Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-26


expired 4 few minutes later.
The general was alone in his small cham
Der on the mezzanine floor at the time. One
OF the female attendants heard the pistol
shot and, opening the door. saw the gen.
erals figure stretched on the floor with
the blood gushing from 4 bullet wound in
the head. She ran screaming to the bal
eony overlooking the lobby. where many
guests, including a number Of women, were
assembled.
Doctors Arrive Too Late.
The proprietor was the FIRST to reach the
expiring man. Medical help was summoned,
but the doctors arrived too late. No money
CT papers of any kind were found in his
baggage. but two notes, written in English.
were lying on a table, and these we're taken
possession of by the authorities, though It
is understood their contents have no bearing
on the suicide. A number Of photographs
we're also found in his coat pocket.
The British embassy and consulate were
notified later and Consul General Inglis took
charge of the body. The door was then
locked. the consul general taking the key.
The French officials took possession Of the
revolver, which was of nine milimeters cal
ibre and apparently new.
Sir Hector arrived in Paris last Friday
from London on his way back to Ceylon.
where II was understood that an immediate
court-martial would be held to investigate
charges made against him. On reaching
the hotel at IL at night, absolutely unac-
eompanied, he was told that only a small
and Indifferent room was available. He
replied that that was quite sufficient, as he
only intended to stay day or two In Paris.
Reads Paper and shoots.
Little was seen of him since his arrival.
He was, however, in the lobby this morn
ing about noon and it is believed that a
newspaper, printed in English containing a
resume OF the grave charges against him
and eHbellished with his portrait in full
uniform. came to his attention. He left
the lobby. going to his room. and the pistol
| shot followed soon afterward.
No arrangements have as yet been made
for the funeral. which is subject to orders
of the British authorities.
! Those about the hotel who had oonversed
| with Sir Hector recently say he showed 10
! signs Of excitement OF mental worry.
Peasants Son Rises High.
| LONDON, March 25.-The tragic end OF
| Fighting Mac" who, the son Of High
| land eottar rose, from a draper's assist
ant to be an honored general in the British
! army. has caused great surprise and deep
4
| tenses with which he was-sharsed had not
become generally known. but had been COM
mon gossip in military circles, and al
though in the army and among his High
| lander comrades especially there is keen
grief, their feeling Is that II was better
to die thus than face dishonor." Sir Hector
| Macdonald was separated from his wife
many years ago because he got his commits
sion. He has not lived with her since. He
| leaves a son who is being educated in an
English public school,
Sir Hector MacDonaId's great chance
came when, as a sergeant during the Afghan
campaign Of 1879 aud 1880. with a small
force. he, by a furious bayonet charge
cleared out a body Of Afghans who were
lying in ambush for Lord Roberts. Fol-
this feat Lord Roberts offered him the
choice of the Victoria cross or a commits.
sion. He chose the latter. His greatest
military achievement was leading the black
Soudanese brigade in the Omdurman cam
paign against the Khalifa.
The oficial announcement by the gov
ernor OF Ceylon in the legislature on Mon
day that Major General Macdonald would
be court martialed and the publicity giver
to the affair were evidently the determining
motives for the suicide.
His friends attribute his rash act to hil
broken health and shattered nerves, tn,
outcome OF two campaigns in the soudar
and South Africa.
The newspapers here comment sympa
thetically on the inexpressihly pitiful enc
OF a brave man. and say his countrymeI
will remember him best as the man o
. whom on his return from omdurman KIM
Edward, then prince of Wales. said: "II
1875 you were doing sentry duty in Indi'
and now you are a general in the British
, | army. I am proud to have met you"