful wife of Hector Mac- j donald, who consented to the decree being , pronounced to that effect. Mrs. Macdonald, who was then put into the box, stated that she was born on July 13, 1867. and was over 16 years of age at the time'of her marriage. From Whit Sunday. 1883, onward, her parents lived at 2, Kew Terrace, and she resided with them. In the spring of 1882 she made the acquaintance of her husband. He was then a subaltern in the Gordon Highlanders. She first met him while her parents were living in Frederick-street. In 1882 she was at school in Edinburgh, and from that time he began te 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 hi Edinburgh he visited constantly at her father's house, paid her marked attention, and made professions of love to her. In the spring of 1834 her father removed from Frederickstreet to Kew Terrace, and he continued to pay his addresses to her. By this time marriage had been talked of between them. He talked to her father about wishing her to become his wife. Her father objected merelv on the ground that she was so young, but did not object to him if he chose to wait. Lieutenant Maedonald then promised to marry her, and they thus became engaged, with her parents' knowledge. He 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 also because of his position as a subaltern. The regiment was ordered to go to the South of England. On June 16. 1884, she consented to a marriage taking place between them by exchanging consents. She and he is£re alone in the room. She understood what she was doing, and understood it was a marriage recognised by the law if the two persons consented. He took out a Bible and asked her to swear. She said: "I solemnly swear and declare that I take you, Hector Archibald Macdonald, to be my husband, to love, honour, and obey, so help me God." He, in similar terms, took her for his wife. They both kissed the Bible. He made her promise that she would not reveal the marriage. There was a child of the marriage. It was six years old. He had sent her money to support her and the child, and had behaved very nicely. Decree was granted.