The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-21
SENATORPLUMB DEAD.
A SUDDEN ATTACK OF APOPLEXY
CUTS OFF HIS LIFE.

He Had Been Guest at a Banouet
Given By Ex-senator Malone and
Returned Home Late-An Hour or
Two Later He Wes Stricken Down.
Overwork Brought on the Attack.
A Horrible Suspicion That He Nav
Have Been Embelmed Before Life
Wes Extinct.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 300, my God.
my head, my head" said Senator Preston
B. Plumb who, as representative Of the
state Of Kansas in the United States Senate
continuously since 1876, has occupied a
prominent place in the councils of the
Republican party, and a few minutes
later fell back unconscious, never to
regain knowledge of what was going
on about him. 1t was 6:45 O'Clock this
morning when he uttered this exclama-
tion. A little more than five hours
later the broad-framed, powerful-looking
Kansas senator was stretched out dead in
his modest apartments on Fourteenth street.
His physician, DIR. Philip s. Wales, his
clerk, b. W. Flenniken, and his landlord.
MIR. Jennings, were with him at the end.
APoPLExY FROM ovERwoRK.
Death came from apoplexy. the result of
exhaustion of the brain. It was a clear
case Of overwork and inattention to the
laws OF nature. The senator had been
known for years as most pushing, ener-
getic and hard working member Of the
Senate, A year ago he began to fail, his
brain became affected, and throbbing head
aches became more and more frequent.
His physicians warned him that a cortin-
uance Of his labors meant death, but he re-
fused to heed their warning. He continued
to work with the energy of a steam engine
and to-day, when still apparently in full
vigor and with many years of life before
him, he died.
WIDESPREAD REGRET.
The news of bis sudden death shocked
and startled his friends and acquaintances,
Of whom he had great number in and out
Of public life. 1t being Sunday, 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 per-
sons who heard it we're almost incredulous
OF the accuracy of the report. But all ac-
quainted with the senator, as with intuitive
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.
IN THE SENATE LAST WEEK.
He had been in the Senate last week aud
appeared to be as well as ever. He attended
to his duties with his usual briskness and
vigor. A few days ago be said to Senate
employe who Congratulated him on his ap-
pearance that he was younger than the en-
ploye. who was his junior by twenty
years. As evidence Of his vitality he doubled
~ nd hfah
hard and compact He actively looked
after the interests of his constituents last
week and probably leads any other senator
in the number OF bills introduced at this
session.
COMPLAINING RECENTLY.
Notwithstanding this activity and his
own assertion of his vigorous health. lat
terly he had been complaining of sleepless-
ness. vertigo and symptoms which in medi-
cine are embraced in the term aphasia. He
complained of persistent pains in his head,
impairment of memory and growing ina
bility to clothe his ideas in proper and APP
propriate words. The senator had previ-
ously been remarkably fluent of speech, and
his words came so freely, copiously
and rapidly that he was terror of steno-
graphers It was not until two weeks
ago, however, that DE-. Philip Wales was
called in aud asked for advice as to the
trouble. The doctor after careful study of
his case informed the senator that his symp-
tams indicated apoplexy, and that he must
quit WORK and take rest. But Senator
Plumb was incredulous, and thought the
doctor had become unduly alarmed He
kept uD his labors, except when severe head
aches forced him to temporarily abandon his
work.
AN INCEssANT WORKER.
He had desk in the front room of his
apartments and another in his committee
room at the capitol He worked on his Inn
m9nse personal business morning aud
nights after doing hard days work on
pu0lic affairs at the capitol. His eyes
troubled him and skillful oculist
examined them. His kidneys were also ex-
amined by a specialist. Each Of these per-
sons reported that the trouble lay not in the
eyes or the kidneys, and by their report
that there was some other organic trouble
confirmed the diagnosis OF DIR. Wales. A
few days ago Senator Plumb went to Phila-
delphia with Senator Quay for the purpose
OF consulting DR.. Pepper. He returned 20
Washington last night at o'clock CONS
p!alnlng OF most violent headache, but
went to dinner at Chamberlin's given by
ex-senator Malone to few friends. It
must have been o'clock or later this morn
Ing when no returned to his quarters at
NO. 6l2 Fourteenth street. for bis landlord,
Llnson d. Jennings. said to-day that he did
not retire until nearly o'clock and the
senator had not yet returned.
CALL FOR HELP.
Shortly before O'Clock Mr.. Jennings
was awakened by knock at his bedroom
door. Senator Plumb told Mr.. Jennings he
was very sick and requested him to come
DOWNSTAIRS and set up with SHIN. Mr..
Il Jennings saw that the senator's condition
was serious and at o'clock DR.. Wales was
summoned. The doctor alleviated the pain
ana administered proper remedies. He
stayed WITH Senator Plumb from until
o;oO o'clock and then left his patient Sleep
Jug quietly. At 6:45 o'clock Senator Plumb
@"oke and with a spring bounded out OF
Seu 70 the slop jar and began to vomit. his
ueau was aching violently. Vomiting ceased
al'er time and then the senator tossed his
nands TO his head and exclaimed: 20, my
uou' my head, my head !" the last words he
ever uttered. Mr.. Jennings stroked bis
mead to relieve the pain and few minutes
,aeer the senator lapsed into slumber and
iS'1T n y INTO inconsistencies. About 10 O'Clock
2. W. Fenniken, clerk to the committee on
PUBLIC lands, of which Senator Plumb was
Snalrman,. and his private secretary fol
years, called, as was his custom, TO assist
Tue m senator with his correspondence. Mr.
rennlken noticed that he was breathing
heavily and stertorously.
THE DOCTOR REALIzEs THE WORST.
II Dr. Wales was again summoned. He saw
aI once that bis patient had been stricken