The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-06-07
GOV. ELLERBE'S DEATH.
some Particulars of His Last Days,
and the Death Scene.
News and Courier.

Sellers. June Especial: Governor Ellerbe
died to. night at S26. The reaper hung with
successful determination around the Chief
Executive OF the State. Last night when he
wee bit OF strength he had gained. He slept
we'll during the night He did not have
another Of those wasting sweats, and altogeth-
er his family felt encouraged that o mere re
least he would be spared to those near and
dear to him for while longer.
This morning he was getting along as well
ownNthat was ali. DR.. M onroe had done
about all that could be done by human hands.
He was leaving the house TO visit another
moned Governor Ellerbe had said he was
choking. He asked TO be raised up, SO he
could battle with the troublesome and death.
dealing phlegm or accretion. Those ABOUT
him, who were ever ready to do all that could
be done, gently raised the patient. 1t was mot
high enough. He asked to be raised higher
This was done. and finally he asked to be
placed upright. This was done. Governor
Elerbe tried to cough up the accumulation.
He was too weak. He tried again and again,
and finally said to DR.. Monroe. who was
standing by, doing what was possible;" am
gone," and the plea for help in those eyes was
touching. DR.. Monroe gave his patient bran
dy TO give stredgth by which the accumula-
tion could be thrown off. The brandy was
not quick enough In It's strengthening an
again Governor Ellerbe said II am gone; am
choking" DR.. Monroe got his medicine chest
and gave q dose of digitaiis. morphine and
strychnine as a powerful stimulant. 1t gave
the small strength requisite for the work and
piece by piece the accumulation was worked
of, but not without severe tax on Governor
Elerbe's strength and severe shock TO ALL
for DR.. Monroe had said the end would he
thought, come by just such a strangulation or
by heart failure, for his heart was already
wofully weak.
CoNsoLED HIS WIFE.
The strain was 80 severe on Mrs. Ellerbe
that she began to cry and Governor Ellerbe,
turning toward her, shook his head and asked
her not 10 cry. They all say that never was
| there braver heart, nor more devoted wife,
than Mrs. Ellerbe.
After the attack Governor Ellerbe himself
asked for opiates and they were given him,
Once he woke up and asked to have his posi-.
tion changed. 1t had already become deli
cate matter TO move him. A IL under his per-
son were piled pillows and about the hips was
| medicated cotton In layers, SO thin and irall
was his frame.
| There were thirteen brothers and sisters in
| the family. but one, Mrs. Moddy, IL dead, and
| to-day the el even brothers and sisters were all
at his bedside, save one and she was sick.
Then there we're many nieces and nephews,
| who were there to do what little they might,
and kinsman by marriage and blood came In
during the day, and so serious was the condi.
tion regarded that they all remained over.
THE GOVERNOR GAVE UP.
To day for the first time Governor Ellerbe
| completely gave up and indicated that he
awaited the end. He made hard and des-
perate fight. Although the day was quite
pleasant Governor Ellerbe wanted the win.
dows opened; he wanted air and light, and
with all that two or three anxious and deyot.
ed hands were tanning fresh air and breath to
MIN. Once In while he would wake up,
| look about him and recognize some one, say
word or two about what he wanted, and doze
off again into a peaceful slumber.
| 1c was not a month ago, not three weeks,
that he was able to be up-sitting up. He
went out and exercised that keen business
| In his chair he negotiated for the purchase OF
a tract OF land, involving nearly $4,000. and
closed the bargain, and then he selected the
site for home, one in which he and his de-
voted family could spend the balance Of their
days in peace and tranquility. for 1t was his
purpose to have his family live here and he
live between here and Columbia. That pur-
anticipation for him to think OF the new
home. 1t shows two commendable traits,
| love of family and honor and absolute bust.
ness integrity. To-day l went to Marion and
everyone talked OF Governor Ellerbe, paying
high compliments to his absolute business In.
tegrity and his keeping of every pledge, no
matter what the personal consequence.
THE FUNERAL SERVICES.
The end came tonight at S.26 o'clock. as was
feared. All realized that the end could not be
must soon die OF pure exhaustion.
The funeral will take place tomorrow
Saturday afternoon at o'clock In the fam-
| iy burial ground, which Ia about four or five
! miles from the old homestead, where Cover