Smyrna times., 1912-05-29
EX-GOVERNOR CROTHERS
OF MARYLAND PASSES OUT
CLOSES A LIFE OF BUSY ACTIV-
TIES AT HIS HOME IN ELKTON
Had Been in Failing Health For Some
Time Due to Brights Disease
Sketch of His Public Career

Hon. Austin L. Crothers, late
governor of Maryland, died at 12.l0
O'Clock Saturday morning at the
home of his nephew, Senator Omar
D. Crothers in Elkton, Md, after
several weeks illness of Bright's
disease of the kidneys. For the
past month Mr.. Crothers has been
confined to his bed under the cons
tant care of Drs. W. D. Cawley
and Howard Bratton and for the
past couple of DAYS a change for
the worse set in and all hope for
his recovery was abandoned. The
end was hourly watched by his
physicians and family. For manv
months. Mr.. Crothers was a sick
man, but never seemed fully to
realize 1t until he was forced to
take to his bed the latter part of
April. Indeed, in all the four
years of his administrations he was
not really a well man and those
close about him have said that he
never was the same man since he
had typhoid fever prior to his
election N 1907. He took the oath
of office before he fully recovered
from the effects of this long illness
and from that time on he was under
a tremendous nervous strain. Time
and again during the four years of
his strenuous administration he felt
that he was not well, but he never
seemed to realize that he might be
suffering from some serious malady.
Began to Fail While in Office
For fully a year while in Office ii
was observed by those close to Mr..
Crothers that he was in a serious
condition, though he kept on his
feet most of the time. His condi-
tion was not improved by the siren
uous tasks he undertook and his
fght with the Police Board of Balti-
more city gave him more worry
than anything that occurred in mis-
administration. His concern over
this was doubtless due to the fact
that he never had arrayed against
himself many of his strongest polit-
ical adherents. Dropping this bitter
fight last May he plunged into the
fight for the Democratic nomination
for the governorship. At that time
Ce was IN no physical shape tC
make such a fight, but he did it,
throwing all the remaining strength
and energy behind Senator Blail
Lee when he himself retired from
the race. This was the most siren
uous fight Mr.. Crothers had evel
engaged in and he was tireless il
his campaigning, though he had de
voted most of his time to importan
state business at that time. Fol
lowing the defeat of Senator Lee
Mr.. Crothers got in line and mad
speech after speech for Senator A
P. German. He kept this up unit
the night before the last election
when he broke down physically an
for many days afterward was cor
fined to his room in the executiv
mansion at Annapolis. On tn
morning of the day when Phillip L
Goldsborough was about to be II
augurated, Governor Crothers sat
his Office in the mansion and talke
of his administration and the figf
he had to make with his party. f
talked of the difficulties that h
party had to face for the next fol
wears and heseemed then to realiz
that he would not be here to tax
any part in the fight. He said tn;
there is a tremendous work for SON
one to do in the State of Marylan
but with the great difficulties to
overcome the contests to be wag'
l feel a great relief that respons
bility is no longer to be mine. F
the first time in my political care
shall be free. Mr.. Crothers du
ing his last year of Office acquir
a good block of stock in the Elkt
National Bank and when he return
to Elkton in January devoted
time to the banking duties, he
ing a director and it's vice-presider
The death of Mr.. Crothers remoy
another of its most prominent m
who had for years been identif
with the progress and welfare
the town.
Sketch of His Interesting Life
Austin Lane Crothers was be
near Conowingo, Cecil county, in
year 1860, was unmarried, He v
the eight son of Alpheus Croth
and Margaret A. Porter, who liz
on a farm of 1900 acres.
Crothers, coming from sturdy ste
attained large proportions, standi
nearly six feet and built prop
tionately large without impressi
his casual acquaintance as bei
stout. AS a boy he evinced k'
desire for study, and at pub
schools and West Nottingham Ac
emv. where he received a grea