Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1899-06-08
DEATH OF GOVERNOR ELLERBE.
Miles 3. McSweenoy Takes the Oath oi
l. Office as Governor.

unexpected, yot tho announcement Of
his death was received with sorrow
throughout tho State. His body was
buried Saturday afternoon at four
O'Clock ut tho Ellcrbc- Godbcld burial
ground and attended by largo con-
course of friends from all parts of tho
State. IIo was born April It'll, 1862, and
was but little over thirty-soven years old.
In Juno 1887 ho was happily married to
Miss Henrietta Rogers, of Marlboro, S.
G. 70 them five sons and ono daughter
were born. Tho widow and children
havo the sympathy Of the people of the
whole State in their bereavement.
Governor Ellcrbc was an honest and
upright man. IIo was n Christian gen
tloman and fought tho last battle of lifc
with great fortitudc. ilc was fired with
n laudablo ambition to DO useful in his
day and generation. His administration
as Governor of South Carolina was clean
and honorable. He had many pcrplcx-
ing problems to solve and partisan diff
ferences were so great that he could not
meet tho demands of all. But in :he
end ho achieved great and lasting good
for tho State, nns! to-day tiso people of
South Carolina arc nearer together than
AZ any time for tho past ten years.
When the mist of factional strife has
cleared away tho administration Of vii
lia,, II. Ellorbo will be written down as
ono of tho best tho State has over seen.
His early demise is peculiarly sad. He
has been cut of in tho midst Of his
years, q life of great usefulness and
honor has ended. But though the work
men are buried, God carries on the work.
On Saturday night at II o'clock in the
parlors of Wrights Hotel, in Columbia,
Lieutenant Governor Miles B. McSwcc-
ney took tho oath Of Office as Governor,
aftor having attended tho funeral of his
predecessor.
Tho oath was administered by Chief
Justice McIvcr in the presence Of JUS
ticos Popo and Gary, and about fifty
spectators.
Governor McSweency, with much feel
ing, made a brief impromptu address as
follows:
"Gentlcmcn: don't think it is ncccs-
Il
l realize the Importance Of the position
| occupy to night in South Carolina, and
1 promise you l shall cndeavor to do my
duty faithfully and impartially. II am
not Governor Of all South Carolina it will
not be my fault.
"No man can feel sympathy, more
hearty sympathy, than do to night for
fh,t a
that sympathy extends to my home. My
wifo last night on receiving the news Of
Governor ElioTGo's death tclcgraphcd to
Mrs. Ellerbe, expressing her sincere sor-
row at her great loss.
"God knows, feel sympathy for Mrs.
Ellerbc and her children.
"It is my duty under the Constitution
to assume this responsibility, and with
Gods help I shall try to do it faithfully
/ appreciate the kind words Of these dis
tinguishcd gentlemen on my left, (hc
Supreme Court Judgcs.) | shall seek
them always for advice, and with the
Attorney General and othcr State officers
intend to perform tho duties of my
Office as faithfully as | know how.
81 regret tho occasion which makes me
Governor of South Carolina. | have
tried to bo rs prudent and as careful as
possible.
81 have been asked by some people
why did not como here to Columbia
and assume the duties Of Governor. |
believe Governor Ellcrbc did his duty,
and those around him believe that he
did his duty. But | believe that he
wanted to bo Governor of South Caro-
lima when he died, and / thought his
wish es and desires should be regarded.
Tonight | assume tho duty, and | ask
those hero to help me. | am going to
do my duty as faithfully and as efficiently
as I can, and if don't make Il faithful
and true Governor it will not be my
fault"
Similar sentiments were expressed by
Mr.. McMahan, Mr.. Garris, Mr.. Boyd
Evans, Mr.. W. w. Harris, Gen. John
Gary Watts, Mr.. Guntcr, and, in fact, all
who were present Governor McSwccnoy
fingered for some time in tho parlor, en-
gagged in conversation with different pco-
plo.
TO newspaper men hn said that what
he had said tonight would be all that
he would have to say to tho people of
tho State at this time.
Governor McSwccnoy also announced
that ho would appoint Mr.. Elbcrt Ii.
Aull, editor of the Ncwbcrry Herald and
Nows, his private secretary. IIo said
that ho had known Mr.. Aull personally
for twenty five years, and it was his
desire to have n close personal
lend occupy the position. lie spoke
very kindly Of w. Boyd Evans, Governor
Ellerbo's secretary, whose efficiency he
appreciate !, and whom lie would retain
for a month or just AZ long as it would
suit Mr.. Evans to wind ZIP the affairs
of the Office as to matters now pending.
Mr.. Aull will accept the position, and
was congratulated by his rionds.
A SKETCH OF TIE GOVERNOR.
The following carefully prepared
sketch will be of interest to tho many
friends of Governor McSwccnoy just ut
this time:
Tho Hon. NJ. B. McSwcency tho sub.
jcct Of this sketch, can truly be referred
to as n sclfmade man. Ilo was left
fatnerlcss at tho ago of years, his
father dying Of yellow fovor in Charles
ton.
YouuO McSwccncy's sirnop,cs for Il