New-York tribune., 1912-01-30
DUKE OF FIFE DEAD
Brother.in-LaW of King George
v SuCcumbS to Chill.
DELHl'S WRECK THE CAUSE
Wealthy Peer Married Eldest
Daughter of Edward in 1889
Succeeded by Daughter.


London. Jan. 29.-The tragic end OF the
Duke Of Fife's i'll starred voyage 10 attend
tho conservation of the Cathedral at khar-
,our, erected as a memorial TO General
Gordon. has given a great shock 10 '.l'
british public Although on his arrival III
Epvnt he showed no effects OF MS eA'
neriences in the wreck Of the steainshil )
DoIbi his death is universally attrloute"
20 tho exposure and shock resulting from
that occurrence. He contracted a chill a'
Wadi- Halfa. in the Egyptian Soudan,
u,oel, aeo, and was unable TO proceed @ @pul
NOT until a physician was summoned lroi'
London on Friday was any alarm iei"
ONLY to-day. when IL was learned that 'ne
duke had been removed to Assouan oi
Sunday. was a fatal issue feared.
The Dukes experience in the wreck oi
the Delhi included the swamping OF the
hoa, IN which he reached shore and Ions
ride in torrential rain TO Tangier, hNe miles
from the landing place.
The deepest sympathy is everywhere eH-
pressed for the Princess Royal, VINO ac-
COMMANDED her husband TO Egypt. The
dukes death will cause the curtallment or
modification Of all projected arrangements
at Portsmouth and London for the recep-
tIon OF Kins George and Queen Mary on
,boir return from India. II Is prooapie
that all the festivities will be shorn OF
military display and state ceremonial Inc
court functions IN the early spring also VIII
be modified.
The Duke Of Fife was one Of the pioneers
with Cecil Rhodes in the early history u
South Africa. He was greatly liked TOT MS
nuhlic spirit and his philanthropic ana
other useful work for the country.
Alexander william George Dun hrsl
Duke of Fife in the pesrage of the Cnlteu
Kingdom. was born on November TO- 1879
He WAS educated at Eton. and in 1873 ne
succeeded TO his fathers titles-Earl OF
Fife Viscount Macduff and Baron Banco'
all IN the peerage Of Ireland ana bd'o'
Skene in the peerage of the United King
dom From 1879 TO 1885 he sat IN 'no
Uouse of Lords as Baron Skene. In the
latter year he was created Earl or flie IN
the peerage Of the United Kingdom, ana
on July q, 1SS9-the day OF his marriage
to Princess Louise Of Wales-he was
made Marquis of Macduff in the county
of Banff and Duke OF Fife IN the peerase
of the United Kingdom, but he marrleu
the princess as Earl Of Fife. lie was
therefore the first Duke OF FIRE ana MIST
Earl Of Fife In the peerage of the Ihlteu
Kingdom and sixth Earl of Fife In the
peerage of ireland. From 1874 to 1919
be was a Liberal member OF Parliament
for the counties Of Elgin and Nairn. lie
was then Lord Lieutenant Of the County
Of Elgin and captain commandant OF the
1st Elgin Mounted Volunteers. lie WIS
subsequently appointed Lord Lieutenant
Of Elgin, deputy lieutenant for the couh-
ties Of Aberdeen and Banh. honorary
colonel Of the Banffshire Artillery VOL
unteers, member Of the council OF the
Duchy of Lancaster. knight Of the This
tie and Privy Councillor. lie was also
partner in the London banking mouse OF
Sir Samuel Scott g. Co. In 1880 he was
appointed Captain and Goldsuck OF the
Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms,a and In 1882
he went on a special mission 10 the KING
Of Saxony. from whom he received the
First order OF Saxony.
Owned Many Scottish Seats.
The duke was rich man and owned
many fine seats in Scotland and England
Duff House. Banff; Balvenie Castle. Dun
Town: Auchintoul House, Aberchirder'
and Rotilsemay House, Huntly. Banff-
shire Inness House. Elgin; Western
House. Moray; Mar Lodge. Braemar;
Skene House and Eden House. Aberdeen
shire. and Sheen House (now occupied by
the Count of Paris), near Richmond. Sur
rey. His town residence was at No. ib
Portman Square W. and he was mem
ber of Whites Brooks,s. the Marlborough.
Reform. Turf, Devonshire. St James's and
Garrick clubs and the Royal Yacht Squad
ron.
1t was William Duff. the first Earl OF
Fife. who laid the foundation OF that fort
une that was supposed 10 yield the late
duke a yearly income Of not less than
100000 He made judicious investments in
land, and the late duke owned something
like a quarter OF a million Of Scotch acres.
The Scotch acres yield to the dukedom
between $500 900 and 10000 a year. and
from his investment OF 10000 in the
banking business of Sir Samuel Scott &
Co. and from other investments the late
duke received enough more TO raise his in
come to 500 900 or more. lie offered to set
tie upon his wife sum the interest OF
which should equal any grant Parliament
might make but reasons OF state seemed 10
require the request for a grant. The duke
was of good stature. broad shouldered and
powerfully built, and was renowned for his
skill in deer stalking. lie had the Scotch
complexion. which is a forid bronze. kind
~ blue eyes and brown hair. His face
and features were strong and intelligent,
while his manners were a little shy but
sympathetic. AS Viscount Macduff he paid
d visit to New York In 1876.
Speaking of Lord Fife at the time Of his
marriage The Times" Of London. said
Lord Fife Is not unworthy OF his high
matrimonial destiny. The lineage OF the
Earl of Fife ia OF ancient and high repute
among the historic families of Scotland. In
character and repute he Is blameless, ex-
cmplary and we'll esteemed Of all men.
lie has taken no active part In politics,
but it will be remembered that at a criti-
cal moment he supported the leaders OF the
Liberal-Unionists at the memorable meet
ing held at Her Majestys Theatre, in April,
1856"
Descended from MaeduH.
The peerage editors say that the Duke OF
Fife "is descended from Macduff. Earl OF
Fife, who contributed to the destruction OF
Macbeth and the restoration of Malcolm
Ceanmohr. The thirteenth of this line dying
in 1853, the title became extinct, but the
representative OF the family was raised TO
the peerage by the Queen Regent Carolln
in l735."
James Duff. the fifth earl, was Liberal
member of Parliament for Banffshire from
1887 to 1857, and was created Baron Skene
(peerage of the United Kingdom) in 1851
lie was succeeded ir 1879 by his only SON.
the late duke who was made Earl of Fife
in the peerage OF the United Kingdom in
1885 and Duke of Fife in 1889 Two daughters
survive him, Princess Alexandra. who in
hnrita hu ennclal remainder the dncal title