Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-03-12
DEATH OF SENATOR MILLER.

o'clock this afternoon, after a pro-
lOnged sickness. While hls con
dition has been regarded "a pre-
carious for many weeks past, his
death today was sudden and un-
expected. At no time since his ar
rival in this city TO attend the SEES
sions of this Congress has he been
regarded as entirely ont OF danger;
but he showed such wonderful re-
Operative powers, and rallied 80
often from attacks which were re-
garded at the time as necessarily
fatal, that his friends have been
encouraged, and even looked for
his ultimate recovery. His death
was the result of a complication of
disorders, arising primarily from
a severe wound in the eye received
during the war, twenty-three years
ago. The bullet remained IN his
head for about twelve years before
it could be extracted, and the
wound Slapped his strength and
rendered him an easy victim to dis
ease. Loss of sleep debllitated his
system, and asthmatic symptoms
kept him in almost constant pam.
Bright's disease subsequently be-
gan it's insidious work, aud then
dropsical disorders were develop
ed. But through all his illness the
Senator showed such nerve and
will power that his physicians were
encouraged to hope he might re-
cover. Several operations were
performed, and seemed to give
much relief. When the storm pass
ed over the city last night the Sen
ator complained of feeling much
worse, and wastrouble with asthma.
His physicians were promptly sum
moned, and their attentions seemed
to have built him up again. This
morning the attending physician,
DR.. Pope, made careful examina-
ton of the patient, and reported
his condition as more favorable
than it had been for several days
past. Miss Miller remainded her
father that she had made an en-
gagement with her cousin, Major
o. G. Miller, to go to the Capitol,
but she did not think she ought to
90 under the circumstances. Her
father said it was wrong for her to
think of staying home on mis- ac-
count. The doctor had said he
was better, and i'll fact he did feel
much stronger himself. lie urged
her so strongly that at last she con-
scented, and thus it happened by
her fathers own counsel she was
away from his bedside when he
breathed his last.
The news of her fathers death
unnerved her completely. The
Senator remained quiet up to about
II o'clock, when he became restless
and asked for the doctor. A mes
senger was sent for DR.. Pope, but
before he arrived Mr.. Miller had
passed away. lie was conscious to
the last, and took sad farewell OF
his wife, who had been at his bed
side all day. Mr.. and Mrs. John
Davis had called in a few minutes
before, and were also present when
he died.
While no arrangements have yet
been made for the funeral, it is
virtually settled that the remains
will be taken to California for in
terment.
Senator Miller was born in In
diana, in 1881, his parents being
Virginians. lie received an acade-
mical education at South Bend, and
was fitted for college at Chicago,
but did not not enter commenced
the study of law in 1S49, and grad
uated at the New York State Law
School in 1852. He commenced
practice at South Bend, but soon
went to California, where he prac-
ticed law for three years, when he
returned to Indiana and resumed
practice there in 1860 he was a
member of the State Senate, but
resigned to enter the army as
colonel of the Twenty-uinth In
diana Volunteers, and was soon
placed in command of brigade,
serving under Sherman, Buell.,
Rosecrans and Thomas, and recelv.
ing severe wounds in the battle of
Stone River and Liberty Gap. He
was promoted to brigadler-general.
In the battle of Nashville he com
manded the left division of 5000
men and was brevetted a major
general for conspicuous bravery.
At the close of the war he was Of
fered a high commission in the re.
gular army, but he declined it, and
returned to California, where he
was collector of the port OF San
Francisco four years, declining a
reappOintment. He was a repu6ll-
can candidate for presidential cleo
tor in 1872, in 1876 aud in 1881.
lie was a member of the California
State constitutional convention III
1876 was elected to the United
States Senate as republican to
succeed Newton Booth, and took
his seat March 4, 1881.
At the time Of his death he was
chairman of the Senate committee
on foreign relations, and a member
of the committee on civil service
and retrenchment and the District
of Columbia. He leaves a widow
and one daughter. There is no
Legislature in existence in Callfor'
mia. A new one to be elected in
the autumn will meet next January.
Gov. StOneman, who has appoint
ment of Gen. Miller's successor, is
ademOcrat.
Among Californians here the
persons spoken of as likely to re-
ceive the appointment from the
Governor of California to succeed
Gen. Miller in the United States
Senate are ex.ChiefJustice of Cali
fornia Wallace Geo. Hearst, the
democratic caucus nominee at the
last electlonI Gen. Rosecrans, and
Mr.. Delmas, the attorney for the
State in the railroad tax cases now
before the United States Supreme
Court.
If the Funders really believe, as
they claim to do, that the Riddle
berger bill represents the true
amount OF our State Indebtedness,
and Is i'm every WAY so wise and