The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-03
SOUTH CAROLINA IN MOURNING
GOV. ELLERBE PASSED AWAY AT
HIS COUNTRY HOME.

Went TO Marion County About Two
weeks Ago in the Last Stages of
Consumption-Begnn His Political
career in 1900 When He Was
elected Controller General ON
,,e TfIIman TfclSet-Lieut. Gov.
Mcsweeney VIII Succeed Him.
Columbia, S. C, June 2.-Wlliam Hasel-
den Ellerbe, Governor of South Carolina,
d,ea near Dillon this evening. About two
weeks ago he went, in the last stages
of consumption, from the Governors resi-
dence at Columbia, where he had been
an Invalid for months, to his plantation
home in Marion county.
He was descendant of Capt. Thomas
Euerbe, of Marion's brigade, who came
TO this state from Virginia in 1877, He
was born in 1862 and educated at Wof-
fora College and Vanderbilt University.
He was a planter and merchant at the
inception of the Tillman movement in
1856. and was elected controller general
in 1885, which began his political career.
When the Spanish war was proclaimed
he promptly seconded the call of the
President for volunteers, and his appoint
ment Of officers gave general satsfac-
ton. lie warmly approved the Spanish
war, saying in his speech to the volun-
teers:
I'VE Are All Americans"
we are all Americans. The sentiment of
every American, yea of every South Caro-
lin.an is expressed, that FACTIONS win not
divide us, that sectionalism viii not des-
troy this republic. Its borders shall be ex-
tended, its commerce shall float upon every
sea. its stars shall be trebled and its in
sututons flourish until time is no more.
We fought to destroy the Union, but we
were right in principle. We were whipped,
and are now In the Union to stay"
Ills domestic life has been happy and
beauutui one. He leaves his widow and six
children valuable landed estates in Marion
county.
He VIII be succeeded by Lieut.. Governor
Niles B. McSweeney, OF Hampton county,
former Charleston printer boy, who has
risen 10 the top through his own exertions.
The Funeral To-day.
The hour fixed for Gov. Ellerbes fun,
eral is 4 o'clock tomorrow afternoon, the
lnterment toN be ia the family burying
ground in Marion.
special rain will leave here to-mor-
row bearing state house officials, con-
gressmen, judges and other friends of the
Governor from the upper part of the state,
Who can reach there in time. But num-
Der of officials will be unable to reach the
Governors home by the appointed time
Mr McSWeeney win probably not take
Inc oath Of office till his return here from
the Governors funeral, tomorrow night
Il. b. Scarborough, young lawyer OF
Oconee county, VIII become Lieutenant
Governor.
ElIerbe's Political Career.
The political career OF William H. Ell
!eIue began under somewhat peculiar cir
eumsLauces. In the memora bic campaign
VI lo~ the nominating convention was
composed largely of reformers. After the
nomination Of Capt Is. r. Tllman for
Governor, Messrs. Efierbe and Stokes were
lul IN nomlnation for controller general
LAerbe was q years old, a smooth-faced.
oI'gnl looking man, VINO had taken no
lIit IN The bitter campaign Stokes had
Oeeh an extreme partisan. The conserva-
uNts nae no candidate, and the Richland
ue@sauon voted for Stokes. Just before
lAe vote was announced, Stokes having
majority OF 4, a Columbia newspaper man,
lIeierrng Ellerbe's moderation, got his
Ge.esauon 10 change four votes from
stokes 10 Ellerbe giving the latter the Of
Ace.
In 1872 Mr.. Enerbe was renominated and
elected as controller, and during the four
years conducted that Office ably and hon
est-y
In 1894 the reformers had themselves
nominated BY a reform primary" which
tAenaed conservatives from participating.
Nhile opposed 10 this plan, Ellerbe entered
Ine subernatorial race, and was defeated
IoT the nomination by John Gary Evans.
WIN an open primary he would have been
elected.
Elected Governor.
In SO he was again a candidate. This
was IN The Earle -Evans-Duican senatorial
campaign where riots at meetings were
frequently imminent. Elerbe received 72,-
dates
Last year he was renominated in the
second primary-in the first race none cf
S-e candidate receiving a majority. The
lace between the Governor and Mr. Feath-
eIslohe, the Prohibition candidate, was the
tlossSt aud most exciting in the history of
Ne state, Ellerbe winning by less than
NV. & lie was inaugurated Jan. IS this year.
'"9e sensational developments. connect
!'ls me Governor with a combination op-
po9'1 TO the dispeusary law. The Gov
Vi"oi health. which have always been
I''r save way. He left his office two
E,eAs before the legislature adjourned in
a e.i uary' and has only been there once
Ut twice since
.o' Ellerbe could not complete a cole
80 course on account OF his health. He
I oeen a farmer all his life, and was
ba5 Eoangest Governor South Carolina
The New Governor.
coe '"lam B. Mcsweeney. who will sue
er' % Gov Elerbe, Is the first Gov
eINer Of South Caroana who has Htera,jv
" lIom the ranks. He has come 10 The
b.1 WIN neither family nor friends be-.
"'Ih-out he has brains and energy.
v.. was left fatherless in Charleston
Tour years Of age. Six years later
h