Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-08-21
DEATH OF SPEAKER KERR,
THE Last SAD SCENES.
sketch OF His Life and Services

sketch OF His Life and Services
Speaker Kerr died at 7:2O O'Clock Saturday
evening, at Rockbridge Alum Springs, Va
calmly and without pain. At the setti ag OF
the sun he went quietly to rest; SO quietly,
indeed, that DR.. Pope, who was noting every
change, had hardly time to summon the
anxious watchers In the room to the bedside
OF his patient. Though 1t had long been
evident that the only relief from his sui
ferIngs would be death, his noble wife, who
through his long illness had tended him with
untiring love and devotion, could not real
ize that the awful moment OF arting ma 4
inevitably come; but, with streaming eyes
leave her. The Speakers sou, a young man
OF some twenty one years, whore affection
10 the cold hand of the dying man with the
silent anguish OF despair.
THE DEATH SCENE
was one OF peculiar pathos and solemnIty.
The eyes of the Speaker rested with a look
Of yearniDg tenderness upon his stric zen
family, and then wand cred slowly around
the room as IL with last farewell to those
present. Hon. 3. s. Cox stood at the head OF
the bed, and was deeply affected. The
Speakers secretary, Mr. White, aud Mr.
Scudder, his clerk, were also with him.
DETAILS OF HIS ILLNESS.
The condition of emaciatIon to which the
Speaker was reduced by the ravages OF his
his body presented the appearance of skele-
ton. Every bone was distinctly perceptiole
under the thin, tightly-drawn skin, wlile
even the line OF the spinal column was visi-
bic through the collapsed walls OF the aldo
men. For more than sixty hours before
death he took no nOurishment. The di sease
that ba flied the medical skill of the country
was phehenis tntesDadlis, or consumption OF
During Saturday the Speaker lay in a semi
lethargtc condition, with eyes somewhat in
siODally varied by q sudden start, as liz from
sleep, at which time the intellect would be
again thoroughly aroused. He suffered par
visible by the knotted cords of the muscles
OF the neck and limbs and contraction OF the
nerves OF the face and eyes, though there
was but little audible indication of his suf-
fsrfng except an occasional hollow groau.
He seemed at times to make painful at
tempts to express himself audIbly without
success, and could only indicate by gestures
or an occasional spasmOdic whisper bis
wishes. His mind was clear to the last. He
rec gnized Hon. Montgomery Blair and
others who spoke to him, and shortly before
death indicated to DR.. Harris, OF the Metho-
dist church, his readiness to die and hopes
OF future life of happiness. About noon
bis son read telegram from friend In In
diana. He listened intently, and his mind
evidently wandered for time to the past.
He made q faint gesture of pleasure wnen
allusiOn was made to his vindication from
the cruel charge recently made against his
honor and the handsome tribute paid to his
sterling integrity In Mr.. Carpenters late
speech before the Senate.
PREPARATIONS FOR THE FUNERAL.
An embalmer was sent from here to Rock
bridge Alum Springs Saturday night to EN-.
balm the body, and last night the ca sket for
the remains was forwarded. The party &C.
companying 1t included Representatives.
Sayler and IL. Casey Young, together with
Colonel Adams, the Clerk OF the House,
under whose direction, in the absence of au-
made. Ex-Speaker Banks was Invited To
go, but he was obliged to decline owing to
engagements requiring him TO leave w ash
lngton last night for the east. Although
Presidents and Vice Presidents have died
vhi'e in office, this is the only case where q
Speaker of the House has died while occupy
ing that position. The party which left last
night for the springs were to arrive tnera
this morning at O'Clock, when 1T was to os
deter miped whether the remains will be con-
veyed to New Albany by the Chesapeake
ana Ohio railroad and the Ohio river, or by
continuous railroad 10 New Albany by way
OF washington.
THE REMAINS COMING THROUGH WASH
INGToN.
The following was received this afteraoon
from Hon. q. 8. Cox:
RoCKBRIDGE ALUM SPRINGS, VA, Au-
gust 21-Mr. Adams and Mr.. Sayler arrived
here this morning with the casket. The re,
mains are embalmed, and the escort will
leave for washington this evening and ar
rive there at In the morning, and thence
Sergeant alarms Thompson arrived here
this morning, and sent several kilograms to
ROCK Alum springs stating that he was
here, and was ready to make arrangements
to transport the remains to New Albany.
About noon he received q telegram from Mr.
Cox saying :-"Arrive at Washington at 7
to- morrow morning, and then leave as soon
until we arrive"
When the remains arrive In Washing
ton Sergeant alarms Thompson will take
rxF Ia "a tn Pa NJ 4.
them lie in state one day In the rotunda OF
the Capitol. Speaker Sayler, before leaving
last night for Rockbridge Alum Springs, also
depend very much on the feelings OF Mrs.
Kerr In this respect, and until the funeral
party arrive here no one can tell what the
programme will be.
HIS LIFE AND SERVICES.
Michael Crawford Kerr was born March
IS, 1877 on his fathers farm at Titusville,
Pa. His twin brother, Marshall, who sur
wives him, In a farmer In Western Pennsyl-
vania- His father was Scotch Irish, aud his
mother OF German origin. Until the age of
eighteen he wor ked on his fathers farm, and
subsequently taught school for several
years. Without fortune or the aid OF friends
ne soed t sacsndeG
At the death of his father, in 1899, he formed
the design, from which he never variet, of
Knowledge. In 1917 he was pursuing his
academic studies at Erie, Penns ylvania,
but, impairing constitution never strong,
was forced TO seek milder climate fartner
so1th. He accordingly removed to Ken
lucky, studied law, and graduated in the
law department. OF the university of that
state In 1851. The same year he settled in
New Albany in the practice of his profess
sion. In 1854 he was elected city attorney,
and prosecuting attorney of Floyd county
In 1875 He served in the legislature In 1856
and 1851, and was elected supreme court re-
porter in 1851. He was q member of the
Thirty-ninth, Fortieth, Forty-first, Forty
second and Forty. fourth Congresses. His
political career Is q part OF the history of
bis country. Mr.. Kerr professed no religious
creed. He was q Mason and an Odd Fell
low.
OWING TO TIE ILLNESS to-day of Secre
tary Morrill,. who was NOT At the Treasury