Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-03-04
COL. WlLLlHM OEO Il, E II
Tributes TO the Memory Of the virgnian-Piots Late
Editor in Chief.
Editor in Chief.
,(Fayetteyille. N. c. Observer.)

Fayetteville N. c. Observer.)
We have noted in our local columns
the Illness of Col. William G. clam,
editor of the Norfolk Yirglnlan-Pilot.
His brother-n-law Mr.. Walter Wat
son Of this city, received telegram
from his son on Saturday evening, an
nouncing his death that day at a quar-
ter past one at his home in Louisa
county, Virginia.
| Col. Elan, us our readers know,
was n native of Fayetteville, grew to
manhood here, began the practice of
law here. and volunteered In the great
| war in Captain Peter Malletts Com
pany. Afterwards in the war and in
MS long, picturesque and almost ro-
mantle career in Virginia, he attained
such distinction as a writer and pub
lie man of that state as to reflect
credit upon his native town and state.
He was noted in boyhood and young
manhood for his Qucl1ness and thor
oughness as student and for his re-
markable oratorical powers. His ca
reer is set forth in detail in that great
Norfolk paper which he has for some
years past been conducting with such
marked ability. and we think our
readers will agree with us that the
entire article should find n place in our
columns. The paper itself comes to
US In mourning for the loss of its
chief.
The marriage of Col. ELAN to Miss
Poindexter is briefly noted in the Vir-
| ginian-Pilot's article. MIR. Watson tells
us OF the romantic side of it. After
one of the battles of the Valley of Vir-
| ginia, Miss PoindeXter and q number
of the ladies OF the neighborhod went
| out to the battlefield to look after the
wounded. She found young ELAN ly-
ing desperately wounded by the road
side with his horse standing over him.
| He was taken to her luxurious home,
| her father being q large landed pro-
prietor. and there nursed back to
health. He rejoined his command as
soon as he was able to sit his horse,
and year afterwards he and his fair
rescuer were married.
| He was a devoted Southerner. loyal
to the new government which the adj
verse ending OF the war established.
but never yielding to the Establishments
OF the money power which came into
being with It. This on the contrary
he fought with all the energy of his
strong heart and mind, and he died
one of the very foremost writers on the
| Democratic side in the Union.
God rest his soul.
(From the Southampton Democratic.)
In the death of this gentleman, editor
in-chief of the Virginian-Pil of Nor
folk, Journalism has sustained an al
most, If not absolutely, irreparable loss.
1t is very questionable If within the
bounds Of Virginia. or indeed the
whole South, among among his contem-
porarieS his superior or even his equal,
In all that goes to make up the Ideal
editor, can be found.
To say nothing ut all of The extent
or his informant ton, not alone in the
politics of his own country, but of the
civilized world; of general modern and
ancient history, literature and classic
lore; the gracefulneSs of his facile pen
and the bravery with which he dared
to express the honest convictions, the
answering devotion with which he
sought to maintain ''the rights of the
people," rs he conscientiously con-
ceived them against the plutocratic and
corporated tyrrany and oppression
oligarchical and ring rule-should alone
entitle William c. Elams name to in
scription upon unyielding stone and
non -corroding bronze.
Some there may be who will char
acterize his political career as cratic
and wandering, but his wanderings, IL
any there were, were only in search
of the best road along which to lead the
people for their own good, and when
found he bravely ledo the way, no mat
ter what obstacles impeded his path
For his knightly feats against ring
|
IN effectonate memory by the people
In the 32d Senatorial District OF Vir-
ginia.
He was born and reared to manhood
amid the evergreen pines of Cumber-
land county, n. c.. THE soft soughings
and singings of which, as they gave
their balsamic odors to the ambient air.
first inspiring his soul with the poetic
and literary longings, which led him
into the paths of life in which in after
years he became distinguished.
There. too, among people noted for
cultured refinement and intelligence,
he deeply drank inspiring draughts
from the fountains of patriotism which
welled up and gushed from the hearts
of her sons as the pellucid and health
full waters gush from her hillsides and
! bubble up in her-bosky dells, lighting
with their silvery sheen and fructify-
ing all within her borders.
From those and With her sons, in the
full flush and vigor of young manhood
he girded on his armor. and with the
lst or Bethel regiment for II. c., enter
cd the Confederate army. After the
war he engaged in literary work and
journalism, in which he continued up
to the time of his fatal illness: and
now
after lfe's fitful fever he sleeps we'll"
Qrom the Charlotte, n. c., Observer
In the death of Col. William Cecil
Elan. of the Norfolk Virgnian- Pilot,
one of the landmarks of the older
| Southern Journalism, which had Tapped
over into the new, is lost to the pro-
fcssion. lie was a native of Fayette-
vile. as our correspondent ut that
place has already noted, and was 6i
years old. lie was a vigorous writer
1.i..