The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1891-06-13
Church Bells TOlled to Convey the
Sad Intelligence of the Pre-.
mieris Death to Waiting
Thousands.
A Man Whose Noble Qualities En-.
deared Him to the Hearts of the
Canadian People.
SIR JOHN MACDONALD DEAD.
He Passes Quietly and Peacefully Away
surrounded by Friends.

surrounded by Friends.
OTTAWA. Ont. June 6.-Sir John Mac
Donald is no more. The distinguished
statesman who has guided the political
destinies of Canada for nearly half a
century, passed peacefully away at 1O:15
tonight, surrounded by the entire house
hold. Lady Macdonald who bore up so
bravely during the fatal illness, is now
Frustrated with grief. All the church
bells are tolling and thousands of citizens
are expressing deep regret at the
premierls demise. For hours the mem
bers of the household had been watch
ing at the bedside waiting to see life de-
part. Although physicians declared last
night that Sir John could not survive
until morning they had not made allow
ance for his marvellous vitality. He had
lost consciousness 30 hours ago and had
taken no n~ourishment since. save small
quantities of champagne which were adj
ministered with difficulty. The
premier. sick unto death. kept
up an unequal struggle I'M
til after 10 o'clock tonight. For days
it is assumed he resisted the inevitable
by sheer force of his powerful will. but
yesterday consciousness disappeared
never to return. In the ensuing period
nature, now no longer restrained. as
serted itself. life's fire. already burning
low. tiickered and smoldered as though
the soul would leave its earthly taber-
nacle at each successive breath.
At 10 o'clock this morning the hun
dreds who called to make inquiries real
lied that all hopes had now vanished
forever. a strange and leaden color
overspread his countenance and his en-
tremities assumed an icy GOODNESS. No
one would recognize in the dying man
one vestige of resemblance to the great
political leader. Tears trickled from the
eyes of Rev. ]. j. Bogart, rector of st.
Adams Episcopal church, as he passed
through the gate and encountered the
throng of newspaper men. He had Just
left the house where, assembled
IN the parlor on the first
floor. the grief-stricken household
had listened to the reading of the offices
of visitation. Once or twice the watchers
at the bedside thought death had taken
place. and DIR. Powell. holding the pre-
miers pulse, discovered only a faint
luz VI me. I<oNN hdtIJudlt lOT three
hours before the sad event. never left the
room for an instant. The other watchers
included Mary. her invalid daughter:
Hugh John Macdonald. the premier's
son; job Pope. Sir Johns faithful private
secretary. and near friends of the family.
At 10 p. m. a complete relapse set in. In
The succeeding few minutes the premier's
breathing became more and more labored
and only the slightest tiutter of the heart
indicated life's presence. At 10:15 the
premier gave a few long and heavy in
SEPARATIONS. and without a struggle or the
slightest evidence of pain passed away.
The undertaken was promptly notified to
prepare the body for embalment. The
funeral is likely to take place Tuesday
next and will be of a state
character. On that day the body
will very likely be removed TO
the senate chamber and lie in state for
four or five hours. Interment will sub
sequently take place at Kingston, Ont,
where the premier's first wife and his
father are buried.
DIR. Powell announces that no further
details will be made public until tomor-
row. Death came peacefully at 1O:15.
When the announcement of Sir Johns
death was made the bells of the city
were tolled to convey the intelligence to
the thousands who were a~nxiously await
ing this signal, that their beloved pre-
mler was no more,