HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-08-13, Page 42Tiger Dunlop Days...Page 14
Buried on-Gairbraid hillside
Lou ke,t her watchful eye on "Tiger"
9 9
Dr. William "Tiger" Dunlop died in Toronto in the fall of
1884 when he was superintendent of the Lachine
Canal. For six weeks prior to his death, his sister-in-law
the former Louisa McColl, nursed him day and night.
"He knew something was wrong," Lou was quoted as
saying, "but ah, he didna know it was deith."
Lou started back to Goderich and Gairbraid aboard one
of the slow -going lake vessels of the time, with Tiger's
body in a lead coffin.
A place had been reserved for the Tiger's body on the
Gairbraid hillside. His brother, Captain R.G. Dunlop, had
asked to be buried on the side next to the bank, and had
suggested that the Tiger be buried farther in.
Lou kept her constant vigil over her brother -in-laws
body, all the way home. She had reason to suspect that the
people she left behind her and some of the literary and
scientific men on board, wanted "a cast. of the big, clever
head which had stopped forever its thinking, thinking for
_ the good_ of mankind. "
"To accomplish this . she -iinagined they would cut ills
head off. She would much rather have lost her own than
turn traitor to her great charge in one napping moment,"
one historian wrote.
• The trip back was broken at Hamilton where the re-
mains were left in Sir Allan MacNab's grave plot until
winter. In colder. weather the remains were brought home
and deposited in their last resting place.
Incidentally, in some mysterious way, a very good cast
was fnade of Tiger's head, and was exhibited among relics
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and treasures at the Toronto Exhibition many years ago.
In September of 1948, 100 years after his death,
members of Masonic Lodges in Goderich and the
Township of Colborne paid tribute to the famous Tiger
Dunlop, the first senior Warden of The First Masonic
Lodge of Goderich in 1845.
They built a square -side tomb situated atop the hill near
Saltford, which is still maintained as an historic site to
this day.
Tiger Dunlop was first
Goderich PR officer
History shows that Dr. William "Tiger" Dunlop was a
proficient writer as well as a lecturer in medicine at Edin-
burgh University and a famed army surgeon.
He was a contributer to "Fraser's Magazine for Town
and Country", a British publication that carried only
outstanding writing of the day.
Dr. Dunlop wrote of what her knew from personal ex-
perience. He had served in India while in the army and of
that country he wrote "Authentic ,Narrative of Facts
Which Occurred During a March in India" and "Sketches
of Savage Life".
After coming to Canada in 1826 he sent out statistical
sketches giving advice to prospective immigrants and
descriptions of the country.
ExcralicrE
to oU
Anstett's is proud
to carry exclusive
lines of merchandise
to the Goderich Area.
Come in and browse
through our
collection
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JEWELLERS
2 Courthouse Square
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524-4195
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