The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1890-03-28
GENERAL scHENcK DEAD.

GENERAL scHENcK DEAD.
The Noted Soldier, Politician and Diplomat
Dies Suddenly ut Washington-Sketch Of
His Life.
WASHINGTON, March 24.-General Rob
ert Cummings Schenck, ex-Congressman,
soldier and diplomat and leader in pub
lie affairs generation or more ago, died
mia at his residence on Massachusetts,
avenue, just off Thomas circle. 1t was
not until yesterday that it was known
that he was seriously i'll, but when his
friends heard Of it, they prepared for
the worst, because of his advanced age.
General Schenck, had been ailing for
about two weeks, but attached very lit
tie importance to his complaint Last
week he was out calling with B. II.
Warder, formerly of Ohio, but for several
years well-known resident of this city,
and seemed in his usual health, save for .
slight bronchial cough. 1t was not I'M
til Tuesday that it was thought neces-
sary to call in physician. DR.. II. C.
Yarrow was sent for and found the Gem
eral suffering from capillary bronchitis.
Within twenty-four hours limited pneu-
monia of the right lung set in and later
the left lung also became involved and
DR.. Yarrow called DR.. O'Reilly into con-
sultation.
General Schenck was familiar figure
at Republican gatherings in Washing
ton from 1875, when he came here to
live, but he took no active part in pol
itics. His life had been several times
despaired of in the last decade, but his
hardy constitution and strong will
pulled him through.
Secretary Blaine was much attached
to the General and sent an affectionate
note to him Saturday when he heard Of
his illness. In his book Mr.. Blaine pays
the dead man warm compliment:
''No man in Congress during the pres
ent generation" he says, has rivalled
General Schenck as a five minute de-
batter. In the five minute discussion in
Committee of the Whole he was an intel
lectual marvel The compactness and
clearness of his statements, the facts
and arguments which he could marshal
prise and delight to his hearers"
BIOGRAPHICAL
Robert Cumming Schenck was born In
Franklin, o., October 4, 1879. was graduated
at Miami University in 1927 and remained as
a resident graduate and tutor for three years
longer, then studied law with Thomas Cor
win, was admitted to the bar and estab-
lished himself in practice at Dayton, o. He
was a member OF the Legislature in lsil-2
display wing practical knowledge and pupgent
wit in the debates, and was then elected as
Wing to Congress and thrice reelected,
serving from December 4. 1s43, till March 3,
1851 He was member of important commit
tees and during his third term was the chair
man of that on roa and canals. On March
II, 1851, he was commissioned as Minister to
Brazil. In 1852, with John S. Pendleton, who
was accredited to the Argentine Republic as
Charge d'Affaires, he arranged Il treaty Of
friendship and commerce with the Govern
ment of that country and one for the free
navigation of the river La Plata and its
great tributaries. They also negotiated
treaties with the Governments of Uruguay
and Paraguay. He left Rio Janeiro on Octo-
Der 8, 1853, and after his return to Ohio en-.
gagged in the railroad business. He offered
his services to the Government when the
civil war began and was one OF the first
Brigadier g .nerals appointed by President
May II, 1851. He was attached to the military
department Of Washington and on June II
moved forward by railroad with a regiment
to dislodge the Confederates at Vienna, but
was surprised by masked battery and
forced to retreat. On meeting reinforce
ments he changed front and the enemy re-
tired. His brigade formed part of General
Daniel TyIer's division at the first Bull Run
battle and was on the point of crossing the
stone bridge to make secure the occupation
of the plateau when the arrival of Confed-
crate reinfOrcements turned the tide OF
battle. He next served in West Virginia
under General William s. Rosecrans and
was ordered to the Shenandoah Valley with
the force that was sent to oppose General
Thomas j. jackson. Pushing forward by a
forced march to the relief of General Robert
ii. Milroy he had sharp and brilliant en-
gagement with the enemy at Mcdowell. At
Cross Keys he led the Ohio troops in charge
on the right an maintained the ground that
he won until he was ordered to retire. Gen.
eral John c. Fremont then intrusted him
with the command of division. At the Sec
ond battle of Bull Run he led the first divi-
sion of General Franz SigePs corps. He was
wounded in that action by a musket ball,
which shattered hi, right arm, incapacitat-
ing him for active service till December IS,
1867 when be took command of the middle
department and Eighth corps at Baltimore,
having been promoted Mai General on
september IS. After performing effective
services in the Gettysburg impaign he re-
signed his commission on December 3. 1863,
in order to take his place in the House of
Repre- sen tatiyes. in which he served as
chairman of the Committee on Military At
fairs. He was reelected in 1864 and was
placed at the head of the same committee,
where he procured the establishment of the
National Military and Naval Asylum. In 1865
he was president of the Loari of visitors to
the United states Military Academy and was
one of the committee of Congress on the
death of President Lincoln, serving also on
the Committee on Retrenchment. In 1866 he
attended the loyalists' convention at Phila-
delphia and the soldiers convention at
Pittsburgh, Pa. He was reelected to Con :
gress in 1856 and in 1868, when his opponent
was Clement l.. Vallandingham, serv ing as
chairman of the Committee of Ways and
Means and of the Ordnance Committee. On
December 20, 1870, he received the appoint
ment Of Minister to Or, at Britain. In 1871
he was one tf the alabama Commission.
He resigned his post in 1876 in consequence
of the failure of the Emma Silver Mine Com
pany, in which he had permitted himself to
be chosen a director and resumed the prac-
tice of law in Washington.
Soldiers Bounty Bill.
WASHINGTON, March Ex-senator In
gals by request introduced bill to give
every soldier or sailor who served ninety
days or longer in the late war bounty