Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-03-08
COL. WILLIAM CECIL ELAN.
TRIBUTE OF A FRIEND TO HIS
MEMORY
(IIarrisonburg Free Press.)

| MEMORY.
QIarrisonburg Free Press.)
The unexpected news of the death of
this noble, generous and brilliant man
| brought sadness to thousands of hearts
IN the State of Virginia. in every part
OF which he had devoted friends and
ardent admirers. The first announce
neht through the press of his illness
came Saturday, and the newspapers the
next day contained the news OF his
| death.
lie was native of North Carolina,
put ms parents were Yirgnialis. lie
was educated as 4 lawyer and at an
early age the support of a widowed
ihother ana other members of his
iathers family devolved upon him. but
ne met this. as he alwa:.s did every
auty III life. braveiy and determnedly
i men ne was about "a years of age our
civil war came on and he at once enter
cd the army of the Confederate States
ana served until General Lees surren-
der at Appomattox with that 6istin-
gulshed bravery which charac terized
MN through life, rising in rank as the
war progressed. He was seriously
wounded at Trevilian. in Lou sa county.
ana was tenderely cared for by the
1amily of Mr.. Poindex:er An attach
menC which soon rpencd into love
sprahg un between the young soldier
ana one of MIR. Poindexter's attractive
daughters. who in 1863 became Mrs.
Efam. 1t was this marriage which
induced him to leave his native
State and settle in Virginia. He
never returned to the practice of the
Jaw aIter the war, but turned his at
tchtion to journalism. first serving as
reporter on the Richmond Examiner.
Later on he became Il reporter on the
richmond Wing, and then associate
editor with the gifted Alexander Nose
~ anu later on its editor-ln- chief AT
That time General William Malone was
TN" ieaoer of what was then called tho
Conservative party, and Colonel I,Iom
was thrown into close contact with him
anu contracted u friendship which last :
Ell as long as General Malone lived.
Nhen State questions were looming IN
winch afterwards resulted in the for
nation of the Readjuster party. with
General Malone as the recognized lead
ed, that party owed it's success to the
eloquent and incisive writings of Colo
mel ELAN Through the columns OF the
wing as much as to any other cause.
ifls editorials attracted not only the
attention OF The entire State of Vir-
ginia, but his fame extended far beyond
her limits, ami his writings were
quoted ard admired in nearly every
State of the Union.
BY nature Col Elan was cNceed
ingly modest and retiring, and was as
gentle rs woman, bui hts courage
"oo CNthi ~ lll'tl Ol iilc DFaNSSt man
In the United States. We never saw
his superior either in moral or physi-
cal courage AS all of our older read
crs VIII remember, the bitterness en-
gendered between the Readjusters and
the Funders has never been exceeded
in our States history. before or since
that time. and MS result OF aggres-
slve editorials. Col. ELAN was twice
shot in duels. In the first of these
duels he was shot by Col Thomas
smith, of Fauquicr. the bali splitting
MS chin and embedding itself some
where in the neck or throat The next
duel was fought IL year or two later
near Waynesboro. with the gifted and
lamented Richard T. 3eirne. ana the
writer who WAS present at the time
VIII never forget the courage displayed
by each one OF the principals, though
lIiam was much the cooler of the two
Two shots apiece were exchanged. At
the first fire neither man was wound
ed. though Col. Bcirnc was sho,
through his clothes, the ball grazing
the skin. At the second shot Col ELAN
was wounded in the right leg. the ball
ranging up and lodging III what was
considered very dangerous position.
But Dr. Lewis Wheat. his attending
physician, extracted the ball and treat
ed the case with the surgical skill for
which he is noted, and in n few weeks
Col. Elan was well again.
as writer Colonel ELAN was both
brilliant and forcible. lie wrote rap
idly and apparently with great case.
and he was thoroughly posted on the
questions of the day His weak point
as an editor was that he was too ag-
gressive and often too extreme in his
positions. But he was always and
under all circumstances willing and
ready to assume the full responsibility
for whatever he wrote. For the last
seven or eight years Colonel ELAN had
been connected with the Democratic
party. and for many years had been cd
itor Of the Norfolk Virginian Pilot He
was an ardent Free Silver advocate and
Il great admirer Of Col. VIM. J. Bryan.
In fact the adoption Of the Chicago
platform by tine Democratic leaders,
containing as it did so much of popu-
lism and socialism, brought the Demo-
cratic party into very close touch with
him.
He leaves widow and seven chill
dren-four daughters and three sons.
In the death of Col. ELAN the edi-
toral corps loses one OF its ablest and
most conscientious members.
In his home life the deceased was al
together admirable. being a devoted
husband, loving and judicinus father.
and a kind and sympathizing neighbor.