The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-09-11
SELECT LIST or TINY TOTS ARE
NOMINATED IN TODAY'S. ISSUE
lam us War,
OF Rhode
Last Of the Civil War Cover.
nors Answers Final Sum
r1onsEin Paris.
tnv Assec.Avtp eRrsss

PARIS. Sept. 11-Wi1liam Sprague,
famous war governor Of, Rhode
Island. died at his home here early
today. He vas 81 years old and
death was due to meningitis. After
simple funeral ceremonies the body
will be taken to Rhode Island.
William Sprague was the last Of
lhe Civil war governors. He out
lived every member Of Lincoln's cab
met, every chief executive OF the
states. and nearly every member Of
Congress, Of the war period.
He probably was the youngest
man in this country ever elected to
the governorship OF state. When
only 20 years old in 1860, he was
chosen as Rhode Islands chief exa
ecutive, serving three consecutive
terms Of one year each. In his third
campaign only sixty-five votes were
cast against him in the whole state.
Born at Cranston. r. L., in 1880,
he early inherited a large fortune.
The Sprague family had been promi-
nent in the political, industrial and
social life Of the state since the rev
olution. Young Sprague anticipated
the Civil war. For two years prior
to the outbreak he maintained two
full batteries Of artillery at his own
expense. When the war came.
Rhode Island and Sprague were
ready to rush to the front. q.
In Bull Rum Battle.
The youthful governor, at the
head Of 5000 wel1-drilled troops.
was one OF the first to reach Wash
ington. He marched with his vol
unteers to the battle of. Bull Run and
later to the Peninsula. ~
Governor Spraugue was the last
survivor Of the famous conference
of twelve northern governors at Al
toona. Pa. in 1862.
We had TO take lot OF abuse in
return for our endorsement Of Linz
coins emancipation proclamation,
said Governor Sprague recently.
eve were Kissed in the streets and
were denounced as traitors
At thirty-three years Of age, he
entered the United States Senate
and served during the administra-
tons Of Lincoln, johnson and Grant.
He married the beautiful aud bril-
liant Kate Chase, daughter OF Linz
coins secretary Of the treasury and
later chief Justice Of the United
States supreme court. Lincoln, his
cabinet. congressman. and foreign
ministers attended. It was the most
magnificent wedding ever held IN the
national capital up to that time. It
Is said to have cost more than $780,
900. 4
The young couple led brilliant
social career In Washington and
Rhode Island. Sptague erected a
beautiful mansion at Earragansett
Pier which cost s1,000;000 complete
and was the show palace Of the state.
The furniture alone, all foreign
made. cost $250,000. More than
Sl50.000 worth Of art objects filed
the four-stoTy frame structure.
Str pped of Fortune. rs
The crash came in 1873. When
the financial panic swept the country
tho $16.000.O00 business house Of
the Sprague's which owned large
print cloth factories and numerous
other enterprises went into bank
ruptcy. Lawsuits stripped the gov
ernor Of his fortune. leaving him
only his country home, named
"Canonchet," after an Indian chief.
Before he had recovered from that
blow another fell. Mrs. Sprauge be-
came involved in romance and