There is hardly another man in Shanghai whose death could have inflicted such a {blow on the whole community, not only but throughout the Far East, as it has suffered by the loss of Mr. George McBain who passed away on Saturday evening after a comparatively short ill-"ness, at his home in Sungkiang Road. He fell a victim to bronchitis with other complications. It is the more sad as he had intended to go home very shortly for holiday which he had well earned. He was only 57 years old.
Mr. McBain came to the Far East more than thirty years ago, joining one of the leading banks in Hongkong. He left it to become a broker, and while so occupied was struck with the possibilities of the Canton River trade, for which he bought two small steamers, the Fatchoy and Hanyang. The former he sold, Jand then determined to change his [field of operations to the Yangtze, making Shanghai his home. He brought the Hanyang here—she was subsequently sunk in a collision on the Yangtze—and acquired two other steamers, the W. Cores de Vries and Sual, and these vessels laid the foundation of his fortune. In addition to his river business, he interested himself in tobacco-growing and oil-producing in Sumatra, and he was the founder, and up till his death the presiding genius, of the Shanghai-Sumatra Tobacco Ca., La., and the Langkat Oil Ca, by the shareholders in which his premature death will be severely felt.
No man has ever amassed a fortune in China with a more rigid observance of the nicest honour and strictest integrity than George McBain. No shipowner was over more beloved by his employees or treated them with more kindness and con: tion. In fact, in all relations of life he was the soul of kindness, and his charities were as unlimited as they were unblazoned to the world. In good or evil fortune, and they had many bad times, he stuck firmly to his Sumatra Companies, never ling his shares when their value rose to 8 tempting height, never speculating in them, but adding to his holdings from time to time, without regard to the course of the market. He was in no sense a company-monger, and the confidence of his shareholders in him was thoroughly deserved. Success spoils meaner natures; it only made him more lovable.
A quiet, amiable, kindly man, he never went much into society, but he was a genial companion, and a very good friend. He was' intensely fortunate in his domestic life, devoted to his wife and children, and-. finding in their company -his highest happiness. The Toss to them is irretrievable, and
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.