The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-01-26
PLAYING WITH DEATH.
ZOE" RANKIN MEETS THE GRIM
TERROR ALMOST WITH A SMILE.
yelecting a Seat in the Fouse That Would
"Look Well Draped Action of the
House on the Sad E,snt-Other WASH
ington News.

WASHINGTON CITY, Jan. 2G-After lin
gering upon the verge of eternity fof
several months, conscious that his days
could only be few, and expecting the sum-
mons of death at any moment, Congressman
Joseph Rankin, of Wisconsin, expired at
noon Sunday. Every physician that has
attended him has wondered that he survived
so long. He kept his courage to the last,
however, and virtually laughed the King of
Terrors In the face on his deathbed, the
newspapers in the last few days having re-
corded his witty sayings When
he proposed to go to the house
on the opening of the session he
was warned that the exertion
would be fatal, but he went to the capitol
stood up with the rest of the members, and
was sworn in Then his friend begged him
TO return to his hotel, but he said, No, I'm
going to stay and select a seat want one
that will look well draped" He went to the
capitol twice afterward. The last time no
was out of doors, however, was when he was
removed from the Ebbitt house to a private
residence adjoining the home of Postmaster
General Villas The lady from whom he
rented the rooms asked if he wanted them
for the season. No." he replied, "but
| want them as long as | live
am liable to die any minute, and the rent
stops the day of my. death. i am not going
to incumber my estate with an unexpired
lease, and when die hope you'll be gen
erous enough to let the funeral be held here
without extra charge"
The landlady, who is the wife of clerk
at the Smithsonian institute, thought her
new tenant was engaging in some CHASTITY
jokes, but he told her that he was never
more in earnest in his life If dropped
dead here this minute" he said, 4 suppose
you would think | was joking"
Two weeks ago it was thought he was
breathing his last Dr. kempster, who is
the private salaried physician of Senator
Sawyer's family, was attending him, and
said: Joe, it looks as if death was pretty
near. Your symptoms are very bad to-
night"
Mr. Rankin opened his eyes with an effort
and replied in husky tone: Tell me some
thing new. I've been fooled good many
times on that" The next day he frightened
up, seemed stronger and better, and re-
mined the doctor of what he had said the
night before Thus he has been lingering
| along playing with DEATH" as one of his
friends expressed it, every breath weaken
ing his strength until it was all exhausted.
His last act was to bid his wife and children
, good-by about twenty minutes before hi
! expired He was passionately fond of his
children and the scene was extremely effect
ing. He was in full possession of his menta
| faculties
Mr., Rankin has for years been one of tn,
leaders OF the Democratic party in Wis
| consiu was member of the legislature Of
that state almost continually from the time
he left the army in 1915 until he was elected
to congress in 1882 and several times pre-,
| sided over its sessions as speaker
In the house Monday morning the chap
lain in his opening prayer, feelingly re
| ferred to the death of Representative
| Rankin, and invoked the Divine blessing anC
protection upon the sorrowing family
Bragg of Wisconsin announced the death OF
his colleague, Mr. Rankin, and offered tbs
customary resolutions, which were unani
mously adopted, and as mark OF respect
to the memory OF the deceased the house al
1915 adjourned
The speaker appointed Bragg, Val
Setback, Stevenson, Guenther, Carleton
Henderson of Illinois, and johnson of New
York as committee on the part of The
house to take order for experimenting tn
funeral, and TO accompany the remains o.
the deceased to his home in Wisconsin