Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-02-25
Died at Home, in Louisa County,
Yesterday Afternoon.
BUSY LIFE ENDEp
sMcten of ais cnreer From Boyhoosl
"A Bravo soldier In Tho war Be-
tweeniho stntcx -AdmItfed 40 the
bar 10 Soon Abandoned Law for
Literary Pnrsn.ts, la wnlcn Nd
Won distinctions.

Colonel William c. EIam, editor-in>s
chief of the Norfolk virginian- Pilots
died at his home near Trevilianss
Louisa county, at Ills p. m. yesterday.
While Colonel Elan has been in some-
what delicate health for long time. he
was able, with the exception OF u few
short intervals, to prosecute his literary
work as one of the editorial writer's of
the Nirginian- Pilot. and contributor to
Leading magazines of the country. It
was not until about three weeks ago
that he became alarmingly i'll. and his
physcian informed his family that ne
was suffering from heart trouble, ana
could not recover. He rallied, and for
several days his loved ones entertained
nope OF his recovery. To those who
watched by his bedside IL was apparent
he did not gain In strength. Thursday
lie suffered u relapse and grew weaker
rapiuly until the end came, as noted
above.
The funeral will take place from tha
family residence In Louisa Monday aftl
ernoon. ft
Colonel ELAN Is survived by wife,
-FOUR daughters. three sons and foun
sisters, who will have the sympathy, OF
Il Wide circle OF friends, representing
every State and territory OF the Uniont
in their bereavement.
Colonel Elan came to Norfolk and
assumed editorial charge of the Pilot
December 2 1885. When the Pilot and
the syirgininn We're consolidated as tho
Virginian-Pilot. March. 81 3S9S, he was
retained as editor-in-c CHER. .. 1852 81
no man In Southern Journalism pcs1 (:
sessed wider range OF information
thnn Colonel Elan. He was thorought
~ posted on all subjects that an edftoH
is required TO deal WITH and expressed
himself with an ease. grace and force
not surpassed by any of his contempoS
raries in this country.
Every member of the Virginian and
Pilot Publishing Company, as we'll as
every employe, held Colonel ELAN in
high esteem, and heard the intelligence
OF his death with unfeigned sorrow.
SEWilliam Cecil ELAN was born Febru-
AIRY ], 1885, In Fayetteville, North Caro-.
lima. He was the son of Mrs. Char4
lotte f. III. and Mr.. Alexander G. Eiam. +
both native Virginians. He received q;
good education, and when given his
choice OF going to the University of
North Carolina or studying law he
chose the latter, studying first under
Col Clement G. Wright, who was killed
at Fayetteville in the Civil War, and
afterwards with Judge Richmond Mum
ford Pearson. Chief Justice OF the SUI
prcme Court of North Carolina In the
summer of 1851 he was licensed to nrac-
tice law in the Courts Pleas and Quar-
ter Sessions OF that State. The follow
Ing year. on IA like examination. his
-lia.AnssA- neutrality-suspicious.
granted. "a
He delivered the Fourth of July ora
ton at Fayetteville In 1857, and In 1855
and 1857 made a number of speeches
against now-Nothing. Or Native
Americanism In North Carolina. These
speeches are spoken of by the older res.
idcnts of Fayetteville and Cumberland
county to-day In terms of praise both
of their material and manner of de5
livery.
At an early age Colohel Elan began
to write in verse and prose, and later
while yet Il hoy. he contributed to tina
University Magazine. at Chapel Hill3
The Live Giraffe, at Raleigh. and other
publications. These writings denoted
a Intent power of reasoning, which was
developed MS time progressed, and Won
for him the reputation of being one of
the ahlest writer's of his time. In 1860
and 1861 several articles written by hint
were published in The Southern Liter4
.ary Messenger.
In 1850 Colonel Elan was an electon
on the Douglas Presidential Ticket
When North Carolina seeded from tho
Union he went into service with this
Fayetteville Light Infantry. He was
elected orderly sergeant of his comt
pany and afterwards became one %
its lieutenants He resigned in Decenla
her, 1861. and went to Richmond. where
he joined the Ashland Artillery OF Hen4
rico county, in which he served to tha
end of the war with conspicuous gal,
lan,ry, participating in nearly all OF tho
battles. sli5a
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