Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1890-05-09
SENATOR BECK IS DEAD.
He Expires Suddenly in a Washington Rail-
road Station.

United States Senator from Kentucky,
dropped dead in the Baltimore aud Poto-
mac Station in Washington Saturday.
He had just arrived on the Limited Ex-
press from New York, and was accom-
panied by his daughter, Mrs. Goodioe,
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 an effort and to
breathe with labor, but these symptoms
were the usual accompaniment of exer-
tion with him for some months past
After passing into the station the Sen
ator and his daughter stopped. and were
Joined by his private secretary, who had
brought carriage to take them home, A
few words were exchanged with regard
to the care of baggage, when the Senator
suddenly turned pale, and with the re-
mark =" l feel dizzy" fell into the arms
of his companions. They could not sup
port his weight, and he dropped to the
floor, where he swooned away.
His daughter was naturally alarmed
and screamed for help. Willing hands
were numerous, as the station was crowd
ed at the time, and the limp and helpless
body was borne into the office of the sta
tion master, about twenty feet away.
Great excitement ensued and, although it
was apparent that the Senator was dead,
half dozen messengers were Immediately
dispatched for physicians and all the
remedies at hand were applied, but all to
no effect. DR.. Chamberlain was the first
| physician to arrive, and he was soon fol-
lowed by DR.. Wells and others, but there
was nothing for them to do except to ex-
anime the body to determine the cause of
| death.
A superficial examination only was pos
sible at the time, but this was sufficient to
satisfy the physicians that death resulted
from paralysis of the heart, and immedi-
atelY followed the attack. The news was
telegraphed to the Capitol. and subsequent
tly spread like wildfire to all sections
of the city. Representatives Brackin-
ridge, Caruth, Stone, and others of the
Kentucky Congressional delegation re.
paired to the station at once and arranged
for the removal of the body to a more
suitable place.
The body was removed from the station
to the house of Representative Breckin
ridge of Kentucky on Capitol Hill. Later
1t was taken in charge by an undertaken
and embalmed. No arrangements have as
yet been made for the funeral. Major and
Mrs. Goodloe have expressed willing
ness to leave this matter in the hands of
the Kentucky delegation in Congress,
which will hold meeting tomorrow.
Whatever arrangements may be made as
to the time of the funeral, the body will
be removed to Lexington, KY, Senator
Beck's home, and will be inferred there,
where his wife and daughter lie buried.
Mr.. Beck left a son named George, who
at present is somewhere in Wyoming, but
the telegraph has been put to use and he
will be informed of his fathers death.
The only other child left by Mr.. Beck Is
his daughter, Mrs. Goodloe.
When the news of his death was re-.
ceived in the Senate Chamber it produced
a great shock. 1t was at 4:30 o'clock that
Senator Harris sent to the desk of the
presiding officer and had read bulletin
reading Senator Beck dropped dead
IN the Baltimore and Potomac Depot"
6 In view of the sad news contained in
that announcement" said Mr.. Harris, %
move that the Senate do now adjourn"
The motion was agreed to, and the Sena-
tors gathered in knots to discuss the
startling event. Orders were also given
that the flag should be placed at half
mast.
Senator Beck bad not been regular in
his attendance upon the SESSIONS of the
DNhaSS iSl WV JSdiS, anu was Ill DIS seat
but few times this Cong ess. The last
eglslation of general Importance with
which he was connected was the Under.
valuations Bill, which passed the Senate
in March, 1888. He worked on that
measure with constant devotion says SEN
ator Allison, who was associated with
him until it was disposed of. One
morning shortly afterward he came into
the room of the Appropriations Commit
tee, saying be had been sick the night be-
fere and was not then feeling we'll That
was the first time he had ever been known
to be sick, and from that time forward he
was never a we'll man again. lie was no
able to be present at the opening of thet
special session of. the Senate, in March,
1889, and was sworn in by President Pro
TEN ingalls, some days afterward He
visited the Capitol occasionally since the
opening Cf the Fifty-first Congress, but
took no part, except to vote, in the pro-
ceedings. His last appearance in the
Senate Chamber was on the dav The case