The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1895-03-21
T. Mckay TALKS
II William Mckay Is William Nc
Adams There Is a Pretty
Romance.
a Fascination for the Sea Leads
MCAdams to Desert
Home.

Thos. Mckay, one of the five broth
ers who have gained considerable of
publicity in the last few weeks by rea-
son of their supposed relationship to
William Mckay, who died some
months ago in South Africa, leaving a
large estate, in fact about fifteen mil
lions of dollars, called at the GAZETTE
office last Saturday afternoon, and
spent several hours in pleasant chat
regarding the story. He was accom-
panied by Thos. McNaughton, of
Delhi.
1t is we'll to state at the outset that
the brothers have been aware of the
death of William Mckay ever since
last December. They also fully real
ize the amount of money it would re-
quire to prove their claim to share in
the estate, if they have any such
claim. They are also aware that ev-
cry dollar they now have has cost
them hard labor and they do not pro-
pose to spend a farthing in paying at
torney's fees, or for any other purpose
looking up their rights. If few post
age stamps should be successful they
will stand that expense.
The McKays came from parents re-
siding at one time in Argyleshire,
Scotland. There their father and
mother were born; there also, their
grandfathers and grandmothers first
saw the light of day. From Argyle
shire first came the William Mckay
who recently died in New South Af-
rica, according to a recent Argyleshire
paper, in a rather extended article on
this matter.
Thos. Mckay stated in the course
of his conversation that if the deceased
was the William Mckay to whom they
are related his history was this. His
right name was William McAdams.
His mother was sister to Thos. Nc
Kay's grandfather. McAdams died
before his wife gave birth to the son,
leaving Mrs. McAdams in destitute
circumstances. The brother, soon af-
ter the birth of young McAdams, took
the child into his family, not as an
adopted child, but merely for the pur-
pose of rearing. He was brought up
and known in the community and
among Grandfather McKay's children
as William Mckay. The boy himself
did not know the secret of his birth
but always supposed himself a genu.
inc Mckay, entitled to the name and
estate.
At the age of fifteen years an Eng.
lish merchant vessel was stranded on
the coast of Scotland, adjoining the
estate of the elder Mckay. It was
obliged to remain there for two weeks
before the necessary repairs could be
made. During this time young Nc.
Adams gained an intense fascination
for the sea. He would visit the ship
daily. The captain took kindly to him
and pointed out the beauties of sea.
life in attractive language. The re.
suit was that when the ship started
young McAdams was missing. Moth.
ing was ever heard from him and the
only conclusion arrived at was that he
became one of the ships crew. A
careful inquiry was made into the
destination of the ship and it was
found to be..New South Africa.
The adopted parents and nearly all
of the adopted brothers and sisters
have passed away since that time. The
father of the Mckay boys of this
county, died in Canada fifteen years
ago at the age of rs. 1t has been i'm
possible to get trace whereby rela
tionship could be proved. Cousins ir
Scotland have been written to and they
have answered that while they car
find nothing regarding McAdams they
supposed he had passedlaway many