The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1890-04-17
Death of Samuel T. Randall.

Death OF Samuel j, Randall.
Congressman Samuel J. Randall expired sun
d ny morning just as the bells of neighboring
churc hwere tolIing five O'clock at his late resi-
dence on Capitol Hill, Washington. Around the
bedside were gathered the family the physician
and Postmaster General Wanamaker, who kept
a constant watch over the dying man during the
night. few moments before his death, he had
opened his eyes and looking tenderly at his wife,
who knelt over him, said in a low tone, Mother
a word instinct with all the fondest recollections
of their long and happy married life, and by
which he always called his wife when all but the
family were near. He looked into her eyes as if
he were about to say something more, but he
seemed to have no strength left, and in a few
moments he had passed away.
Mr. Randalls deathhad been expected at any
time during the past three months, and his fam
lily and friends knew that he could not last much
longer. The physicians had informed the family
that death might come almost any hour, and
Saturd ay night they told Mrs. Randall that his
endurance could not prolong his life through
another day. Friday night had been bad one
for the sick man, and he had several sinking
spells, from which he rallied, to the astonish-
ment of his physicians. These, however. left
him weaker, and when morning came it was
evident that his extraordinary vitality had al
most left him. He rested easily and com
fortably during the fore part of the day, and
the doctor was encouraged to hope that he
might live several days yet. He took some nOur-
ishme 1T and dozed off without any difficulty
Shortly after three O'Clock, however, marked
change was noticed in his appearance, and he
seemed almost to sink away This spell was
worse than any of the preceding ones, and it
was thought that the end was at hand. About
$3.50 o'clock he had another sinking SPELL and af
forwards his mind became more clear and
bright. His strength continued to ebb till five
O'Clock, when the wheels of life stood still.
Mr.. Randalls illness dates back about five
years, when DR.. Thomas f. Mallan, who has at
tended him throughout his later illness, was
called in to treat him for the govt. July 9th
almost two years ago, Mr.. Randall was suddenly
seized with a violent diarrlloea and hemorlilage
during the night due to hastily eating dish Of
ice cream and berries during the day. Tie
hemorrhage was so severe as to completely
PROSTATE him, and his life was i'll imminent
danger. DIR. Mallan says that for some time
previous to this Mr.. Randall had been troubled
with what he supposed were llemOrrhOids. The
diarrhpa attack caused the disease to assume
an active form, and it was founda that he was
suffering from an extensive and malignant ali
Scess. This caused serious hemorrhages, which
greatly depleted his system, and left him weak
under the physicians care, and Dr. Mallan at
tended him constantly while he was in Wash
ington, DIR. n S. Lincoln being called into con-
sultation occasionally. Mr.. Randall rallied and
grew stronger, and was getting on fairly wei
until last February, when he had a severe rigOr
brought on probably by the weather. This rigor
was accompanied by severe abdominal pains,
and there were symptoms of peritonis. From
this time exhaustion began to set in, and the
sick mans course was downward. Septiconmia
was also present, and chill and severe diar
rhna about two weeks ago brought the case to
a critical stage. Up to short time ago MIR
Randall had confidence in his ability to pull
through his sickness, and told Congressional
visitor that he thought he was mendng and
that he would be able to resume his Congress
sional duties. He Joined the Presbyterian Church
about two months ago. Mr. Wanamaker spoke
to him on this subject, and Mr.. Randall replying
that he had been thinking of this matter for
some time, and would like to become a member
of the church, arrangements were effected by
which lie Joined the Metropolitan Presbyterian
Church, on Capitol Hill. DR.. Chester is the pas
tor, and will probably conduct the funeral SER
vices i'll Washington.
At 10 O'Clock Subway Mr.. Wanamaker said that
the fun eral had been fixed for Thursday morn
ing. The arrangements will be in charge of u
| day morning. Mrs. Randall prefers that the
services shall be held in the church of which
| Mr.. Randall member, and not i'll the
/ House of Representatives. Nine os ten O'Clock
win be the hour fixed for the services. After the
ceremonies the funeral party win take special
train over the Pennsylvania Railroad to Phila-
delphia, where the interment will take place i'll
the Randall family vault in Laurel Hill Gene
teIy. Brief services will be held there.
Sergeant-at- Arms Holmes called and took
charge of the remains for the House of Repre-
sentatives. They were enlbalmed and placed in
casket i'll the room in which Mr.. Randall died.
/ 1t is said that the dead man presents life-like
appearance, except that lie is emaciated and
1 wasted to a remarkable degree.
Samuel Jackson Randall was a son of Josiah
Randall, a man well known in his day and gen
Grafton whose memory is still fragrant in Phil
adephia, October 10, 1928. His education was
academic, and it was his fathers intention to
make him merchant, but he soon manifested
/ a distaste to mercantile pursuits turned his at
tention toward political affairs, and was elected
soon after attaining his majority a member of
the Philadelphia City Council on the Wing ticket.
| Later, however. he joined the Democratic party
and during the Buchanan campaig was elected
to the Pennsylvania Senate. At the breaking
! out of the war he enlisted as private in COM
pany which had been raised in his native city,
and was among the three months men who
came forward at the call for troops. He re-
| turned from the war a sergeant and was soon
after elected to Congress from the LIST Philadel-
phia distict, and had held his seat in that body
uninterrupted ever since He was not long i'll
making his mark as an efficient committeeman
and ready debater, an expert in parliamentary
practice, and fighter who fought until he was
whipped, and then snapped his fingers in the
face of defeat. The Forty third Congress gave
him the opportunity OF his life. TheoCcasion was
the attempted passage of the now famous force
bill. Still in a minority in the House Of Repre-
sentatives, the Democrats scarcely dared hope
I to defeat this bill, but Randall took the lead,
made their fight aggressive, instead of defen-
sve, and the whole party seemed to catch his
spirit For days and nights he opposed parlia-
mentary tactics. ready strategy and invincible
pluck to compact Republican majority, with
| all the machinery of the House at its back. In
/ the end his apparently forlorn hope was vic6C-
rious, and Randall was, by common consent, the
hero of the contest. At cnce and thence for
ward Samuel j RANDALL occupied prominent
position in the eyes of the nation, and when the
| House of Representatives in the next Congress
was organized by the Democrats, almost every
body looked to see him carry Off the prize of the
| Speakership. But he was TO wait little longer.
an older claim. He was Michael c. Kerr. The
South and West combined to give him the chair.
| Mr.. Randall made good fight, but losing, &C
quesced cheerfully. Speaker Kerr died in the
summer of 1876 and when Congress assembled
in the following December, it was nece ssary to
elect his successor for the unexpired Congress
sional term. Mr.. Randall selected by the
Democratic caucus over S. S. Cox, of New York.
Mr. Randall was succeeded in the Speakership
by Mr.. Carlisle He had always been high
tariff Democrat. In the last two or three Pr esi
Dental Democratic conventions he received
complimentary votes, but never the nomina
tion.
Indicted
The grand jury of the United States
| Circuit Court in Richmond returned true
bills of indictments against Messrs. Pres
ton Belvin, H. M. Smith, jr., e. G. Tate,
Walter Blackburn, August Fisher, Will
T lie Shortell. A. B. Gnigon, J. c. CARING
ton and Richard Cottrell, nearly all
prominet Democrats, for combining to
hinder and ohstruct voting at the cleo
/ ton held November 6, 1888, for members
of Congress. They maintain that they