Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-02-06
NAMED STATESMEN.
CONGRESSMAN WHO LOST LIMBS m
THE LATE WAR.
Other Congressional Cripples-Thaddeas
Stevens Lameness-Darwin A. Finney
Oliver r. Morton and Alexander
II. Stephens-A Phenomenon.
fRamsIen in Philaielphia rress.


Referring TO helpless people, | recall an
article in The Post of this city of few
days ago giving a list Of the members and
senator's who lost limbs in the late war 10y
the way, how long is the term -the late wal"
to be usedb and those who were wounded in
battle The list. may say in passing is by
no means complete For example. it does
not include Bill Morrison, who, in a GER
tain way, is the leader Of the house. He
was several times wounded in battle, but,
with modesty that well becomes him, hs
keeps all mention of his service in the
Union army out of his biography in the
"Cnngressiunal Directory. | have not the
time nor the facts at hand 10 give the
names Of all those who were wounded in
both armies who are now in congress One
strange fact | will mention. Both senator's
from South Carolina wear each wooden
leg Strange. ISN'T it, One OF them
Butler lost his leg hunting Yankees, and
the other Hampton lost his hunting deer
on 4 mule.
How well remember what may be called
the total cripples7 in congress during the
pa twenty years! All told, they We're four.
First who gave way was grand old Thad-
deus Stevens. He was always lame from an
Informed foot have heard he dill not
walk at all until he was years old He al
ways walked with great difficulty, never
could walk far, and, during the last few
years Of his life lhe died at 20, lie could not
walk at all Every day lie was taken from
his home near the capitol by two strong col
ored men in an easy chair, which they
hoisted on their shoulders, AMI thus the
great commOner WAS borne through the
streets. Crowds used to gather to see him
pass and reverently lift their hats He was
put down in his place III the house and when
the session was oyer he was taken back 10
his house AMI put 20 bed sir. Stevens often
laagEingly spoke OF the two colorel carriers
as his pall-bearerS.
Another helpless cripple was Darwin A
Finney, member for one term from Mead
VILE, Pa. He propelled himself about in a
wheel-chair, but his trunk AMI lower limbs
were helpless from paralysis, and he hal TO
be helped III and out of the house Of repre-
sentatives. He died abroad. | believe at
about the same tins as Mr.. Stevens died.
Oliver F. Morton, as | think one Of the big
gest men ever i'll congress, was another
helpless paralytic tie was never out Of
pain, and, although a young man the died at
the ase Of 81, he was the most depanien Of
mortals in his latter days. He, too, had t.
be carried into and out of the senate cham
Der in chair. He was poor man, and
could Ill afford the low coupe he was obliged
TO own.
The other helpless statesman of the four !
alluded to AleIanie: II. Stephens. He
was truly phenomenon. Built Of nothing
but skin and bones, he never weighed while
in congress moro than from eighty to 100
pounds. Such little bit of a thin face, and
such skeleton hands You never saw. Yet
how bright were his eyes, and what exhibit
tons of energy! His voice was one of the
strongest and ciearest | ever heard, and
when he spoke, my masters wheeling his
chair backward and forward in the space in
front of the speakers desk, he was listened
to by the whole hUuse lie had to be taken
homo in his chair, too He had for a body
servant a young negro six feet four in
height, AMI admirably proportional. Mr..
Stephens used TO say, chuckling quietly the
while, that he did not know what he woull
do when sam died All four Of these men
are now dead Three of them certainly
were great, and it seems 10 ME that the
places of Thad Stevens and Governor Morton
never can be filled