Drachmanns død

I efteråret 1907 forlod Drachmann Skagen for sidste gang.

Gammel og syg blev han sidst på året indlagt på dr. Brünniches klinik i Hornbæk (nervesanatorie), hvor han desværre fik lungebetændelse - formentlig af at være sengeliggende så længe.

Omkring den 10. januar indså lægerne, at der ikke var mere at gøre og telegraferede til fru Soffi i Rom, hvor hun havde tilbragt julen sammen med en af sine elskere, at hvis hun ville sige farvel til sin mand, så var det nu. Hun nåede frem. Dagen efter døde han.

Hans kiste blev båret til toget af Hornbæk-fiskere, og han blev kørt til København og blev kremeret.

Hans aske blev sejlet til Frederikshavn og kørt til Skagen derfra. På en smykket hestevogn blev urnen, designet af J.F. Villumsen, ført til Nordstrand gennem flere æresporte, heraf en tegnet af P.S. Krøyer, som også tegnede portalen til gravkammeret.

Holger Drachmann havde meldt sig ud af Folkekirken, og hans ønske var at asken skulle spredes i havet, men det var ikke tilladt på dette tidspunkt. Det næstbedste var så at blive begravet i klitterne og lade havet tage graven på et tidspunkt.

Dette skete dog ikke, idet graven to gange er blevet flyttet og nu er beskyttet af høfder og tyske bunkere.

In the autumn of 1907, Drachmann left Skagen for the last time.

Old and ill, he was admitted at the end of the year to Dr Brünniche's clinic in Hornbæk (nerves sanatorium), where he unfortunately contracted pneumonia - probably from being bedridden for so long.

Around 10 January, the doctors realised that there was nothing more to be done and telegraphed Mrs Soffi in Rome, where she had spent Christmas with one of her lovers, that if she wanted to say goodbye to her husband, now was the time. She reached him. The next day he died.

His coffin was carried to the train by Hornbæk fishermen, and he was driven to Copenhagen and cremated.

His ashes were sailed to Frederikshavn and taken to Skagen from there. On an ornate horse-drawn carriage the urn, designed by J.F. Villumsen, was taken to Nordstrand through several gates of honour, one of which was designed by P.S. Krøyer, who also designed the portal to the burial chamber.

Holger Drachmann had resigned from the Church, and his wish was for the ashes to be scattered at sea, but this was not permitted at the time. The next best thing was to be buried in the dunes and let the sea take the grave at some point.

This did not happen, however, as the grave has twice been moved and is now protected by moats and German bunkers.