New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-24
Sir Sam Hughes
Dies; Canada's
Leader in w ar
Former Minister of Mill
tia, Who Was Knighted
for Successes, Succumbs
to Illness of Months
Soldier Since Boyhood
Ridiculed for Forecasting
War, Dominion Turned
to Him When Crisis Came

LINDSAY, Ont. Aug. 24.-Sir Sam
Hughes, formerly Canadian Minister
of Militia, died at his home here early
this morning. He had been i'll several
months.
Sir Sam hadbeen in poor health since
his return from Europe last winter.
He made the journey home despite the
advice of his physicians who realized
that he was in no condition to under
take journey.
Three Blood Transfusions
Death was said to have resulted from
pernicious anemia, second attack of
this illness occurring last April. Since
then two physicians have been in con-
slant attendance on the former Minis
ter, and several times it was announced
that he was not expected to live more
than few hours. Blood transfusions
were resorted to on three occasions.
after which the patient showed some
Improvement.
Another relapse occurred during the
extreme hot weather few weeks ago,
but with the advent of cooler days the
patient again rallied, and was able to
take considerable interest in the news
of affairs in Europe. He took another
bad turn on August 9, but a few days
later showed marked Improvement, and
continued to gain strength until the re-
lapse which ended in his death.
Sir Sam Hughes, the Father of the
A IL,
the lot of Lord Roberts Like that
German menace in advance, warned his
countrymen of it and urged timely
preparation, and like him also received
his reward in ridicule, abuse and de-
nunciation. But when his forecast was
realized the country gratefully turned
to him to atone as best 1t could for its
neglect of his monitions
Samuel Hughes was one of a family
of soldiers. He was major general,
his son and two brothers were briga-
der generals and a third brother was
lieutenant colonel. He was son of
John Hughes, of Tyrone, Ireland, and
born at Darlington, Ont, on January 8,
fish and Hugenot descent, and was
born at Darlinton, Ont, on January s,
1853. He was educated at the Toronto
and for some years was lecturer on the
English language, literature and his
tory in the Toronto Collegiate Insti-
tute. From that work he turned in
1885 to become for twelve years the
owner and editor of newspaper, the
Lindsay Warder.
Joined Militia When Thirteen
Meantime he had been a particularly
Canadian militia since his thirteenth
year, and had declined appointments as
Deputy Minister Of Militia in 1891 and
Adjutant General Of the Dominion in
1895. But in 1897, when he retired from
his journalistic work, he became lieu
tenant colonel of the 45th Battalion and
as such taking part in Queen Victoria S
Jubilee, and then went to Australia and
New Zealand to promote colonial as
sistance in imperial wars, starting the
great movement which sent the Colo
NAL troops to the Boer war, and which
eliminated in the work of the Cana
dians and Anzacs and South Africans
in tho World War He personally
served at the front in the Boer war.
AS a youth he had won medal for
his services in the militia against the
Fenian raids in 1870, and later had Of
fered personally to raise Canadian
troops for imperial service in the
Egyptian, Soudanese and Afghan wars,
and WAS at the head of the Dominion
mittee and the Board Of Visitors of
the Royal Military College at Kingston.
He was elected to the Dominion
House of Commons as Conservative
in 1892, and was reelected in 1896, 1900,
1904, 1908 and 1911. In the last named
year he became Minister of Militia and
Defence, and in that place was towe r
of strength to the dominion and the
empire at the outbreak of the World
War Within two years he enrolled,
trained, equipped and dispatched to
lover there" nearly 100000 Canadian
soldiers, and personally went to the
front with them and did active service
there. In recognition Of his great use
fulness he was knighted by King
George in 1915. And then. in Novem
his portfolio.
Exonerated at Inquiry
Early in 1916 he was charged with
implication in some big building OPP
eraJions IN connection with the NUM-
tons supply. At that time he was on
duty in Europe. He FASTENED home
QeM&nued searching inquest Oy
royal commission and was completely
exonerated. A few months later his
vigorous way Of getting things done
wiunou, always consulting convention
alties led to friction with his col
leagues, and his res gnation was asked
for by Sir Robert Borden, the Prime
Minister, and was promptly given
That incident did not, however, cause
the least slackeDing of his energetic
!abors in behalf of successful prose
cution of the war.
He was twice married and had two
daughters and son. The latter. at the
beginning Of the World War, was the
youngest brigadier general in the Brit
ish se'vice, # not in the world he
commanded the Highlanders' Brigade al
1t. julien, and for his services re
ceived the D. S. O. and was promoted to
major general.