New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-21
LORD STRATHCONA
DEAD IN LONDON
High Commissioner for
Canada Expires Peace
fully While Asleep.
GAVE STRENGTH TO
SPAN A CONTINENT
Built Canadian Pacific Railway
in Five Years-HonOred by
Two Hemisphere.

London Jan q Lord Strathcona and
Mount Royal. High Commissioner for
Canada. dicd al 30 clock this morning.
lie died peacefully In sleep. lie had been
practically unconscious since 4:3O o'clock
yesterday afternoon.
Lord Strathcona's death was due TO
prostration, the result OF a severe attack
or catarrh. lie had been aline. however,
ever since the death OF his wife. on No
vember L last which proved great
shock to him.
Donald Alexander Smith. better known
as Lord Strathcona and Mount Royal.
reached the summit OF his career at $50
o'clock on the morning OF November :,
1855. at Craigellachie, British Columbia,
when ne drove a golden spike into the
cedar tie on which met two pairs OF rails
from the east and west That spike COM
pleted the Canadian Pacific Railroad. TO
the building Of which Donald Smith had
contributed the chief impetus.
The driver OF the golden spike was
white haired veteran. When he began his
task FIVE years before he had been Il
black bearded sturdy man. The best OF
his life had been poured into the achieve
ment that meant SO much toward the
upbuilding Of Canada's grandeur. In the
year following he was rewarded for his
services with knighthood in the Order OF
ST Michael and ST. George.
Friend Of James j. Hill.
Forty years ago two strong men met in
conflict for control over the river traffic
through the State of Minnesota. One OF
the men was a small trader of st. Paul
known 70 his friends as Jim" Hill. The
other was Donald Alexander Smith, COM
missioner Of the Hudsons Bay Company
at Winnipeg In this conflict began the
building Of two mighty empires. 1t had
not gone far when the two men met.
From the hour Of that meeting hostiliues
ceased. They were two kindred spirits.
At the outset they two recognized as a
cardinal truth a principle that both eX-
pressed many times since then. When
Mr.. Hill learned few years ago, that the
Chicago. Milwaukee & st Paul would
build TO Seattle. he said: Well let them
come, There is plenty OF room for ALL
Lord Strathcona used almost the same
words in telling the world that the build
ing Of the Grand Trunk Pacific would not
iniure the Canadian Pacific.
Lord Strathcona was born in Archles-
ton. Scotland. in 1871.
He entered the service Of the HUDSON
Bay Company when eighteen years oid
After many years of work on the Labra-
dor coast and in the Northwestern vii
derness he became chief factor and later
resident governor and chief commissioner
Of the company in Canada. He was the
last 10 hold this position. At the time
Of the first Riel rebellion In the Red
River country. in 1863. ne received the
thanks Of the Governor General in Coun-
Gil for his services In 1870 he was elected
10 the first session Of the Manitoba Leg
islature and to the Canadian House or
Commons and was made member OF
the first Executive Council OF the North-
western Territory Four years later ne
resigned from the provincial Legislature
but until 1896. except from 1880 to 1884, he
remained a member Of the Dominion Par
lament. In 1886 he was appointed cana
dian High Commissioner 10 LONDON 10
succeed Sir Charles Topper, and became
q member of the Queens Priyy Council
for Canada.