New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-04
SENATOR BECK DROPS DEAD.
BREATHING HIS LAST IN A RAILWAY
STATION IN WASHINGTON.
PARALYSIS OF THE HEART THE CAUSE OF HA
DEATH-THE SUDDEN END OF AN ILL
NESS OF TWO YEARS.


DEATH-THE SUDDEN END OF AN ILL
NESS OF TWO YEARS.
Washington May Ex-senator James b. Deck
Kentucky. dropped dead in the Baltimore and Potomac
Railroad station at O'Clock this afternoon. He had
Just arrived the limited express from NewYork,
and was accompanied by his daughter, Mrs. Goodoe,
wife OF Major GoOdlOe, Of the United States Marine
Corps. lie got OF 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. TO breathe with labor but these symptoms
had been the usual accompaniments OF exertion with
him for months past After passing into the
station the senator and his daughter Joined by
his private secretary, who had brought carriage to
take them home.
A few words exchanged concerning the
Of baggage. when the Senator suddenly turned pale.
and with the remark 81 feel dizzy fell into the
OF his companions They could not support his weight
and he dropped 10 the foor where he lost conscious
His daughter screamed for help. willing hands
were numerous, and the body borne into the office
OF the station master, about twenty feet away. Great
excitement ensued. and, although it was apparent
that the Senator dead, hal-dozen
messengers were Immediately dispatched for physicians.
and all the remedies at hand applied.
Dr. Chamberlain the first physician to arrive,
and he was followed by DR.. Wells and others;
but there nothing for them TO do except TO ex-
anime the body to determine the Of death. only
a superficial examination possible at the time.
but this sufficient to satisfy the physicians that
death had resulted from paralysis Of the heart and had
Immediately followed the attack The was tclc-
graphed to the CAPITOL and subsequently spread like
wtldfre 70 all sections Of the CITY, Representatives
Breckinrtdge Caruth, Stone and Others Of the Ken
lucky Congressional delegation fastened to the station
and arranged for the removal Of the body.
Senator Beck had not been regular in his attendance
upon the sessions Of the Senate for two years and was
in his seat only few times this Congress. The last
legislation Of general importance with which he was
connected the Undervaluatons bill, which passed
the senate in March, 1888. He worked that
measure with constant DEVOTION" says Senator ALI
son. who WAS associated with him, until it dis
posed Of" One morning shortly afterward he came
into the Of the Appropriations Committee, saying
he had been i'll the night before, and was not then
feeling we'll. That the first time he had ever
been known to be sick, and from that time FORWARD
he never a we'll man.
James Butnie Beck native Of Scotland, having
been born in Dumfrlesshre on the 18th Of February,
1922 He received academic education in scotland,
and graduated lawyer at Pennsylvania
University, Lexington, KY, in March, 1864. Mr. Beck
continued reside in that city, where he devoted him,
self to the practice Of his profession. He acquired
a large prdCuce ana was eNlluently successful IN
Jury trials He never held Office until elected
in 1866 10 the XLth Congress from the With
District Of Kentucky by Democratic majority of
666s. reelected the XLIst Congress in
by majority OF 1886. and to the Mild Congress
by a majority of 1896. In 1872 Mr.. Beck was
elected To the XLIIId Congress by majority Of
1856. lie not a candidate in 1874 In the
XLth Congress he served the Committee on Re-
construction in the XLIst Congress the Committees
on Appropriations and Reconstruction; In the XLIl4
Congress on the Committees Ways and Means sn1
the Insurrectlonay States, and In the xIIh consess
on the Committee on Ways and Means. Mr.. Beck
was always active the work and debates in Congress-
his arguments being distinguished for arthmecal
Illustrations than for rhetorical figures. In personal
appearance he tall and large, square featured,
heavy browed, shockheaded and rather angular IN
outline. His gestures during debate awkward,
the principal consisting in bringing down the
palm Of the right hand upon that Of the left IN what
is known the patacake" manner This was most
noticeable because of the frequency with which il
companied his rapid speech. Mr. Beck was elected
to the United states senate January Is, 1876, To
succeed Senator John W. Stevenson (Dem.l, whose
term expired March g. 1877. lie elected in
1892, and again in 1858. His term would have ex-
pred in 1895. In the Senate he was as prominent
In the debates as he was in the House. and he
especially interested In questions relating to the tarin
and the currency. In the present senate he was
member of the Committees on Appropriations Finance
and Woman Suffrage. lie was strongly In favor
Of the remonetzaton Of silver and Of revenue reform.
As a member Of the two houses OF Congress. Mr.
Beck earned the reputation Of able as well as an
honest man, and he often opposed his own party when
he thought il in the wrong lie was much re-
pected by his political opponents. \, the time of his
c-election in Iss5 THE Louisville CourierJournal"
,aid Of him
Mr.. Beck his dominant position In Kentucky
no meretricious agencies. lie Is by no mean, what
: called in the parlance Of the denagogue ii good
Mixer His out door manners are brusque. often In
attentive and rarely lie makes his likes and
ilslkes manifest in his personal intercourse and while
lot aggressive, he Is not eiuslNe. Ass9red} he ls
cry lar from being a courter of the old Caledonan
ype exemplifed in the character and person Of sir
'ertinaX Macs EGGPLANT. The career OF none OF ~
Walters heroes is more full Of successful and romantic
dventure than that Of this big Drained scot, who,
mong a people the most conservative and provincial
n the world has risen from the obscurest depths Of
poverty, unaided except by his own strong Will al.
xtraorynary talents. 10 the very highest em.nence.
nd who holds that eminence easily and as firmly
; II born 10 it, and owning II by right OF inheritance
The story OF Mr.. Beck's life i lesson TO young
nen It's KEY notes have been integrity and industry.
here is no blot his record honest attorney
nd "A sterling man OF affairs. There has never been
gap in his work. Though among his familiars a
enial 10 a degree, and realizing In his person tho
onvivality Of his AT its highest mark, his at
ention To public and private buSlness has been I'M
aging, unfiiling. literally sleepe>> He is very
amy scot. and chivalrous and gallant any one
the laddcs whom the Wizard of the North sent on.
D seek their fortunes, and not less cannN with tbo
.dies than the WilaM's heroes Here indeed, he 10
courtier. Disrael himself was not more obeisant.
or set higher store by his feminine constituency.
han this rugged statesman who. always Self poised
unaffected is altogether charming In the society OF
ood and charming women