The Kid In The Last Spike
He walked to the front and was immortalized in a photo
The Last Spike is one of the most famous photos in Canadian history and the photo is notable for several things.
First, Sir Donald Smith is hammering in the last spike itself at Craigellachie to finish construction (ceremoniously at least) on the Canadian Pacific Railway.
Second, despite their role in getting the railway built, all Chinese workers were pushed out of frame to ensure none were part of the historic photo.
Lastly, there is a kid, peaking past Smith, looking straight at the camera.
Who was he?
The boy was 18-year-old Edward Mallandaine (although his age may be fudged a bit) and he lived quite the interesting life.
Born in either June or July 1867, Edward was short for his age but had a thirst for adventure. This led him to quit school young and he travelled to fight in the North West Resistance in 1885 but arrived after fighting ceased.
He returned to BC and operated a delivery service that transported newspapers and other items in the area of the Eagle Pass during the Autumn of 1885. On Nov. 7, 1885, he found himself at Craigellachie as a historic moment was about to begin.
Worming his way to the front, he arrived just as the famous photo was taken, immortalizing him forever in it. Following the photo, he returned to Victoria and studied to become an architect and began a career as a land developer.
He co-founded the Town of Creston in southeast British Columbia. He also served as the local coroner, justice of the peace and did three terms as the reeve of Creston. He then began to work as the militia officer in the East Kootenay Battalion.
During the First World War, he tried to enlist several times and was eventually put into the Forestry Battalion where he rose to the rank of Lt. Col by the end of the war. People called him Colonel for the rest of his life.
In 1944, he shook hands with the young man who portrayed him in the reenactment of The Last Spike photograph. He was the last person alive from that original photo at the time. He died five years later in 1949.
