Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-05-05
THE CALL TO REST.
Deaths Shaft Again Strikes q
Shining Mark.
SUDDEN DEATH OF SENATOR BECK

Stricken in the Railway Station at the
National Capital just After Getting on
Train-The Third Prominent Member
of Congress Called Within Few Months
Some Account of His Career-His Quiet
Life at Woodreve.
WASHINGTON CITY, May 5.-That death
loves shining mark has probably never
in the history of this city been more fire.
quently demonstrated than within the
past few months. First the dread mes
senger summoned Kelly of Pennsylvania,
then Randall, and Saturday the city was
startled by the news that Beck of Kentucky
had been suddenly stricken as he stepped
across the railway station here on his ar
rival from New York, where he had gone
Friday. Although his death WAS not I'M
expected by those who knew him WELL the
manner of his taking off was so sudden as
to greatly shock all in the wide circle of
his acquaintance.
The Fatal Summons.
Accompanied by his daughter, Mrs Good
loe, wife of Maj. Goodloe, of the United
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 the usual ac-
compartments 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 carriage to
take them home. A few words were eX-
changed with regard to the care of bag
gage, when the senator suddenly turned
pale, and with the remark Il feel dizzy"
fell in. o the arms of his companions. They
could not support his weight, and he
dropped to the floor, where he died before
the physicians who were promptly sum
moned could get to his side The illness
which was precursor to the sad event be-
gan little less than two years ago, when
he was threatened with heart trouble.
His Birth and Public Career.
Senator Beck came from the shire in
Scotland where the poet Burns wroteshis
sweetest songs. He was born Feb 13...1S22
He went TO kentucky as boy, and was
educated at a little college in Lexington.
lntFe Also law, ana l0eEe ne
afterward became the partner of John C.
Breckenridge. He served four terms in
congress from the Lexington district, and
at the time of his death was in his third
term in the senate and had been elected
to fourth. Senator Beck was no orator
and it is remarkable fact that, not being
such, he could be elected from district
which produced Clay and breckenridge
He was the only man who made name
in Kentucky as statesman who was not a
gifted speaker, and he owed his success to
well-balanced brain, pleasant manner,
and excellent horse sense
His Appearance in the Forum.
He was curious speaker. A giant of a
man; tall, broad-shouldered, and big
hearted, his very weight commanded at
tentiOn. He had a broad, full face, COW
cred with grizzly beard of iron-g gray,
bright, black eyes, full of earnestness, and
q pleasant mouth. When speaking he
would grow much excited and the words
would flow out in a torrent He talked
faster than any man in the senate, and he
always wilted his collar during a speech
In Kentucky campaign Senator Sher-
man is reported as saying: Beck rests
while he is speaking" If this was so it
was a curious kind of resting, and one
which would hardly take the place of
SleeDinp