Omaha daily bee., 1889-08-18
A Hard eottle For Life.

HASTINGS, NED. August H. special Tel
egram to THE BEE. I-The-death of the Hon.
James Laird has been expected in Hastings
for nearly year. The first evidences of his
physical and mental decline showed them
selves about year ago. 1t then took the
form of steadily increasing melancholla, ac-
companied by irritability, which was at first
attributed to an affection of the stomach.
During the campaign OF last fall MIR. Lard
completely broke down. He took to his bed
and prophesied his certain death, and it was
with the greatest difficulty that during Sem
ator Manderson's speech in Hastings Mr..
Laird was induced to dress himself and
make few short words of address from the
platform. The campaign over he became
morose, secluded himself to his room and re-
quired the constant attendance of nurse.
The disease was plainly OF nervous origin,
and there were evidences general of pa
resls which were unmistakeable.
Change of air, and especially OF
surroundings being prescribed, he was taken
to Eureka Springs, in Arkansas, returning
IN January to Hastings very much worse
than when he LETT. AT the earnest solicIta-
tion of the Nebraska congressional delega-
tion ne was taken, in February, to Washing
ton in the hopes that under the care of his
old physician, DR.. Sewers, he might become
convalescent. For short time after his ar
rival he seemed to improve in health, es-
pecially after, by the imperative orders OF
his physician. a change in attendants was
made and a Mr. jacobson, of Hastings, was
placed in charge of the sick room All eff
forts, howey er, to arouse him from the deep
gloom which had settled over his mind were
unavailing, while he was perfectly rational
upon all subjects except his own condition.
During the last month of his life he took
some interest in political matters in the
Second district, debating letters and endeav-
oring as best ne could in his weak state to
perform the duties of his office. He sank
rapidly in strength. A visit of
two months at Atlantlc City, on the seaside,
seemed to improve him greatly, and several
weeks before his return home he took daily
exercise in the open air. walking several
| miles at a stretch. Since his return to Hast
| ingS his decline has been rapid, and the death
| which he had anticipated for so long took
place to-day at 10 O'Clock
MIR. Laird had lived for many years in the
| Second district of Nebraska. and left behind
| him Il large number of very warm friends,
| who will feel in his death sense of per-
! sonal bereavement.
| He was in his prime OF a strong, vigorous
| and aggressive nature. He was lmpetuous
and never stunned a conflict. He was a
| hard fighter, fertile in political eXpedIents,
with strong confidence in his own re.
sources, and fully appreciative of those OF
| his adversares. On the platform he was a
| ready and forcible speaker. While lacking
| the al t of the finished orator, he made up
| for the deficiencies of early education by
| reading and minglIng with men. He had
| peculiar magnetism which attracted
| other and held them when once won.
| While averse to compromise he often changed
| his enemies to personal friends by the charm
| of his manner and the warmth of his sym
| pathies. In congress he attached himself to
| very many of the people of his district and
state, especially the old soldier element, by
| the careful attention which he paid to all de-
mands upon his time in the way of claims,
| pensions and correspondence. He was meth
| odical and prompt in all such matters and as
| consequence, secured results which told.
He was comparatively a young man at the
| time of his death. He had lived at hig 3
pressure for years, throwing himself thor
| oughly into the enloyments of life and draw
| ing heavily upon his vitality at time wher
! men of less impetuous temperament woulC
| have been laying up reserve for the future
| There is Il general expression OF regret over
! his death among all classes in this commu
| nifty, where he was best known and wher,
! recollection of the failings which he had II
| common with many men is lost in remen
brance of the hundreds of kindly acts which
| he did for those in need whenever IL la,
within his power TO assist.