The Savannah morning news., 1902-05-30
COL. ESTILL AT ATHENS.
ACCORDED ENTHUSIASTIC RECEP-
TIoN BY CITIZENS.

Addressed a Large Audience at the
opera House Last Night-Later He
Met the Veterans of CObb-DelOneS
Camp and Expressed His Gratitude
for the PrOmptness With Which
They Came to His Defense in De-
nouncing the Malicious and I'm
founded Islander Relating to His
War Record.
Athens. Ga, May 29.-The reception
accorded Col. ]. H. Estill, in Clarke
county to-day was enthusiastic. He
met hundreds of citizens, all of whom
were pleased with the open and frank
manner in which he met all the issues
of the campaign.
At the Opera House tonight the large
auditorium was filled with voters, there
being more voters in the audience than
assembled to hear Mr.. Terrell last
week
Col. Estills speech was a vote win
ner, and his large and intelligent audi
ence paid the closest attention and APP
plauded literally his views upon all
public questions. After the meeting
at the Opera House an important meet
ing of the Confederate Veterans was
held at which Col. Estill made a few
remarks.
Col. Estill said:
MY Comrades of Cobb Deloney
Camp: I thank you for your prompt
ness and gallantry in coming to my de-
Tense, and for your vigorous denuncia-
ton of the slanderous report set afloat
by my political enemies.
1T had been limited that before this
campaign ended a bombshell would be
exploded under me. and the malicious
Islander that you so justly and en-
phatically denounced is that now
harmless missile.
Il am an honorably discharged Con-
federate soldier. who, though unable
to shoulder a musket, voluntarily took
part in the defense of Savannah
against Sherman's army.
Though only a private, my old COM
pany, the Oglethorpe Light Infantry of
Savannah, with which | went to Vir-
ginia under the command of the Ia
mented Colonel Francis S. Barlow, and
known in the war as Company B,
Eighth Georgia Regiment, thought so
we'll of me that 1t placed my name
upon its roll as an honorary member
when it was reorganized thirty years
since.
Il had the honor, also, to command
the Johnston Light Infantry, a COM
pany of the First Georgia Regiment
over quarter of century ago.
Il am member of both Confederate
organiza tons of Savannah, and was
the first commander of Lafayette Nc
Laws Camp No. 596, U. c. V.
I'm addition to those high and unso-
iicited honors, l am a life member of
three of SavanngH's best known mill
tary organizations, namely the Geor-
gia Hussars, of the First Regiment OF
Cavalry, the Savannah Cadets. and
the Savannah Volunteer Guards Batal-
lion. and am a lieutenant colonel. re-
tired. of Georgia Volunteers. who still
responds to the call of the state and
wears its uniform
"All these honors have come to me
unsolicited, and because l am an hon
orable ex-Confederate soldier.
Let me thank you again,
my fellow citizens for denouncing
the base SANDER, which those who
seek to defeat me at the polls have
circulated, and also for your cordial
good wishes for my success in the con-
test for the nomination for Governor
of our great state.
IF it should be the will of the people
to elect me to the honorable Office to
which aspire l promise that, as far as
in me lies, they shall never regret hav-
ing honored a private soldier with the
highest office in their gift"
The general impression is that Col.
Estill has splendid chances to carry
Clarke county.