Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-03-26
FIGHTING MACS" CAREER.
Strong Sympathy I'm London over Soldiers UntfmeIy End.

Strong Sympathy I'm London Over Soldiers UntfmeIy End. LONDON, March 26.-The tragic end of Fighting Mac" who, the son of highland cottier, rose from a position of draper's assistant to be an honored general in the British army, has caused great surprise and deep sorrow in Lon- don. The nature of the offenses with which he was charged had not become generally known to the public, but had been common gossip in military circles, and although in the army and among his highlander comrades especially there is keen grief, their feeling is that it was better to die thus than face dishonor." Sir Hector Macdonald was separated from his wife many years ago before he got his commission. He has not lived with her since. He leaves a son who is being educated in an Eng lish public school.
 Sir Hector Macdonald's great chance came when as sergeant during the Afghan campaign of 1879 to 1880 with a small force he by furious bayonet charge cleared out body of Afghans who were lying in ambush for Lord Roberts. For this feat Lord Roberts offered him the choice of the Victoria Cross or commission. He chose the latter. His greatest military achieve ment was leading the black Sudanese brigade in the Omdurman campaign against the khalifa.
 The official announcement made by the governor of Ceylon in the legisla- ture on Monday that Major General Macdonald would be court martialed and the publicity given to the affair were evidently the determining mo- tives for the suicide. His friends attrib- ute the unfortunate business to his broken health and shattered nerves, the outcome of two campaigns in the Sudan and South Africa
 PARIS, March 26-Major General Sir Hector Macdonald, commanding the British forces in Ceylon and one of the foremost officers in the British ar my, against whom charges based on immoral acts were filed some time ago. committed suicide at the Hotel Regina here. He shot himself in the right temple shortly after noon and expired few minutes later.
 The general was alone in his small chamber on the mezzanine floor of the hotel at the time of the tragedy. One of the female attendants heard the pis- tol shot and, opening the door, saw the generals figure outstretched on the floor with the blood gushing from bullet wound in the head. She ran screaming to the balcony overlooking the lobby of the hotel, where many guests, including a number of ladies, were assembled N.
 The proprietor of the hotel was the first to reach the dying. man. Medical help was immediately summoned, but was found to be useless, death ensuing quickly on the fatal act.
 The commissary of police was noti- fled and, accompanied by doctor, pro ceeded to make a preliminary investi- gation. No money or papers of any kind were found in Sir Electors bag gage. Two notes written in English were found lying on a table in his room, and these were taken possession of by the authorities, but it is under stood that their contents have no bearing on the suicide. Tn the generals coat, lying on the bed, were found some photographs.
 The British embassy and consulate were notified later, and Consul General Inglis visited the hotel and took charge of the body. which was placed on the bed. The door was then locked, the consul general taking the key. The French officials took possession of the revolver, which was of nine nillimeters caliber and apparently new.
 Sir Hector Macdonald arrived in Paris last Friday evening from Lon don on his way back to Ceylon, where it was understood that an immediate court martial would be held to clear up the charges made against him. On reaching the hotel at Il o'clock at night he was told that only small and indifferent room was available. He replied that that was quite suffi- cient. He was not accompanied by any aid-de-camp or valet.
 Little was seen of him since his ar rival. He was, however, in the hotel lobby yesterday about noon, and it is believed that a newspaper printed in English containing a resume of the grave charges brought against him and embellished with the generals portrait in full uniform came under his atten- tion. He left the lobby, going to his room, and the pistol shot followed soon after.