Glenbuchat Heritage

43 Alexander (Sandy) Davidson Poacher

See entry 42 for details about his cairn

Poacher who died in 1843 on the slopes of Creag an Sgor, among the “blooming heather”.

Text from William McCrombie Smith in his 1904 biography

Details about his death in Glenbuchat

“I hope,” he was often heard to say, “that when my time to die comes, it may take place among the bonnie blooming heather, with the glorious sun pouring down his rays of heat upon my perishing body”.

That wish was granted him. On the morning of the 24th of August 1843, passing through Ballater he met the late Dr Sheriffs, who observed something about Sandy’s appearance he did not like, and, on being permitted to examine him as to the state of his health, strongly dissuaded him from going to the moors that day. The warning was unheeded; he must follow that bent of mind, which he could never resist, and which made him appear to the poetical onlooker to be the genius of his native mountains.

Next morning he was discovered on the hills of Glenbucket, lying on his back, with his faithful companion, the little brown pointer, seated on his breast, keeping watch over him. At first, knowing his habits, the party who discovered him believed him to be asleep, but it was the sleep that knows no wakening. Passing the same place about an hour afterwards, and finding the supposed sleeper in the same position, their apprehensions were aroused, and it was resolved to make an investigation.

It has often been observed of dogs that have been attached to a man, that they have a perception of death in their masters as a change that requires them to undertake duties that they have never before practiced. Had Sandy been concealing himself from the keepers, or even asleep, his dog, as it had been trained to do, would have crouched closely by his side to avoid being observed; but now it took its stand openly upon his breast, and when a stranger approached, instead of concealing itself, the faithful creature attacked savagely, and it was not without a strenuous resistance that it allowed the remains of its master to be conveyed to the nearest human dwelling.

Thus passed away the last poacher of the olden type, under conditions befitting the life he led. Without justifying that life, it is only a simple truth to say that, in his own eyes, it was no violation of the laws of God.