The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1881-03-03
DEATH OF SENATOR CARPENTER.

WARRINGTON, Feb. ~.
Senator Matt II. Carpenter breathed his last
In this city this morning At $50, surrounded BY
his family, who hare tenderly iitirsed him
Though Ills long ilhess, ~ his homo physician,
DR.. Fox Of Milwaukee, his local physician, and
by Representative Williams, OF Wisconsin.
DR.. paret, Of the Episcopal Church Of this city,
read the service for the dying - the life Of the
late Senator slowly ebbed away. From the hour
that Dr.. Fox arrived here, yesterday morning,
on his rapid trip from Milwaukee, all
hope WAS abandoned. DR.. For, who knew Mr..
Cafpenter's condition % well, and who, ono
durable, instantly decided thAt the hours OF the
sick man were numbered; and informed his
family that his death might DO expected In
few hours Mr.. Carpenter was not himself
made acquainted with his condition, although
1t was evident, from numerous indications dur
ing the day, that he knew that the hour Of his
fate had come. During thu early part Of the
evening he was fully conscious and recog-
nized his family. After . O'Clock no sank into
Z semi-nnconacious condition, from which, how
ever, he would arouse whenever remarks wore
addressed to him. Occasionally 4 member Of
bis family would seek TO obtain from him some
sign IT recognition, and tho sufferer; by word
respond 70 the last appeals Of love. About l
be sinking. His pulse almost ceased, and It
was thought that the supreme moment
had arrived. He rallied soon after
that, however, and Was less unconscious
until O'Clock. At that hour his wife, his son
- lad Of land his daughter, young
The physicians had Indicated that the remain
ing hours Of the hubbard and fathct verb few.
The death-pan was settling d0An Upon the
chamber, yet theirs was no Outward demunstra-
tion Of grief. Anxious tosecure another recog-
milton, the stricken wife asked: Matt, do you
know me T. The dying man aroused himself
cou1ss d sna 's TSs.. 1srs Ii:
last words on earth. From that time until the
hour Of his decease, be renamed in
painless unconsciousnesa. A little before $50
the physician announced that the final moment
was soon to come. The clergyman, DR.. paret,
then solemnly read the dying service, and - it
pentet passed from Earth: Il was character
istic OF the wonderful intellect or the man that
his head died last
His physicians say that, contrary to the usual
course with such . disease, his mind was clear
to the last moment. II had been evident to Mr..
Carpenters friends for many months, il he
would not realize it himself, that he was stricken
ease. The stalwart form had become 30 wasted
that his clothes burg loosely about him. There
was an ashy pallor on hts face. The voice had
grown 80 weak that its silvery notes rose very
feebly to the galleries.
About one year ago he consulted with his
physician IN Wisconsin, DR.. Fox, who an
nounced to him the sad fact that his malady
vas Dright's disease, and that il had advanced
80 far that bis case WAS incurable.
..Ffolii that hu.ir. said lis pfyssian yesterday,
The was man under sentence. Mr.. Carpenter
could not or would not believe il. He pur-
eli ascd many medical books relating to that sub
iect, and studied the disease with the thorough
ness which characterized oil his investigations.
He caused analysis to be made, and, when ccr-
tam symptoms ON some days were wanting,
would decide that his physicians were
mistaken. and that he had new hold
on life. He remained In tarfid Washing
ton all the last summer: Tho physicians
that lie had ctnsultsd in New York advised
him not to remove from . wafm climate,
through fear that the change to ! cooler tenn
p,rature might result In reaction. That
would prove injurious. Accordingly, through
the heat and malaria and summer torture here,
he remained housed during the daytime, devot-
ing himself assiduously to his extensive law
pract ce, and ct night, when the temperature
was moro moderate, riding about the streets
in an open , carriage to get breath
iu his seat in Congress ct the beginning,
but he was sci dom there afterward. He seemed
to be conscious If his changed appearance. He
Was especially sensitive ut remarks about his
health. He did not wish the report to go out
that he was not strong man. Hewas reluctant
to admit that he was losing his hold upon life,
and possibly his absence from the Senate dur
ing this session WAS due in part to the fact that
be did not care to enter into debate which
would show his increasing feebleness. Three
weeksago he took a severe cold, and had an At
tack Of pneumonia. 1t Mas then feared that he
would not recover. but he was able to 60 to his
Office for some days, when again he WAS strick-
en- down, and in that last illness he died.
Mr.. Carpenter was born 1t Moretown, Vt, in
1924, and adopted by Gov. Dillingham;. For
two years he was cadet at West Point, whence
he went into the law office Of Rufus Choate, in
Boston. He married the daughter Of lis
foster-father and removed to Wis.
consin, settling 81 Beloit In lS48,
removing to Milwaukee ten years later. At the
outbreak Of the war he left the Democratic
party and became an active Republican. In
1869 he was elected tothc United States Senate
and became President pro tom. Of that BODY.
In 1879 lie Was chosen to succeed Senator
Howe. He had A insurance On his life Of
HGS OOO