The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-12-21
The Kansas Republican Falls in His Apart
ments at Washington, Victim to Life
of Unbridled Energy and OverwOrk.
Attended Dinner the Night Before Last
ing Till 2 O'Clock Sunday Morning.
His Body Hurriedly Embalmed Before Mes.
sage Was Received from Mrs. Plumb Ask
ing for Delay-Funeral Arrangements.
STRICKEN WITH APOPLEXY.
The News OF Senator Plumbs Death a Shock
to His Colleagues

WASHINGTON, Lee. Ex-senator Preston
B. Plumb. of Kansas, died suddenly, of
apoplexy, shortly before noon to-day. His
death occurred in the unpretentious three
story brick boarding house at 6l2 Four
teenth street. in this city, within stones
throw of the Ebbitt House. Riggs House
end Willard's Hotel. in which convenient To-
cation, for the last i've or six seasons he has
taken MP his quarters during the sessions.
In very short space of time the news
spread over the city, and the expressions of
regret were universal and not confined to
any political party.
This stanch Republican, whose advice
has ever been regarded as most valuable
in the highest councils of the party. since
he has occupied seat in the Senate. was
among some of his friends this morning,
when q panied look shot athwart his
features, and, suddenly clasping his hands
TO his brow, he exclaimed in great agony:
"Oh, my Godl my head, my head, my
headn
Within very few minutes he fell un-
conscious, never to regain knowledge of
what was going on about him. 1t was a
quarter to O'clock this morning when he
uttered this exclamation. A little less
than five hours later the broad-framed.
powerful-lookingK Kansas Senator. who has
occupied seat in the Senate continuous
ly since 1875. was stretched out dead in his
modest apartments, HIS physician, DIR.
Philip Wales, his clerk. Il. w. Flenniken.
and his landlord, Mr. Jennings, were with
him at the end. HIS wife and two children
are In Kansas. Death came as the result of
exhaustion of the BRAIN. 1t was a clear
case of overwork and inattention to the
laws of nature.
BEEN FAILING FOR A YEAR.
The Senator has been known for years as
the most pushing, energetic, hard-working
member of the Senate. A year ago he be-
gan to fail. His brain became afie ted, and
throDbing headaches became more and
more frequent. His physicians warned him
that continuance of his labors meant death,
but he refused to heed their warning. He
continued to work with the energy of q
steam engine, and to-day. when still ap-
parently in full vigor. and with many years
of life before Kim. be died The news ef
his sudden death shocked and startled his
friends and acquaiatkDces. of whom he had
great number IN and out or public life.
church at the time of his death, and none
save those ut his bedside knew that he had
been taken i'll. Many persons who heard
it were almost incredulOus on the accuracy
of the report. few of Mr.. Plumbs most
intimate friends knew that he had been
alling for some time, but none were pre-
pared for the worst. He had been in the
Senate last week and appeared to be as well
as ever. He attended to his duties with his
usual brlskness and vigOr. A few days ago
he n IL
lated hlm on his appearance that he was
younger than the emDloye, who was his
Junior by twenty years. As evidence OF his
vitality he doubled up his forearm. His
looked actively after the interests of his
constituents last week, aud probably leads
| any other Senator in number of bills intro
duced at this session.
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 med
| cine, are embraced in the term, "aphasia."
| He complained of the persistent pain in his
| head. Impairment OF memory. and growing
inability to clothe his ideas In proper and
| appropriate words The Senator had pre-
viously been remarkably fluent of speech.
| and his words came so copiously and rap
| Idly that he was the terror of stenog-
| raphers. 1t was not until two weeks ago,
| however. that Dr. Philip Wales was called
in and asked for advice as to the trOuble;
| The Doctor after q careful study of the
| case, informed the Senator that his symp-
| toms Indicated apoplexy, and that he must
| quit work and take a rest, but MIR. Plumb
was incredulOus. and thought the Doctor
| had become unduly alarmed. He kept up
his labors. except when severe headaches
| forced him temporarily to abandon his
| work. He had a desk in the front room of
| his apartments and another in his commit
| tee-room at the Capitol. He worked on his
| immense personal business in the morning g
Al Sc I-s., hrrI "A f,x l.
| putiic affairs at the Capitol His eyes
| troubled him. and a skilled oculIst exam
| ined them. Each of these persons reported
| that there was some other organic trouble.
! confirming the diagnosis of Dr.. Wales.
ATTENDED HIS LAST DINNER.
A few days ago Senator Plumb went to
to Philadelphia with Senator Quay for the
| purpose of consulting DR.. Pepper. He re-
| turned to Washington last night, at
! O'Clock, complaining of a violent headache,
| but went to dinner at Chamberlain's, CIV
en- by ex-senator Malone to few friends.
| 1t must have been / o'clock or later this
| morning when lie returned to his quarters.
for his landlord, Mr.. Linson ID. Jennings.
| said to-day that he did not retire until
nearly 1 o'clock. and that the Senator had
not yet returned. Shortly before 2 o'clock
| Mr. Jennings was awakened by knock at
| Mr. jennings he was very sick. and re-
| quested him to come down stairs and sit
up with him. Mr.. Jennings saw that the
| Senator's condition was serious, and at 2
| o'clock Dr. Wales was summoned. The
| Doctor alleviated the pain and adminIs s.
tered the proper medicines. He stayed
with Mr.. Plumb from 2until half-past o.
| and then left his patient sleeping quietly.
| At a quarter to o'clock Senator Plumb
woke. and with a spring bounded out of
bed with terrible retchings His head
1 was aching violently. The sickness ceased
| after n time. Then the Senator tossed his
| hands 10 his head and exclaimed. "Oh, my
| God. my head. my headw the last words he
ever uttered. Mr.. Jennings stroked his
| head to relieve the pain. and in few
| minutes later Mr.. Plumb lapsed into slum-
| Der and later into Inconsistencies.
| About 10 o'clock Mr.. ID. w. Flenniken
clerk TO the committee on public
| lands OF which Senator Plumb was
| chairman. and his private secre'
| tary for some years, called As
| was his custom, TO assist the Senator
with his correspondence. Mr.. Flenniken
noticed that he was breathing heavily and
stertorously. DR.. Wales was again sum
| moned He saw at once that the patient
had been stricken with apoplexy. Mr..
| Plumb was unconscious and his tongue was
| paralyzed. The Doctor. Mr. Fienniken and
Mr.. jennings remained with him until the
end came, at 1880 DIR. Wales said this after
| noon that the immediate cause of deatt