THE HECTOR MACDONALD MYTH.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 154, 29 June 1907, Page 13

THE HECTOR MACDONALD MYTH.

-ABSURD STORY GETS ITS QUIETUS. Almost since the death of Sir Hector Macdonald paragraphs have been appearing from time to time, and latterly more frequently, in certain newspapers, hinting that the General was still alive. A great deal of capital has been made out of the fact, or at least out of the allegation, that there was no coroner's inquest, and that no one who had known Sir Hector in his life had seen the body. The best answer to all these tales is a letter written to CoL Ed. Stewart WortW, late military attache at Paris, to Messrs Peter Morison and Son, 112, Hanover-street, Edinburgh, who are agents for the deceased general's widow, and who had full charge of the funeral arrangements. The letter is in the following terms: Highcliffe Castle, Christchurch, Hants, May 8, 1907. P. Morison, Esq.— Dear Sir, —I much regret that any such stories as you mention concerning my old friend and comrade, Major-General Sir Hector Macdonald, should have appeared in any newspapers. I had known Hector Macdonald since 1879, when as a sergeant in the 92nd Highlanders he won his commission by distinguished bravery. I was present at the complimentary dinner which the officers of the brigade who had been sent from India to Natal in ISBI gave him on his receiving his commission. I served with' him for many years in Egypt and the Sudan.

I shall always look back with much pain to the sad day in 1903 when I was called to the Hotel Regina in Paris, and found lying in a room the dead body of my old comrade. I placed the body with my own arms in the coffin, and was present while the coffin was being closed, previous to Its removal to the Enelish Church-

I am only too sorry to hear from you that any additional pain should be caused to Lady Macdonald by such stories as you mention, placing 'doubt upon Hector Macdonald's death, and I beg you to make any use, you may think fit of this letter, which I trust will be sufficient to put an end to all such reports.—l am, yours very truly, (Sgd.) Edward Stuart Wortley, Colonel, Late Military Attache, Paris.