(Special Correspondent at the Huelva Gazette)

It is with regret that we report the death of Mr Georg Rieken, who passed away in the early hours of this morning at his residence, No. 3 Las Monjas, at 5 o’clock in the morning. Mr Rieken is survived by his widow, Doña Concepción de la Cueva, to whom we extend our sincerest condolences.

A figure of considerable standing in Huelva’s mining, social and commercial life, Mr Rieken scarcely requires introduction to our readers. He was among the earliest foreign engineers to see the potential of Huelva’s mineral wealth, arriving here more than forty years ago. His name became synonymous with the industrial awakening of this province, and the mining concessions of Cabezas del Pasto and Herrerías — only two among many under his ownership — are lasting evidence of his enterprise.

Together with Mr Ernest Deligny, Mr Rieken may rightly be regarded as a co-founder of the modern phase of mining development in this region. His 1857 publication, Observations on the Industrial Importance of the Ancient Copper Mines in Spain and Portugal, remains a text of reference in technical circles on both sides of the Pyrenees.

Those who knew Mr. Rieken will recall a man of formidable energy, precise judgement, and an unwavering belief in the mineral riches of this land. Huelva has lost one of the principal architects of its transformation from a forgotten province to an industrial centre of growing international interest.

He leaves behind a legacy etched in iron and copper. May he rest in peace.