Omaha daily bee., 1890-05-04
SENATOR BECK DROPS DEAD.


WASHINGTON, May 3.-Senator James B.
Beck of Kentucky dropped dead in the Balti-
more 81 Potomac station at 4 o'clock this
afternoon. He had just arrived from New
York, accompanied by his daughter, Mrs.
Goodloe the wife of Major Goodloe of the
United States marine corps. He got off the
train with the rest of the passengers and
walked with his daughter the entire length
of the platform and through the gate leading
to the station proper He seemed to walk
with effort and to breathe with labor but
these symptoms were the usual accompani-
ments of exertion with him for some
months past After passing into
the station the senator and his
daughter stopped and We're joined
by his private secretary, who had brought a
carriage to take them home. A few words
had been exchanged with regard to the care
of the baggage, when the senator suddenly
turned pale and with the remark, Il feel
dizzy fell into the arms of his companions.
They could not support his weight and he
dropped to the floor, where he Swooned away.
Willing hands We're numerous and the limp
and helpless body was borne into the Office of
the stationmastcr. about twenty feet away.
When the physicians arrived there was moth
ing for them to do except to examine the body
and determine the cause of his death. A
superficial examination only was possible at
the time but was sufficient to satisfy the
physicians that death resulted from paralysis
of the heart
The news was telegraphed to the capitol
and subsequently spread to all sections of the
city. Representatives Breckenridge, Caruth
Stone and others of the Kentucky congress
sional delegation repaired to the station at
once and arranged for the removal of the re-
mains to a suitable place,
Senator Beck has not been regular in his
attendance upon the sessions of the senate for
two years, and was in his seat but "A few
times during this congress. The last legisla-
tion of general importance with which he
was connected with was the under valuation
bill, which passed the senate in
March, 1888. He worked ON that
measure with constant devotion, says Senator
Allison, who was associated with him, until
it was disposed of. One morning shortly
afterwards he came into the room of the com
mttee saying he had been sick the night be-
fore and was not then feeling well. That
was the first time he ever had been known to
be sick, and from that time forward he was
mover Il well man. During the debate on the
senate substitute for the Mills bill he was
not able to take part, and his absence
was great loss to the democratic ranks
He was not able to be- present
at the opening of the special session
of the senate in March, lsS9 and was sworn
in by President Pro TEN ingalls, some days
afterwards. He visited the capital occasion
ally since the opening of the Fifty-first con-
gress, but took no part in the proceedings
except to vote,
His last appearance in the chamber was on
the day the case of the new Montana SEN
ators, Sanders and Power, was settled.
Senator Beck was greatly beloved by the
employees of the senate for his uniform kind
ness and courtesy and his active intsrest in
their welfare.
The body of Senator Beck was removed
from the station to the house of Representa-
tive Breckenridge of Kentucky. No arrange
ments have as yet been made for the funeral.
Major and Mrs. Goodloe, the sonin-law and
daughter of Senator Beck, have expressed
their willingness TO leave all the arrange
ments for the funeral in the hands of the
Kentucky delegation.
James b. Beck was born in Dumfries-
shire, Scotland, February l3, 1892. He re-
ccivcd an academic education in Scotland
and graduated as lawyer at Pennsylvania
university, Lexington, Ky, in March, 1916,
He practiced law in Lexington; never hold
ing any office until elected Il representative
in the Fortieth, Forty first, Forty and
korty-third congresses. He was elected to
the United States senate as "A democrat TO
succeed John w. Stevenson. He took his
seat ON March >, 1917, and was reelected in
1852 and 1888. His term of service would
luNp pNDippl on March 2 lSp1