The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-12-21

continued to work with the energy OF a
stcam engine and to-day, when still ap-
parentlyin full vigor and with many
years OF life before him, he died. :
ovEEwoRK DID IT.
Tho news OF his death shocked and
startled his friends and acquaintanccs,
ofwhom he had great number in and
out OF public life. 1t being Sunday,
many persons were Ct church at tho
time OF his death, and mono save those
at his bedside knew that he had been
taken i'll.
lie actively looked after the interests
OF his constituents last week and prob
ably leads any other senator in number
OF 1iils introduced ut this session. Not
wlthslanding this activity and his own
assertion OF his vigorous health, latter
" he had been complaining OF sleep
!!essness, vertigo and symptoms which
III medicine are embraced in tho term
aphasia. lIe complained OF the per-
slstcnt pains in his head, impairment
OF memory and growing inability to
clothc his ideas in proper and appropri-
ato words. Tho senator had previously
been remarkably fluent OF speech and
his words came so freely, coriousiy and
rapidly that he was tho terror OF stcnog-
raphcrs.
was not until two weeks ago, how
over, that DR.. Philip S. Wales was call
cd in and asked for advice as to the
trouble. Tho doctor, after q careful
study OF tho case, informed the senator
that his symptoms indicated apoplexy
and that ho must quit work and take n
rest, but Mr.. Plumb was incrcdulous
and thought the doctor had become un.
duly alarmed. lie Kept up his labors,
except when severe headaches forced
him temporarily 20 abandon his work.
A few days ago Senator Plumb wont
to Philadelphia with Senator Quay for
tho purpose OF consulting DR.. Pepper.
lie returned to Washington last night
ut I o'clock, complaining Of violent
headache, but went to dinner ut Cham
berlain's given by ex-senator Mahonet to
q few friends. 1t must have been
o'clock or later this morning when he
returned to his quarters, for his land
lord, Mr.. Linson D. Jennings, said to-
day that he did not retire until nearly l
o'clock, and the senator had not yet re-
turned. Shortly before . o'clocl, Mr..
Jennings was awakened by knock at
his bedroom door. Senator Plumb
told Mr.. Jennings he was very sick and
requested him to como down stairs and
sit up with him. Mr.. Jennings saw that
the senator's condition was serious, and
at 2 clock DR.. Wales was summoned.
The doctor alloyiated the pain and nd
ministercd the proper medicines. He
stayed with Mr.. Plumb from until
G:30 o'clock, and then left his patient
sleeping quietly.
Ills LAST WORDS.
Alta quarter to seven o'clock Senator
Plumb awoke, and, with q spring,
bounded out OF bed TO slop jar and
began to vomit. His head was aching
violently. The vomiting ceased after 4
time. Then the senator tossed his
hands to his head and exclaimed: "Oh,
my God, my head, my head" the last
words he ever uttered.
Mr.. Jennings stroked his head to re-
lievo the pain, and q lew minutes later
Mr.. Plumb lapscd into slumber and
later into Inconsistencies. Atll:30 he
died. DR.. Wales said this afternoon
that the immediate cause of death was
.apoplexy brought on by iatty dcgenera-
ton OF the brain from over-work and
fatigue.
"1t was clear case OF ovcrwork,"
said the doctor.
''If he had given up his work in all
probability it would have been differ
cnt. He did not consult with mo until
two weeks ago. ] warned him to cease
work, but he kept on. He had q strong
frame, but he had an enormous amount
of work to carry. and no man could
keep up doing what he was doing"
A DISTRESSING INCIDENT.
The news OF the sad event spread rap
idly. Within an hour after Senator
Plunib's death Senator PETER was at the
side OF his dead colleague. Sergeant-at-
Arms Valentine and his deputy, Charles
". Reade, were promptly on hand, and
assumed the direction OF the fureral
arrangements. An' undertaken was
summoned and took charge OF the re-
mains. He proceeded at once to pre-
pare the body for interment, and in 4
short time completed tho embalming
process. His haste in this matter gave
rise 20 n decreasing incident. News OF
her husbands death had been tclc-
g.aphoG Mrs. Plumb, who is at LIN
poria, Kansas. within = lew minutes
after 1t occurred.
Just after the uEIe.takor had EN-.
balmed the body q telegram was receiv-
ed from one OF the friends OF the family
at Empo,la directing that the remains
be not emballned. Soan afterwards, but
like the first, TOO late, came second tel
egram explaining the direction. 1t is
stated that last summer Senator Plumb
was Tor two or three hours in state OF
suspended animation and to Ill appear
Snces was dead. Having this i'll mind,
Mrs. Plumb did not wish the body en-
balmed until it was absolutely certain
that her husband was dead.
The receipt OF this telegram caused
much unavailing regret. The under
taksr, however, was positively OF the
opinion that there could be no reason
to doubt the TACT that death had oc-:
Cured before he had undertaken the
discharge OF his function, and in proof
OF his assertion he said that in addition
to tho physicians statement to the
effect there was undisputable evidence
of death in the fact that no blood flowed
from tho arteries when they were open
ed in the course OF the embalming pro-
cess.
Arrangements were made for the ap-
pointment OF committees from the sem