Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1890-05-07

stefan as % remedy Tor MS snatteIed nerves
and was accompanied by his daughter, Mrs.
Goodloe. Leaving the train, he walked
erect aud with firm step to the gate of exit
from the station where he was greeted by
his secretary, 70 whose inquiries after his
health he responded; ooh, DR.. Lomis has
examined me and he says l am all right"
The next moment he complained of dizzi-
ness. and sank to the floor, where he died
almost Immediately Senator Beck had
been in falling health for about two years,
and had been in his seat in the Senate only
a few times during the present session of
Congress, and then not to take any part in
the proceedings except to vote. 1t was ru-
mored not long ago that he would resign
from the Senate on account of his physical
condition but the report was denied, and
his health was said to be improving.
Mr.. Beck was born in Scotland in 1922
and came TO this country with his parents
when about Il or Is years of age. They
settled in Kentucky, and the young Scotch
man went to work to earn his living in such
ways as opened to him, being employed a
good deal of the time by owners Of thorough
breds in that horse raising and racing re-
gion. He thus imbibed a love of horses and
of the turf which chung to him all his life.
While thus employed he came under the
notice of Gen. John c. Breckinridge, who
took him into his law office at Lexington.
He afterward graduated from a law school
aud became the partner of Gen. Breckin-
ridge. He was a Wing in his early years
but aitervard became Democrat. He
was elected to the 40th Congress and re-
elected 10 the 4lst in which he distin-
guished himself by his opposition to the
fifteenth amendment TO the constitution,
and to the 42nd and 43rd, serving on the
ways and means committee, and devoting
himself with such industry to the study of
the tariff and finance that he became a
recognized authority on these questions. In
70 he was elected to the Senate and twice
re elected
By superior mental endOwments and force
of character, and by his wide information
and ability in debate he held a place among
the leaders first in the House and afterward
in the Senate, and his incorruptible integ-
rity and sturdy patriotism were generally
conceded His death is a loss to his party
in the Senate like that of Randall to the
Democratic forces in the House
In announcing the death of Senator Beck
in the Senate, General Blackburn, in voice
remulous with suppressed emotion, said
Mr.. Presideut-NIy colleague is dead. 1t
is not my purpose at this time to speak eth
err of him or Of the great services which he
has rendered TO his country In the fresh
ness of the sorrow the love which | bore
him would blind with its tears. The dra-
perry of his desk furnishes fitting type Of the
sorrow which pervades every heart in this
chamber A great Commonwealth, with
bowed head, to-day puts on the weeds of
mourning. At an appropriate time, and in
the early future will ask the Senate to az
ford to his friends an opportunity to pay
their tribute to his memory. l will now
ask the Senate TO consider the resolutions
which I send TO the clerks desk"
And in the House of Representatives
Congressman Breckenridge spoke as fol-
lows:
'I viii not detain the House except with
the announcement of the death of my
pre- ecessor and friend 1t is a personal
SORROW much more than a public sorrow to
many of US, more especially, probably, to
me- who had been his friend since | was a
lad of ten years of age, connected with him
by every possible tie which can connect two
men except blood and relationship. Il was
in the House he won his first national rep
utation, a reputation based on the loftiest
qualities Of q true manhood His life was
one of the most romantic in American poll
tics. That a poor Scotch boy should come
to the blue grass country rhould rise to the
head Of the most brilliant bar west of the
Allegheny mountains; should be erected
four consecutive times to fill the seat once
filled by Henry Clay should be translated
TO the Senate and receive three consecutive
elections, almost without opposition. and
should die with the love, confidence and es-
TEEN of his entire State; that during sixty