Craigellachie Kid

Photobomb: to appear in a photograph when you weren’t supposed to. Often it’s done with intent, maybe in a silly way, but can also be by accident. In the old photo discussed here, we don’t know which is in play, but the cheeky look of our subject suggests something planned and deliberate. We’re visiting the Craigellachie Kid and in the 1880s at the Canadian Pacific Railway’s Last Spike ceremony, he became the storied “boy in the picture”.

With a click of a camera eighteen year old Edward Mallandaine, the Kid, became immortalized as something more than just a witness to history. He’s that little guy, there among railway dignitaries of the day, front of the line and with a confident swagger. Leg up, head tilted, he’s there with purpose and not lurking in the shadows.

The term photobomb is relatively new, but the activity has been going on almost as long as photography has existed. Image that: a hundred and thirty some years later and we’re chatting about this example.

Edward was born in Victoria British Columbia in the 1867 (just a month before Confederation), and as impetuous youth often did, struck out for adventure in his teen years. Hoping to join the militia fighting in the Northwest Rebellion out on the prairies, that conflict ended before he got close.

Soon after came a job ferrying supplies in what is now the Thompson-Okanagan region of the province, about the time the CPR’s transcontinental line was being build in the area. Riding on horseback, he’d carry goods between the ever narrowing gap of the two sections of track.

With the railway close to completion (and with Edward presumably soon out of a job) he makes the decision to take in the ceremony. Overnighting on a work train (it’s November, by the way and the weather blustery) he positions himself front of the line the next morning, to watch it play out. History’s about to happen and he’s got the best seat in the house.

One hand were a group of a railway workers and a number of CPR big-wheels, including William Van Horne (General Manager), Sanford Fleming (Director) and Donald Smith (Director). They’re the portly fellow in the bowler-style hat, the top hat guy with the prominent beard and the chap wielding the sledge, respectively, all to the left of Edward.

Interestingly, it’s a very subdued event, with no politicians or reporters present. There they were, linking a nation and it’s no a big deal. A shout out goes to photographer Alexander Ross who long ago captured this iconic image and if not for him, we’d have no record. This is perhaps the most famous photo in the entire country and is one of many he shot this day.

You can see it was a long exposure and note the motion blur on some people who just couldn’t hold still long enough. It’s likely Donald Smith is posing and not mid-swing as it might appear. Random thought: hats and beards were a big thing back then.

Craigellachie (Cray-gala-key) is located in the Monashee Mountain between Revelstoke (back then, Farwell) and Sicamous BC. The site gets its name from a village in Scotland, to which Smith and other members of the CPR board were connected.

Late in the 1880s the Craigellachie Kid went on to help establish the town of Creston BC and lived there the rest of his life. Passing on in August 1949 (82 years = not bad mileage), he’s buried at the Pioneer Cemetery in town. He was laid to rest next to his wife, Jean, who died a half dozen years earlier.

Both grave stones display a Latin motto and what looks to be some sort of family crest that we can’t make out. The wording appears to read “Respice Fines” which might be a misspelling (but twice?) of “Respice Finem” meaning “Consider the End”. The latter refers to the consequences of one’s actions in life and seems more fitting. Anyone care to comment?

We had no exact information as to the location of Mr Mallandaine’s grave within the cemetery. It’s probably available but we like to work for our dinner, so we simply spiralled inwards from the edge of the property until found. It turns out he’s buried close to the centre and had we started in the other direction, centre out, it would have been discovered almost immediately. The search is part of the experience.

One of the first documented examples of photobombing dates back to the 1850s, so quite early in the history of photography. While often intended for comedic effect, as done by Edward it was a way to become part of an historic event. And now the two are forever be connected. While the Last Spike was not widely celebrated at the time and perhaps he could see its importance. Then again, maybe it was just something to do.

Author Ray Argyle put out a book a few years back called “The Boy in the Picture: The Craigellachie Kid and the Driving of the Last Spike” and we’re searching out a copy.

We stand there quietly and pay our respects, as we always do. It’s that still period just before nightfall, not a sound to be heard and nor is anyone about. Yes, it’s a special evening. What courage it must have taken, at such a young age, to do what Edward did. Cheers to the Kid, and Tom Sawyer, of which he was said to be a fan, would be proud.

The old photo is courtesy the Library and Archives Canada.

Further reading (new windows): Edward Mallandaine Craigellachie Kid, Canadian Pacific Railway Last Spike and Creston British Columbia.

Let’s do this again and we’ll have a great time!

They’re saying…

”Well written and well researched. You feel part of the adventure!” David Fionn Clarke.

Hanging with ghosts…
The Little Cemetery Moyie BC – In a former mining town.
Anastasia Lords – Leader of Lordly Christian Community of Universal Brotherhood.
Sam McGee was not from Tennessee – There are strange things done in the midnight sun…

Date of Adventure: July, 2021.
Location(s): Creston, BC.
Article references and thanks:. Book – Some we have met and stories they have told – oldtimers of the valley, the mountains, the prairies; TheCanadianEncyclopedia.ca, Neil Reynolds at the Globe & Mail, Library & Archives Canada and finally, FindAGrave.com.

Visiting with Edward Mallandaine.

Say hi to the “Craigellachie Kid”.

He’s the smaller fellow in the centre (Library & Archives Canada).