The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1924-01-10
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A SOLDIER OF FORTUNE
COUSIN OF SAM MACDONALD,
WELL KNOWN CITIZEN OF
THE COEUR D'ALENES.

of Nell r. CFoghorn) Macdonald,
which occurred in Montreal lie is
remembered by many old-t-mers In
the Occur Alenes, having come to
the district in 1880 OF 81 with his
brother, Danial Macdonald, and after
a short stay lett to take contract
IA the construction OF the Great
Northern railroad. lie was cousin
OF Samuel d. Macdonald, a pioneer
OF this district, VINO is engaged in the
development OF the Rob Roy property
in the Sunset section. sam and
"Foghorn" were boys together hay
ing been reared on farm near Corn
wall, Ontario. and the former tells
many interesting stories in cOnnec-
ton with "Foghorn's' eyentlul career.
His remains were taken to the old
home town for burial. From Sam
Macdonald the Miner has obtained a
copy of the Cornwall standard which
contains the following account Of the
death of Major Macdonald and
sketch Of his life:
A Soldier of Fortune.
A host of friends throughout this
section Of the country Will learn with
sincere regret OF the death of Major
Neil Il. Macdonald Familiarity known
as "Foghorn' Macdonald, which oc-
CURED in Montreal on Tuesday night,
The following interesting tribute is
from the Montreal Star:
In mining camps and palaces, along
the trails and the streets of the cities
men today will pause to regret the
passing at the Corona Hotel last night
of that picturesque Canadian Neil r..
Macdonald. Death which passed him
by on the adventurous paths of his
life spent largely mid the rigors and
wildness of the last frontiers calleo
him from the peacefulness and quiet
ude of a Montreal hotel Pneumonia
and pleurisy in a few short days ac.
complished what long life of ex-
posture and four years of war failed
to do
Neil X. Macdonald-Major Macdun
aid or "Foghorn'-the latter being
his colloquial cognomen-was hui
man megaphone; a stalwart, typical
Glengarrian, Soldier of Fortune, known
as a mining man from Mexico to
Nome. Endowed with distinctive
physical attributes, destined Tor the
priestdom, u fluent French linguist
his voice made of him a veritable
Boanerges-one of the Sons of Thun-
der. Il know Foghorn is here" said
His Grace Bishop Fallon one night
in the crowded rotunda of the Wind
sor Hotel FOR 1 can hear him" He
could not forget the tonai prOwess OF
one of his pupils at ottawa College.
So he sought Neil among the throns.
Greeting him with affection. Fog
horns" rejoinder can be left to The
imagination of those unfamiliar with
his vocabulary. Raising his hand in
benediction, His Grace Automatically
remarked, Neil. Nell. Remember"
Neil kissed the ring and made obeis-
ance to his prelate and preceptor
"Foghorn" was roicsome, frolic-
some, and fervent. In the garb Of his
calling, underground or at surface, in
kits or khaki "beefs" or pumps" he
was accepted at Rideau Hall OF Bag
shott Park as a type He was as
generous as he was eNtemporaneous in
his prolific figures of speech. He was
rarely anecdotal could say and do
things that would cause others to be
communicated, but he was accept
ed as a universal personality by
Princes and Capitalists Politicians
and knights of the Pick. As Fog
horn" he was admitted to the So
ciety of "Sourdoughs" and the Salon.
To ''mush it" with his pack Sung
push canoe wherever his impulses
or missions took him, was all the
same to him. At General Head
quarters or in the dugouts. the ban
nuet halls or the round table, Fog
horn" was welcomed. assigned to a
place and played the role in which
there We're no imitators. -Four days
ago. accompanied by a friend, he
made the rounds of Montreais water
front. watched the stevedoring gangs,
and sang with characteristic gusto:
Drill. We terriers drill"
Then he returned to his hotel to
die. In his delirium he ran the gamut
of the mining camps, craved q visit
from his cronies of the trail and the
trenches, received the reward that
was due from the patient retention of
an interest in a Porcupine property
and went over the range" That he
did not go with his boots on" is re-
markable. for he was a rough-and- /
ready make yourself-at-home. Once /
during the war, a prominent Mont
real friend late one night entered the ]
Hotel Cecil in the Strand. He learned .
"Foghorn" was a guest. Turning to /
companions. he remarked: "Tll bet I
you bottle of wine, if Foghorn' is /
in bed, that he is there with his boots I
on" The bet was made. the visitors /
proceeded TO Major Macdonald's room, /
and sure enough he was found with I
his military boots on.
When war broke loose, he was
managing a mine in Northern Mani /