Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1891-12-24
KANSAS SENATOR DEAD.
Senator Preston B. Plumb Sud-
edenIy Stricken.
Apoplexy. Caused by Fatty Degeneration
OF the Brain From overwork Ended
His Career-His Great Ener-
gy Caused His Death.

| WASHINGTON, Dec 20.-"Oh. my
God, my head, my head, my head" and
Senator Preston b. Plumb, who, as c
representative OF the state OF Kansas in
the UniOed States senate continuously
since 1876 has occupied prominent
place in the councils OF the republican
party, few minutes after fell uncon.
scious, never to regain knowledge o.
what was going on about him.
1t was 6:i5 o'clock this morning when
he uttered this exclamation A little
more than five hours later the broad
framed, powerful looking Kansas sena-
tor was stretched out dead in his mod
est apartments on Fourteenth street.
His physician, Or. Philip Wales; his
clerk, b. w Flenniken, and his land
lord, Mr. Jennings, were with him nj
the end His wife and two children are
in Kansas.
Death came from apopleXy, the result
Of exhaustion of the brain. II was a
clear ease Of ovcrwork and inattention
to the laws Of nature. The senator has
been known for years as the most push
ing, energetic hard-working member of
the senate. A year ago he began to
fail. His brain became affected and
throbbing headaches became more aud
more frequent. His pt ysicians warned
him that continuance OF his labors
meant death, but he refused to heed
their warning He continued to work
with the energy of a steam engine, and
to-day, when still apparently in fun
vigor and with many years OF life be-
fore him, he died.
The news OF his sudden death shocked
and startled his friends end acquant-
ances, of whom he had a great number
in and out Of public life 1t being Srm-
day many persons were at church at
the time OF his death, and none save
those at his bedside knew that he had
been taken ILL., Many persons who
heard it were almost increduous OF the
accuracy OF the report But all ae-
quanted with the senator as with intu-
tive knowledge asked the question
whether or not apoplexy was the cause
of death.
A few Of Mr.. Plumb's most intimate
friends knew that he had been ailing
for some time, but none were prepared
for the worst. He had been In the SEN
ate last week and appeared to be as we'll
rs ever. He attended to his duties with
his usual briskness and vigor A few
days ago he said TO senate employe,
who congratulated him on his appear
ance that he was younger than the em-
ploye, who was his junior by twenty
years. As evidence OF his vitality he
doubled up his forearm. His biceps
muscles were hard and compact
He actively looked after tho inter-
ests OF his constituents last wcek and
probably leads any other senator in
number OF bills introduced at this ses-
sion. Notwithstanding this activity
and his own assertion OF his vigorous
health, latterly he mad been complain
ing OF sleeplessness. vertigo, and svmp-
toms which in medicine are embrgc
in the term "aphassn He complained
OF the persistent pain IN his head, inn
parment Of memory and growing ina
bility to clothe his ideas in proper and
appropriate words. The senator bad
previously been remarkably fluent OF
speech and his words came so freely,
copiously and rapidly that he was the
terror OF stenographers.
II was not until two weeks ago. how
ever, that DR. Phillip Wales was called
in and asked for ad vice as 10 the tislu
ble. The doctor, after careful study
OF the case, informed the senator THAI
his symptoms indicated apoplexy ana
that he must quit work and take res..
But Mr.. Plumb was incredulous a1l
thought the doctor had become uuduly
alarmed He kept up his labors eN-
cept when severe headache forced him
temporarily TO abandon his work. He
had desk IN the front room OF hrs
apartments and another IN his commit
tee room at the capitol. He worked on
his immense personal business In the
morning and night after doing hard
days work on public affairs at the cap-
itol. His eyes troubled him and skill
ful oculist examined them. His kid
neys were also examined by aspecialist.
Each OF these persons reported that the
trouble lay not in the kidneys, and by
their report that there was some other
organic trouble confirmed the diagnosis
OF Dr. Wales
A few days ago Senator Plumb went
TO Phi 'adelphia with Senator Quay for
the purpose Of consulting DR.. Pepper. /
He returned 10 Washington last night I
at o'clock complaining Of bad head t
ache. put went TO a dinner at Chamber /
lain's, given by ex-senator Malone 10 a /
few friends. IL must have been o'clock T
or later this morning when he returned +
TO his quarters. for his landlord. Mr.. +
Lindon ID. Jennings. said to-day hat he T
did not retire until nearly o'clock, and /.
the senator had not yet returned.
shortly before o'clock Mr.. Jennings
was awakened by a knock at his bed
room door. Senator Plumb told Mr.. /
Jennings he was very III. and requested I
him to come down stairs and sit IN with I
him. The landlord saw that the sena-
tors condition was serious. and M > I
o'clock DR.. Wales was summoned. The /
doctor alleviated the pain and adminis- 4
tered the proper medicines. He re-
mained with Mr.. Plumb from > until /
O.30. and then left his patient sleeping I
quietly.
At Gas o'clock SENATOR Plumb woke 4
and with a spring bounded out of he'd 4
% slop jar and began to vomit. His (
head was aching violently. The vom- /
iting ceased after a time, then the sen
ator tossed his hands to his head and I
exclaimed. 'Oh, my God: my head, . 4
the last words he ever uttered.
Mr.. Jennings strolzed his head 10 re- I
lieve the pain and in few minutes Mr..
Plumb lapsed into slumber and later
into unconsciOusness.
At about n o'clock *. Flcnniken.
clerk Of the committee o. public lands.
Of which Senator Plumb was chairman.
and his private secretary for some
years, called. as was his custom. % as
sist the senator with his correspond
ence. Mr.. Flenniken noticed that be
was breathing heavily and stenforious-
80 Bf- ~ uies was again summoned.
He saw at once that the patient had
been stricken with apoploxy. Mr.
Plumb was unconscious and his tongue Il
paralyzad. The doctor. Mr.. Fleu-
ri II y