The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-07-08
LETT. wN. e. sHIPP KILLED
This Brave Officer AID Gallant Gentle.
man Lost HIS Life I'm Saturdays Hat
tle-~And This il War--Lass Nights
Distressing News.
Charlotte Observer.)

Last nights dispatches brought the
distressing new from the front that
Lieutenant William E. Ship had
been killed in the battle of Saturday.
He was first reported to have been
wounded. A later dispatch brought
the news that he was killed.
The dreadful tidings spread rapidly
over the city. While all knew that
Lieutenant Ship was in the thickest
of the fight, yet when the news that
he had been killed came, the city was
shocked and universal sorrow pre-
vailed.
The meaning Of war was more real
lied by the people of this city last
night than ever before, for Lieutenant
Shipp formerly lived here, and the city
proudly claimed him as her own. By
word and b; phone came anxious in
quiries when he was reported to have
been wounded, and later expressions
of profound sorrow when he was re-
ported dead. 1t seems too horrible to
be true. To think OF a magnificent
man like Lieutenant Shipp being
stricken down thus is horrible. There
could have been no finer gentleman.
nor drawer officer in the army. for be
was the purest type of either that
could be imagined. He was a man
of superb physique, erect as an arrow;
a splendid head and handsome fea-
lures. No finer specimen of nan
mental, moral and physical-ever wore
his country's uniform.
He was a cultured, intellectual. re-
fined and high-toned gentleman of
fine address and bearing-nature's
nobleman. Well may the Old North
state deplore the loss of such a son.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
William Ewart Shipp was the son
of the late Judge William M. Shipp.
His mother was Miss Kate Cameron.
a niece of Judge Cameron, and a first
cousin of Paul Cameron, of Hillsboro.
He was born at the old Shipp home
stead, in Lincoln county, in 1861.
After his father moved to Charlotte,
Lieutenant Shipp entered the Char
lotte Military Institute, under Colonel
Thomas. He was easily Colonel
Thomas favorite. He was also popu-
lar with the cadets. His fine sense
and force of character made him a
leader and always prominent.
He was appointed by Hon. Walter
L. Steele and entered West Point in
1880. He graduated eleventh in his
class, and was assigned to the Tenth
(negrO) cavalry at his wv request.
He made a fine record as an officer
and on good authority it is stated that
nc officer stood higher in the army
than Lieutenant Shipp. When the
question of a brigadier general being
appointed from North Carolina came
up, a prominent republican of this
state who holds merit and country
above party, wrote a strong letter to
Senator Pritchard and said hat "if
the best man in the state and one equal
to any in the United States was want
ed, Lieutenant Ship should have the
appointments
One who knew the lieutenant we'll
says that he has not known in his
life a higher type Of honorable gen
tleman and brave, efficient soldier.
Among his many sterling virtues
there shone that most rare one, mod
esty.
Lieutenant Ship married Miss Mar
garet BuSbee, daughter of Famius II.
Busbee, of Raleigh, who with their
two sons, William and Fabius, is with
Lieutenant Ships sisters, Mrs. Anna
McBee and Miss Kate Shipp, in Lin
Shipp is in Seattle.
Lieutenant Ship after joining the
cavalry, was ordered to Arizona. He
spent several years there. While
playing polo there one day he injured
his ankle, and was retired on sick
leave. He returned to North Carolina
and for two Or three years was the
military officer at the Davis school
Winston. AS o as able he rejoin-
ed his company, and was again sent
West. When the war began he and
family were living in the West. Lieu.
tenant Ship was ordered east, and his
family came with him, going to Lin
colnton, where his sisters live. Sac
news indeed is that that will be bourne
to them this morning. The freedom
of a nation will not be any balm In
Gilead to the young wife who has lost
so gallant and devoted a husband; tt
the young sons, bereft of a father:
love and guidance; to the sisters
whose joy and pride he was.