The herald., 1894-12-13
DEATHS SHINING MARK.
CANADA'S PREMIER STRICKEN
DOWN,
Sir John Thompson's Sudden Demise.
He Expired After attending
Session of tho Queens
Privy Council.

WINDSOR, Eng, Dec. 12.-Sir John
Thompson. the Canadian prime minis.
ter. expired here today after attendi ng
privy council, at which he was sworn in
q member.
The Canadian premier was the first
to arrive at Paddington station this
morning in order to accompany the
cabinet members and members of the
privy council in the special train bound
for this place. where q meeting of the
privy council was to be held at the
castle. Sir John walked on the platform
OF Paddington station for half an hour
before the special train started, and dur.
ing that time he conversed in an ami
mated manner with Lord Brosdalbane,
the lord steward of the queens house.
hold, and with Mr.. Arnold Morley, the
postmaster general. the marquis of Ripon,
the colonial secretary, the Indian aecre'
tary, Mr.. Fowler, and with Sir Charles
Lenox Peel, clerk to the privy council.
Up to the time the train started Sir
John Thompson had not shown any
signs of fatigue. His appearance and
manner did not give the slightest indi-
cation that he was suffering from any
illness.
After the privv council meeting, Sir
John adjourned with the ministers and
others to luncheon. Shortly afterwards
he became suddenly i'll and expired
almost Immediately. DR.. Ellison, one
OF the surgeons-in-ordinary to the house
hold at Windsor, was sent for promptly,
but he was unable to save Sir johns
life.
Up to O'Clock this evening the queen
had not been informed of the tragic
death of the premier. His body has
been moved to one OF the principal
rooms at Clarence Tower, at Windsor
castle, where it awaits the arrival OF the
crown coroner.
The marquis of Ripon says that when
Sir John was first seized with the i'll
ness he was given some brandy and he
appeared to recover, but shortly after
he suddenly expired. 1t is presumed
that his death was caused by heart dis
ease.
Sir John Thompson was one of the
speakers at the meeting of the colonial
institute last evening. He sat in the
last tier of the hall and appeared to be
in good spirits. When he arose to ad-
dress the meeting 1t was noticed that ne
spoke in a husky voice. and he apolo-
gized for the brevity of his remarks, say
ing that he was indisposed.
Sir John. in the course of his speech,
said that the enthusiasm displayed by
the Ottawa conference was merely AN
echo of that felt through Canada. He
said:
"We want to show the world that we
are a united people. and we have done
40. One OF the objects the conference
has achieved has been TO lessen the dis.
tance and communication time between
the colonies"
Sir John also referred to the unanim-
ity Of the colonies in offering subsidies,
and said that the feeling in Canada had
been 30 aroused by the mail service
that he knew the project was certain of
accomplishment within short time.
He trusted that the influence of the
meeting of the colonial institute would
tend to the establishment of still great
or unity between the colonies of the
empire.
The Canadian premier was we'll re-
ceived, but it was generally believed he
was suffering from q cold.
The queen had invited Sir John to
dine and sleep at Windsor castle tonight.
The greatest excitement prevails at
Windsor castle this evening.