Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-05-16
SENATOR BECK DEAD.
THE CAUSE OF HIS DEATH AN At
TACK OF LEAR DISEASE.

TACK OF HEART DISEASE.
His Last Appearance in the Senate ON the
Day Sanders anu Power Were Seated
The Funeral Services-Congress Adjourns
as a Mark ST Respect.
Senator James B. Beck, of Kentucky,
dropped dead in the Baltimore 4 Potomac
station at 4 O'Clock on the afternoon of the
3rd. He had just arrived from New York,
accompanied by his daughter, Mrs. Good
loe, the wife Of Major Goodloe CT 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
Wit labor, but these symptoms were the
usual accompaniment of exertion with
him for some months past. After passing
into the station the senator and his daugh-
ter stopped and were joined by his private
secretary, who had brought q 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, II feel
dizzy fell into the arms of his compan-
ions. They could not support his weight
and he dropped to the floor, where he
swooned away. Willing hands were num-
erous and the limp and helpless body was
borne into the Office the stationmaster,
about twenty feet away. When the physi-
clans arrived there was nothing for them
to do except examine the body and deter
min 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 capt.
tol and subsequently spread to all sections
ofthe city. Representatives Breckenridge,
Caruth, Stone and others of the Kentucky
congressional delegation repaired to the
station at once and arranged for the re-
nova of the remains to q 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 legislation Of genera. Importance with
which he was connected with was the
undervaluation bill, which passed the SEN
ate in March, 1888. He worked on that
measure with constant devotion, says
Senator Allison, who was assoc
ciated with him, until it was dis
posed of. One morning shortly
afterwards he came into the room of the
committee saying he had been sick the
night before and was not then feeling we'll.
was the first time he ever had been
kno wn to be sick, and from that time for
ward he was never a we'll man. During
the debate on the senate substitute for the
Mills bill he was not able to take part, and
his absence was a great loss to the demo-
cratic ranks. lie was not ablet to be pres
ent at the opening of the special session
of the senate in March, 1859, and was
sworn In by President Pro Tenn Ingalls,
some days afterwards. He visited the cap
ltal occasionally since the opening of the
Fifty-trs congress, 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
senators, Sanders and Powers, was set
tied.
Senator Book was greatly loved by the
employees of the senate for his uniform
kindness and courtesy and his active in
terest in their welfare.
The.body Of Senator Beck was removed
from the station to the house of Repre-
sentative Breckenride, of Kentucky. No
arrangements have as yet been made for
the funeral. Maj. and Mrs. Goodloe, the
s%on-in-law and daughter Of Senator Beck,
have expressed their willingness to leave all
the arrangements of the funeral in the
hands of the Kentucky delegation.
James B. Beck was born in Dumfriesshire,
Scotland. February ID, 1892. HI received an
academic educa ion in Scotland and graduated
as q lawyer at Transylvania university, Lexing-
ton. KY, in March, 1916. He prscticed law in
Lexington never holding any office until elect
ell a representative in the Fortieth, Forty-frst,
Forty-second and Forty-third congresses. He
was elected 60 tho United States senate 80 .
democrat to succeed job w. Stevenson. He
took his seat on March 5, 1877. and was re-
elected in 1882 and 1883. His term Of service
would have expired on March 3, 1895.
The announcement of Senator Beck's
death was made by Blackburn. Resolu-
tons were adopted for the appointment
of a committee to superintend the
funeral in the senate chamber.
The presiding officer announced the fol-
lowing committee to attend the funeral
and have full charge Of the arrangements:
Senators Blackburn, Harris, Vance,
Kenna, Dawes, Evarts and Henderson.
A committee of arrangements of the two
houses Of congress- and the pail bearers
met at the house of Representative Breck-
inridge On the 9th. At 10 o'clock Senator
Beck's body was taken to the marble room
of the senate and there remained to be
viewed by the public until 1880 o'clock.
AT l o'clock, upon announcement of the
presiding officer, Chaplain Butler and ex-
Chaplain Bullock concluded the funeral
ceremonies. The funeral procession then
NJ arched to the Baltimore & Ohio sta
ton, aud from there a special train CON-
veyed the remains to Lexington, Ky.
Breach of Promise Case Settled.